I think Bargnani would have cost them more next year. A 20ppg jump shooting seven footer? Someone would have paid him big bucks. They'd have been wrong to do so, but someone would have.
That said, it's a terrible contract, one of the worst in the NBA. Big mistake.
It locks the Raptors into a core of Chris Bosh, Andrea Bargnani, Hedo Turkoglu and Jose Calderon too ... and that's what? A borderline playoff team? Bad situation up there in Toronto.