http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1967696-spurs-reportedly-trade-nando-de-colo-to-toronto-raptors-for-austin-daye
Spurs Reportedly Trade Nando De Colo to Toronto Raptors for Austin Daye
By Andy Bailey, Featured Columnist Feb 20, 2014
Nando De Colo had played sparingly under Popovich in San Antonio this season, averaging 11.6 minutes in 26 appearances. He won't be missed much from a basketball standpoint if Kawhi Leonard, Manu Ginobili and Danny Green can all stay healthy.
As for the guy they brought in, well, he seems like a perfect candidate for Popovich's career-resurrecting powers.
The Spurs coach has a knack for discerning exactly which role fits a player best and he knows how to motivate guys within those roles.
He helped turn Danny Green and Gary Neal into feared three-point specialists last season. He restored Boris Diaw to his former (albeit heftier) point forward glory. And now he has a chance to get Daye on the right track toward validating his lottery-pick status.
The 6'11" Daye was selected with the 15th overall pick of the 2009 draft by the Detroit Pistons as a possible matchup nightmare at either forward position.
He struggled to adjust to the pace and physicality of NBA play, though, and he's languished on the bench for most of his career.
But if there's anyone in the league capable of recapturing lost potential, it's Popovich.
Even if we don't see it right away, you can be certain that being a part of the Spurs organization on an everyday basis will have a positive impact on this once-promising player.
