would javtokas be too much of a risk at this point?

[ivanfromwestwood]

lets just call him plan C. what do we got to lose? i mean if the dude can block a few shots a night and grab 6-10 rebounds, wouldnt he be useful. its now or never for this guy. i bet we could get him cheap. who cares if he scores. we have 4 other starters that can score plenty. doesnt he owe us? i thought the spurs payed for his surgery. give him a one year deal. if we won 50 plus games with bonner, im sure we can find a use for this guy.

[Kori Ellis]

If he could grab 6-10 rebounds and block a few shots a night in the NBA, he'd be here already.

[Ditty]

he has a big ass deal in russia no way he will come over

he was a waste of a pick and would of been here like 5 years ago if it wasnt for the mortacycle accident

[montgod]

I hate to be mean... but javtokas will never play for the Spurs so no need in ever revisiting him coming over.

[Tully365]

In the year 2051, there will be a very old man who, along with other rambling thoughts, mystifies his old age home attendants with these daily questions: Will Javtokas come now?! Have you seen Javtokas? Is Javtokas here?!

[ivanfromwestwood]

If he could grab 6-10 rebounds and block a few shots a night in the NBA, he'd be here already.

good point. kori you are right as always. thanks for gracing me with your wisdom.:toast

[bless1187]

lets just call him plan C. what do we got to lose? i mean if the dude can block a few shots a night and grab 6-10 rebounds, wouldnt he be useful. its now or never for this guy. i bet we could get him cheap. who cares if he scores. we have 4 other starters that can score plenty. doesnt he owe us? i thought the spurs payed for his surgery. give him a one year deal. if we won 50 plus games with bonner, im sure we can find a use for this guy.

you were against signing G. Davis but would rather sign R. Javotkas?!?!?!

[ivanfromwestwood]

you were against signing G. Davis but would rather sign R. Javotkas?!?!?!sure why not. five times cheaper. makes sense to me. you dont agree?

[objective]

he has a big ass deal in russia no way he will come over

No, he doesn't. He's a free agent now according to the most recent reports I've read.


I hate to be mean... but javtokas will never play for the Spurs so no need in ever revisiting him coming over.

I agree that he'll never play for the Spurs


If he could grab 6-10 rebounds and block a few shots a night in the NBA, he'd be here already.

And if Luis Scola could play at the NBA level and had a managable buyout the Spurs would have had offers of 1st round picks.

[Kori Ellis]

And if Luis Scola could play at the NBA level and had a managable buyout the Spurs would have had offers of 1st round picks.

I'm not sure what Scola has to do with it. Scola was a very good player in Europe. Javtokas isn't (unless he has changed dramatically since the last time I watched him ... last year or so), so I can't imagine he could pull down 8 rebounds and get 2 blocks a night in the NBA.

[ivanfromwestwood]

lol i knew you would chime in objective. i know its a one in a million shot. but it has to be at least looked at at this point. do you think he could produce and be a better bargain than alot of these bigs we keep talking about using the MLE on? couldnt we offer him alot less?

[objective]

I'm not sure what Scola has to do with it. Scola was a very good player in Europe. Javtokas isn't (unless he has changed dramatically since the last time I watched him ... last year or so), so I can't imagine he could pull down 8 rebounds and get 2 blocks a night in the NBA.

So you ignore my point. People used to say around here and other parts that if Scola was so good then the Spurs would get offers for him of at least a 1st. Case closed.


lol i knew you would chime in objective. i know its a one in a million shot. but it has to be at least looked at at this point. do you think he could produce and be a better bargain than alot of these bigs we keep talking about using the MLE on? couldnt we offer him alot less?

I like Javtokas. I don't think Javtokas will ever play in the NBA. I think he could be had cheaper than most of the players talked about (Wallace, McDyess, ZaZa, even BB and Bass). I think he could play a role of rebounding, shot-contesting, pick setting, finishing strong at the basket. He shot 72% from 2 in the eurocup with 12 points a game (and those points weren't from free throws, lol).

As long as he's playing, his rights are held by the Spurs, it's an offseason and he might vaguely fit the generic need of 'big man', he's worth talking about.

[Mr. Body]

He's as likely as Sergei Karaulov. So... no.

[ivanfromwestwood]

fair enough. what is it that makes you think he will never play in the nba? is it his family. i've read that his wife would rather stay overseas. i know he was injured and thats why he didnt come over sooner. after he started playing ball again is it fair to say that the spurs have been evaluating him ever since waiting till his contract ran out. also why is he not signed with another team yet. whats he waiting for?

[timvp]

Javtokas could be decent. Or he could be a worse version of Elson.

We'll probably never know for sure. Even if he were a totally free agent, I don't really think anyone would have brought him over following the motorcycle accident. He's never really stood out in a major way. He's garnered a lot of his notoriety as being Spurs property and being good ... but I've never heard of him independently being called one of the best players in Europe.

Now if he wouldn't have gotten smashed in the motorcycle accident, I think he would have been brought over a long time ago.

[objective]

fair enough. what is it that makes you think he will never play in the nba? is it his family. i've read that his wife would rather stay overseas. i know he was injured and thats why he didnt come over sooner. after he started playing ball again is it fair to say that the spurs have been evaluating him ever since waiting till his contract ran out. also why is he not signed with another team yet. whats he waiting for?

Him not playing in the NBA won't have anything to do with his ability to produce, at least for a couple more years.

I don't think he'll play in the NBA because the Spurs don't want him, simple as that.

As far as why he isn't signed with another team yet, he still has time to shake things out. MTA and Zalgiris have been rumored to like him in the last 2 weeks, so who knows?

[ivanfromwestwood]

Javtokas could be decent. Or he could be a worse version of Elson.

that a mighty fine line to walk there sir. you think the crash made him loose a step that bad? he didnt look too bad back in china. i think our system and our defensive rotation hide alot of players defensive weaknesses. if he can hustle and jump higher than his offensive assignment, wouldnt he look alot better with us? even if he cant block 2 shots a game im sure he can at least alter a few and thats just as good.

[ivanfromwestwood]

I don't think he'll play in the NBA because the Spurs don't want him, simple as that.
ok that makes sense. if pickings get slim, i would think it would be less about what the spurs want and more about what we need and can afford. why settle.

[DPG21920]

I am so confused about the Spurs bigman plan as of right now. Yes we wanted them to get younger, but needs must be met. Javtokas might be decent in comparison to the current bigs, but it seems like there is no real interest.

He is still a decent athlete, but man the guy was a freak before the accident.

[objective]

Javtokas is better suited to the NBA game. He can't score on his own and can't shoot. He has a rudimentary hook shot and primitive post moves that don't cut it in europe, he's the antithesis of the euro-big. Maybe not too surprising considering he went to high school in America if I remember right.

His lack of offensive game got him doghoused in PAO as speculated by DX.

He's a limited use guy. I had several other players I'd rather the Spurs signed than him this summer and some are still around, so it's not like I'm crazy about him.

[ivanfromwestwood]

I am so confused about the Spurs bigman plan as of right now. Yes we wanted them to get younger, but needs must be met. Javtokas might be decent in comparison to the current bigs, but it seems like there is no real interest.

He is still a decent athlete, but man the guy was a freak before the accident.

compare his current game to a current nba big. who does he look like skillwise/mobilitywise.

[DPG21920]

Biedrins, but not sure if he would be as effective.

[ivanfromwestwood]

Biedrins, but not sure if he would be as effective.

i guess you mean in the spurs system at least.

[DPG21920]

Overall. Biedrins, while not the most skilled is pretty effective (runs well, good hands, good finisher around the rim, pretty good rebounder, decent defender although he is kind of weak and fouls).

Not sure if Javtokas is quite as good as him (it would probably take some time and then that would be a pretty high ceiling for him)

[objective]

a poor man's Biedrins would be a good comparison.

Older, slower, stronger. Same brutal free throws. Not as good a rebounder or shotblocker at this point in his career, but he can still send people to the hospital.

Biedrins is a starting caliber big of at least 30 minutes a game.

Javtokas would only be a starter if no one else was good enough (like Elson in 07), but still probably limited to 20 minutes a game.

[Kori Ellis]

I would have liked to have seen Javtokas a few years ago come to summer league or training camp. Obviously, he wouldn't have been as good as pre-accident, but at that point maybe he could have developed into something. Now, I think it's probably just too late in terms of the Spurs working out something for him.

Did he have a good season this past year? The last games I watched were from the year before. Then he was very stiff and not getting much playing time.

[objective]

I think TimVP once wrote that maybe Javtokas would be worth a look if he was going to be Ian Mahinmi insurance.

I've been watching the 08 summer league game against NO for the past hour and man, Mahinmi was even worse this game than I remember. Brutal. Blown dunks, layups, bad hands, everything.

Spurs might need some Mahinmi insurance, though maybe Haislip already has the job.

[Kori Ellis]

I think TimVP once wrote that maybe Javtokas would be worth a look if he was going to be Ian Mahinmi insurance.

I've been watching the 08 summer league game against NO for the past hour and man, Mahinmi was even worse this game than I remember. Brutal. Blown dunks, layups, bad hands, everything.

Spurs might need some Mahinmi insurance, though maybe Haislip already has the job.

Mahinmi is such a weird unknown factor. I can tell you this.. if he sprains an ankle in summer league, Pop is going to blow a gasket. :lol You could tell how frustrated Pop was last year by his injuries. He's got to stay healthy this season.

[ivanfromwestwood]

a poor man's Biedrins would be a good comparison.

Older, slower, stronger. Same brutal free throws . Not as good a rebounder . this alone tells me he is destine to be a spur.

it would be cool to have another RJ on the team. lol

[timvp]

Looking at Javtokas' stats ... damn, they've fallen off.

In 13 Euro Cup games, he averaged 6.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 30.7 minutes.

Five years ago in 13 Euro Cup games, he averaged 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 29.0 minutes.

I've never been against giving Javtokas the LLE to try him out but that's a pretty massive drop in the two most important stats. That's more than a 60% drop in blocks even though he played more minutes. And a 20%+ drop in rebounds.

I wonder if there's an explanation other than he's getting older and his athleticism is declining.

[ivanfromwestwood]

Mahinmi is such a weird unknown factor. I can tell you this.. if he sprains an ankle in summer league, Pop is going to blow a gasket. :lol You could tell how frustrated Pop was last year by his injuries. He's got to stay healthy this season. tell me bout it. spurs really like something bout this kid. they' ve had him for like 20 years and still havent given up.

gotta know when to hold em, gotta know when to fold em. i hope pop is a good poker player.

[objective]

I would have liked to have seen Javtokas a few years ago come to summer league or training camp. Obviously, he wouldn't have been as good as pre-accident, but at that point maybe he could have developed into something. Now, I think it's probably just too late in terms of the Spurs working out something for him.

Did he have a good season this past year? The last games I watched were from the year before. Then he was very stiff and not getting much playing time.


He's gotten stiffer as he's gotten older, it's true.

But he did log a career high of tourny minutes (eurocup, uleb, euroleague) with almost 32 per this past season in the eurocup. His blocks are down and not what they used to be when he was with Rytas in the euroleague, down to less than half what they were.

In the round of 16 + the quarter final game (7 total) he averaged 11, 7 and 1 on 73% shooting.

[ivanfromwestwood]

I wonder if there's an explanation other than he's getting older and his athleticism is declining. wheres KBP when you need him.lol i kid i kid

[objective]

Looking at Javtokas' stats ... damn, they've fallen off.

In 13 Euro Cup games, he averaged 6.3 rebounds and 0.8 blocks in 30.7 minutes.

Five years ago in 13 Euro Cup games, he averaged 8.1 rebounds and 2.1 blocks in 29.0 minutes.

I've never been against giving Javtokas the LLE to try him out but that's a pretty massive drop in the two most important stats. That's more than a 60% drop in blocks even though he played more minutes. And a 20%+ drop in rebounds.

I wonder if there's an explanation other than he's getting older and his athleticism is declining.

His best year imo was 05/06. The top 16 round he averaged 10 boards and 2.7 blocks.

I don't know if there's anything other than age factoring in. He's heavier and slower.

[ivanfromwestwood]

im not much of a stat guy. bruce bowen was a defensive pesence and i hardly remember him blocking shots and stealing balls. like i said. i could care less if he doesnt block a single shot. im more intrested in how many he can alter using his athleticism and length. they should make it a stat.

[ivanfromwestwood]

His best year imo was 05/06. The top 16 round he averaged 10 boards and 2.7 blocks.

I don't know if there's anything other than age factoring in. He's heavier and slower.

hey if a good trainer can get fat ass shaq into shape, im sure the same can be done with RJ. then again we have the best carne guisada tacos in the world here in san antonio. that could pose a problem.

[timvp]

I don't know if there's anything other than age factoring in. He's heavier and slower.

Sadly, those stats tell me it's the end of his chance to come over. If the Spurs didn't want to bring him over back when he was producing, I don't know why they'd want to bring him over now that his stats collapsed.

I'm guessing hitting the age of 30 with a titanium rod in your leg makes it tough athletically -- especially when athleticism is your main asset on the court. It's a shame we never got a chance to see what he could do :td


But for Javtokas, he deserves a lot of credit. Shortly after the accident, they were saying his basketball career was over. He's made some good money since that point and proved the doctors wrong.

[ivanfromwestwood]

yea it sux. good for him though. before i get off i would like to thank Objective,Timvp,Kori,and Dpg for helping me get over my man crush with RJ. i got plenty out of this thread and suprisingly noone has trolled it. good for you guys. keep it up.:toast:flag:

[objective]

yeah, we'll see how his next year is, if he bounces back. He has said he wants more challenge in euroleague, so maybe the step up in expectations will bring the best out of him.

[ivanfromwestwood]

we can only hope brother, we can only hope.

[Cheddz]

How old is this guy now? Didn't we draft him about a decade ago?