The AltRaps Blog

Owners Watch Nervously as Europe’s Best Square Off - September 12, 2007 - The New York Sun
Nor can the Toronto Raptors be too excited to see Jorge Garbajosa suiting up next to Gasol. When we last saw Garbo, he was suffering a Theismannesque ankle injury in a game against Boston that knocked him out for the year. The Raptors were hoping Garbajosa would undergo another surgery this summer to fix some lingering problems, but he wanted to play for the national side instead.

Teams do at least have some defense against injuries, in the form of insurance policies that national teams take out on players. Thus, if Garbajosa were to “twist” his ankle once again, Toronto would at least save some dough by getting a check to help cover his salary. But it would do little to ease the impact on wins and losses, and the revenue decline that would likely result.