2012 Draft Prospect: Kostas Papanikolaou

[Bruno]

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_M7_yPVHRcao/SpLu-M-CaHI/AAAAAAAAB-I/FHU3RgIT4iA/s400/kostas-papanikolaou.jpg
Height: 6-8
Weight: 225 lbs
Birthday: 07/31/1990
Team: Olympiakos (Greece)
Country: Greece

DraftExpress (http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Kostas-Papanikolaou-6147/)
nbadraft (http://www.nbadraft.net/players/kostas-papanikolaou)

[dbestpro]

"papanikoloau!"

Gesundheit.

[mountainballer]

Danke!

[8FOR!3]

He's got a cool name. But he's an NBA SF and I doubt he's quick enough to play the position. I could be wrong, but doubt it.

[Mel_13]

In recent years, draft eligible rotation players of Euroleague Final Four teams were NBA lottery picks.

Looks like that trend will be broken.

[ChumpDumper]

In recent years, draft eligible rotation players of Euroleague Final Four teams were NBA lottery picks.Thank god the Spurs won't draft him then.

No Greeks.

[Mal]

In recent years, draft eligible rotation players of Euroleague Final Four teams were NBA lottery picks.

gimmie those names ? It wasnt Valanciounas, Vesely. Then who ?

[8FOR!3]

gimmie those names ? It wasnt Valanciounas, Vesely. Then who ?

Poplinko
Kostcko
Kofas Kosas
Sauces Nikolako
Papa Jonsako
Ian Bouriosuzuki

[Mal]

Vesely
Rubio

I just am talking recent times (last 5 years).

In recent times (last 5 years) there were two European players that were rotation players on final four Euroleague teams. Vesely and Rubio.

Both were NBA lottery picks.

So in the last 5 years, the only time it ever happened that draft eligible players from Europe were rotation players on a Euroleague final four team, they were taken in the NBA lottery when they declared for the NBA draft.

This year is unique because there are 3 such players.

Vangelis Mantzaris
Kostas Sloukas
Kostas Papanikoloau

All three of them are European players that are draft eligible and this is their automatic draft year. All three of them are rotation players on a Euroleague final four team.

You cant compare all these greeks to Rubio and Vesely, because theirs teams advanced to F4, and you make this criterion.

All three of them wont be even drafted. If they were talented enough, like Mirotic, they would have been drafted 2 years ago in 2nd round, and wait to being called up. They werent , cause they arent NBA players material.

[Bruno]

He has had an incredible Euroleague Final 4. He should be drafted early in the second round. The only way he would be available at #59 is if he say he doesn't want to be drafted. In that case, Spurs should take the risk and draft him.

I can see Spurs liking him and trying to move up to grab him. They have an history of being in love with these Euro long SF like Batum or Casspi.

[tuncaboylu]

This guy is a winner.

[mountainballer]

Jonathan Givony: "The track record of Greek players in the NBA is virtually nil, and for good reason."

[timvp]

I was impressed with him in the Euroleague Final Four. He doesn't have a high ceiling but he could probably play a role right away. Good competitor and doesn't seem to have any blatant weaknesses. Then again, it's questionable whether he has the athleticism for the small forward spot in the NBA.

At 59, he'd be a no-brainer. I wouldn't want the Spurs to trade up and draft him in the first, though. Plus, you can't really ignore the fact that Greeks all struggle to play outside of Greece for some reason.

[MR-Clutch]

At 59, he'd be a no-brainer. I wouldn't want the Spurs to trade up and draft him in the first, though. Plus, you can't really ignore the fact that Greeks all struggle to play outside of Greece for some reason.

Greece can pay them more.:hat

[SamoanTD]

This guy is a winner.

Tim Tebow? lol jk

[timvp]

Greek forward Kostas Papanikolaou has appeal to several teams in the back end of the first round – including Miami (27) and Oklahoma City (28), sources say – who aren’t eager to add payroll and want to store a player overseas for another year.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nba--syracuse-s-dion-waiters-drawing-interest-from-cavaliers.html


A couple weeks ago it looked like he could drop to the lower part of the second round. But now I wouldn't be surprised if he's the first Euro off the board. I think he's a solid prospect but a definite reach at 27 or 28.

[Solid D]

Thank god the Spurs won't draft him then.

No Greeks.

http://joanneellison.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/mouse_trap.jpg

[jyra]

http://www.eurohoops.net/2013/05/dunks/25324


Last year in Istanbul, NBA executives were left in awe with his performances. Something that this year in London didn’t happen, but there was no need for something similar. Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos, winner of this year’s “rising star award” as his team defended their title in London, has already proved that he is one of the best European players and this why many NBA teams are thinking of approaching Portland to acquire his rights.

Blazers followed him closely throughout the season, but at this point it seems that “Pap” in not on the immediate plans of Neil Olshey. Portland (besides starter Nicolas Batum) also has another talented European forward with Spaniard Victor Claver and is no need to “overload” the small forward position.

In fact Olshey didn’t travel in London, where only Blazers’ scout Jason Filipi was present. So there is a strong chance that the Blazers will trade his rights and many teams has shown interest. Spurs and Mavericks are among them, as well as the Knicks who drafted Papanikolaou on No48 of last year’s draft. Knicks GM Glen Grunwald visited London for a day, just to watch him on the semifinal against CSKA!



I much rather have K-Pap than another washed up veteran to backup Kawhi. He has good size for the SF position and has shot incredibly well from 3 in the Euroleague this year (59.4% in the regular season and 52.4% in the playoffs while putting up about 3 attemps per game). I wonder what the Spurs could offer in a trade though.

[jesterbobman]

Is he better than what is available at 28? Could look into a draft day trade.

[Bruno]

I like him but Spurs should only go after him is Blazer's asking price is reasonable. If they want something like a first round pick for him, going after a player like Casspi would be the smart move. It's kinda pointless to give up something good for a player while you can get a comparable one on the free agent market without giving up assets.

[Mel_13]

It doesn't appear the Portland Trail Blazers will be bringing over international player Kostas Papanikolaou for the 2013-14 season, or for any Trail Blazer season for that matter.

George Sfairopoulos, the agent who represents the 6-9 small forward, says the likely scenario is Portland opting to trade Papanikolaou's rights.

“As of now, we don't have any sign that leads us to believe that Kostas will go to Portland,” Sfairopoulos told CSNNW.com. “Therefore, we believe that he will not be in the plans of the organization next season and probably will be traded.”

Papanikolaou, 22, was drafted by the New York Knicks with No. 48 pick in the 2012 NBA Draft. The The Trail Blazers acquired his rights from the Knicks in the Raymond Felton sign-and-trade last offseason.

He received the Euroleague Rising Stars Trophy for the 2012-13 season while playing for European powerhouse Olympiacos in his native Greece.

Nicolas Batum and Victor Claver are the only two small forwards on the Trail Blazers' roster with guaranteed contracts.

In 31 games last season during Euroleague play, Papanikolaou averaged 8.7 points, 4.4 rebounds, 0.7 blocks and shot 52 percent from three-point range in 23.3 minutes per game.

http://www.csnnw.com/blog/blazers-talk/agent-anticipates-blazers-trading-rights-kostas-papanikolaou

[Cklbmk]

about to be waived... Kyle Anderson insurance??

[CGD]

about to be waived... Kyle Anderson insurance??

Doeant look like he hasn't been waived. Appears to be a good passer, can penetrate, and shoot the 3. Seems like the opportunistic type of move the Spurs would make if he does get waived tho

[Cklbmk]

everyone expected Denver to waive him when they extended Gallo and Wilson

[ace3g]

Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
(https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine)By waiving him before Oct. 4, Denver sheds $4.8 million owed Kostas Papanikolaou for the coming season


Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
(https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine)Guarantee date on Kostas Papanikolau's contract was fast approaching in early October but sources say Denver decided to waive him today


Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine
(https://twitter.com/ESPNSteinLine)ESPN sources say the Denver Nuggets have waived Kostas Papanikolau