Raja Bell still bitter about trade

[spectre]

Departure from Charlotte remains bitter pill for Bell (http://www.mercurynews.com/warriors-headlines/ci_14527581?nclick_check=1)



CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Initially, Warriors guard Raja Bell planned to adhere to the "if you ain't got nothing good to say" adage when asked about his return to the Charlotte Bobcats, with whom he played 50 games bridging two seasons.

"I don't have anything very positive to say about it," he said before his first game in his former home arena. "I don't have anything very negative to say about it."

But when pressed, he couldn't stop the regret and frustration from spilling out.

"I did not like the way things ended here with the Bobcats," he said. "I felt like I was used a little bit. They played on the fact that I am a guy who wants to play and wants to please and they played on that and, uh, it cost me my season."

Bell said he was pressured to play with an injured left wrist, which he sustained in a preseason game Oct. 18. He said he asked to have arthroscopic surgery on his wrist to determine if the ligament was torn but said he was talked out of it.

He eventually learned the ligament was torn, but he needed surgery to determine how bad and how long it would take to heal. Still, Bell decided to play through the pain since the Bobcats were hoping to make the playoffs.

He averaged 31.4 minutes while playing five of the first six games.

"At the end of the day, every decision is the player's," he said. "They can't make you play. But let's just say there were not-so-subtle hints that I needed to be playing and that I really needed to help the team by playing."

On Nov. 15, the morning after playing 31 minutes against Portland, he was traded to the Warriors along with Vladimir Radmanovic for Stephen Jackson and Acie Law. After the trade, Bell got his wrist checked out and learned for sure he needed surgery — but not before surprising the Warriors with 23 minutes in a loss at Boston on Nov. 18.

[Toocool]

Basketball is a business. Like all businesses, it can be utterly ruthless. There are ugly sides to basketball, people can get hurt from being traded around like pawns on a chess board. I miss Bell, but as a franchise sometimes you have to hurt people to get better. It does suck since I loved what Bell brought to the table, but at the end of the day this is still a business. Owners still want to make money and win championships.

[BRNC]

...that is no "real justification" (BB is a business is well known) for risking further injury or possibly causing a players career to be shortened prematurely...and if players (around the league) get the impression that this organization will only "use players" it will be difficult to sign any FA...

[ND22]

I understand his bitterness, and I'm sure when he came down with the injury the FO panicked a little bit; they knew they couldn't trade an injured Bell so they persuaded him to play so they could get the Jackson deal done.

[GoBobs]

I have to think the trade went down in part because of the injury. I feel sorry for Bell he seems to be a great guy and he didn't deserve that the way he has played for us. I wish we could make it up to him by offering him a sweet contract this summer, but our cap situation sucks. We could always do a 1yr 5 mil so he could get back the season he lost but we would be in cap hell. I could see how he would be frustrated being out the whole year in the last year of his contract.

[Dcarnys]

Be honest I wouldn't mind trying to get Raja back. Doubt it would happen though.

[dnbman]

That's not the best way to treat a player.

However, we've been doing right by a lot of players, especially in terms of contracts, for a while now. So, I think we have some stored karma to live with this.

That was a crucial trade for us.

[teej]

I love Raja. He did more in less than a year than just about anyone short of Crash, Ray, and Jack have done for this franchise. He's a brilliant guy, and one of the toughest competitors ever.

But

He'd already been traded by Larry Brown once, he knew the risks of being an expiring contract when he moved his family here with just a year left on the contract, and like he said, it's all up to him in the end. Only 25 guys, maybe less, can consider themselves untradable, and not many more than that can feel too stable. Raja wasn't even in the top 150, and while he's a great guy, he can't complain about this.

I don't know if I want it to sound this way or not, but I think he's more upset at the fact he got sent to the Warriors than he is about how he was treated. Maybe that's just me. I'd love for him to be back here, but if he doesn't feel the same way, I won't think any less of him, nor will I thank him any less for helping to make last year enjoyable and mentor the young guys.

[TheBeagle]

-1 to spectre for starting this thread and reminding me how much I still miss Raja :( Ugh....

It was great to see him again last night, though obviously on the wrong bench.

[Ghost Kat]

Be honest I wouldn't mind trying to get Raja back.

I was thinking that when I read the thread title

[spectre]

This is a little different than "it's a business". We lobbied him hard to not get his injury checked into and play for the team. Would GSW have made the trade if he'd gotten the arthoscopic surgery? I dunno...maybe. I can certainly see Raja's point.

On the flip you could argue that we had no intention to trade him but the opportunity to add Jax at such a discount was a no brainer (and it was). I kind of believe that, but I totally understand how Raja could think he was dicked over.

I dare say from the above comments Raja ain't ever coming back here. Even if he weren't still a little bitter I'd imagine he'll look to get hooked up with a contender.

[Felton for Prez]

Ok, I'll be the bad guy here. Boo-freakin' hoo Raja. Of course the team wanted him to play, what did he expect them to want? He said it himself, its his decision. He had multiple doctors look at him so he knew the extent of the injury. If one of those doc's was adivsing surgery its Raja's decision. He says they talked him out of it. Come on...the reason everyone likes him is because he wants to play. The team just told him what he wanted to hear, they were the little devil on his shoulder.

No one is blasting LB for taking shots at Chandler for being hurt. All pro teams want their guys on the court. Its up to the player to do what is best for the player.

I am not even sure it would've impacted the trade. There were already rumblings about what we'd do with his expiring contract. The Warriors clearly knew about the injury and likely expected him to have that surgery. Therefore, I'd say they traded for his contract not his play.

I like Raja but I don't understand why he is such a revered figure on this board. Its not as if he lit the world on fire here. He's a good guy who worked very hard but is on the downside of his career.

[Ghost Kat]

Ok, I'll be the bad guy here. Boo-freakin' hoo Raja.

Damn thats mean.....

I liked the things Raja brought to this team but lets be honest we are all much happier with Capt. Jack. I think they did do Raja wrong and it did cost him his season, But he still got paid right?

[Felton for Prez]

I think they did do Raja wrong and it did cost him his season

How? As a Bobcat, his options were potential season ending surgery or playing. He chose to play but ended up with the surgery as a Warrior. How did management cost him his season?

[Woodsy23]

i like raja........ however 2 words in this case... man up.... its a business not a charity mate if you wanted to be wrapped in cotton you chose the wrong career path. still a legend though.

[bozzy]

So instead of having surgery, he ended up... having surgery. Poor Raja.

[spectre]

I think what got him upset was that he moved his family here during the offseason (meaning he held off doing that for what...6 months or so?) and right after he did it we traded him to the other side of the country.

He's human. That'd be irritating to anyone.

[BRNC]

This is a "big picture" issue...if the organization asked him to play injured and gave him every indication they would "stay with him"...and then turned around and traded him I get his bitterness...and if that is the message that he (Raja) gives to other players about the organization it creates a problem attracting free agents...

Raja and the team are the only ones that know what happened...but the message other players hear are his...

[Ghost Kat]

How? As a Bobcat, his options were potential season ending surgery or playing. He chose to play but ended up with the surgery as a Warrior. How did management cost him his season?

I remember when he got hurt, This team had such high expectations but started off so poorly. Raja, Just like last year was the main threat. Saying used to go " As Raja goes, So go the Bobcats". I have to agree, So being the player Raja was, trying to play for his team, Help his team, He played when he was hurt just like alot of Pro sports players do. Now if Raja wasn't such a big part of the team on the court and in the locker room, maybe he doesn't get pressured to play as much. LB knew, He's not dumb, He knew Raja would still play hurt, Just like Iverson. My only point is Raja got used and He knows it.

[docend24]

...that is no "real justification" (BB is a business is well known) for risking further injury or possibly causing a players career to be shortened prematurely...and if players (around the league) get the impression that this organization will only "use players" it will be difficult to sign any FA...
What would change?

[docend24]

I have to think the trade went down in part because of the injury. I feel sorry for Bell he seems to be a great guy and he didn't deserve that the way he has played for us. I wish we could make it up to him by offering him a sweet contract this summer, but our cap situation sucks. We could always do a 1yr 5 mil so he could get back the season he lost but we would be in cap hell. I could see how he would be frustrated being out the whole year in the last year of his contract.
Nope. He wanted to extend his contract here in the offseason, Bobcats played deaf. He was bound to be traded.

[docend24]

This is a little different than "it's a business". We lobbied him hard to not get his injury checked into and play for the team. Would GSW have made the trade if he'd gotten the arthoscopic surgery? I dunno...maybe. I can certainly see Raja's point.

On the flip you could argue that we had no intention to trade him but the opportunity to add Jax at such a discount was a no brainer (and it was). I kind of believe that, but I totally understand how Raja could think he was dicked over.

I dare say from the above comments Raja ain't ever coming back here. Even if he weren't still a little bitter I'd imagine he'll look to get hooked up with a contender.
Postolos would have to be the buyer not MJ, I guess. Then pretty much everyone he is bitter baout would be gone sooner or later. Btu that won't happen so you are right. I still like him and wouldnt mind him back, I guess it is a purely staff thing and he probably liked his teammates here. What a shame, but it was the right move, sometimes we cant have all.

[BETCATS]

So much for thinking we were gonna re-sign him for cheap this offseason....

[Marvel]

All about business is BS,at the end of the day players still have emotions and in this case the FO played with Raja's the wrong way.If that's how Raja feels then i have to believe that's what it is.Still there are 2 sides to a coin and i just know a contender will pick him up in the off season