Magic first round pick to stay in Europe

[Kori Ellis]

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. -- First-round draft pick Fran Vazquez has decided to remain in Europe instead of joining the Orlando Magic this season.

The 6-foot-10 power forward from Spain was the 11th pick in the June draft and the first European player selected. He was expected to play right away for the Magic, but surprised the team and his agent with his decision Thursday.

"I've said no because I was afraid to adapt to the American way of life and of not giving the level they have asked," Vazquez told the Spanish newspaper Malaga Hoy. "I'm not a coward, but I prefer to stay in Spain, progress, and who knows? Maybe jump to the NBA in a few years."

The Magic knew Vazquez had a $650,000 buyout clause in his European contract when they drafted him, but they insisted it wouldn't be a problem.

"Yes, we're a little surprised," Magic co-general manager Dave Twardzik said. "The message we've been getting all along -- before the draft, after the draft -- was that he was excited about playing here. He said it was his dream to play in the NBA."

The team expected to sign Vazquez shortly after the league and the players' union formalized a new collective bargaining agreement next week. Under the already agreed-upon salary scale, Vazquez was slated to sign a guaranteed contract worth more than $5 million over three years.

The Magic have not spoken to Vazquez but only to his European agent, Jose Cobelo. The team had been in almost daily dialogue with either Cobelo or his American-based partner, Marc Cornstein.

Cornstein issued a statement Thursday.

"I was shocked and dismayed to read over the Internet that Fran is reconsidering his earlier decision to join the Orlando Magic," Cornstein said.

Even though Vazquez said he won't join the Magic this season, the team will retain his NBA rights indefinitely and could sign him in the future.

[Kori Ellis]

This is the second player (Ukic being the other) from this year's draft to shaft his NBA team and stay overseas. I would think that the NBA teams would scout a little better and be assured that these guys were going to play in the NBA if that's what they wanted. It's weird to me.

[nkdlunch]

The weirdest thing is his excusse. To adapt to American way of life! WTF They should definitely speak directly to the players and not only to their agents though.

[TheTruth]

How do you say shafted in spanish?

The dude is a lottery pick, and he decides he wants to stay in Europe? The magic must have made him watch a lot of video of Timmy, and he got scared.

[alamo50]

How do you say shafted in spanish?


Don't know, but I do know how you call this in American:

"A Boozer" (well kinda)

[T Park]

Another fantastic Orlando Magic draft pick.

Outside of Penny and Shaq, who have they drafted thats been worth a crap?

Dwight Howard, the jury is still out on him....

[alamo50]

Penny wasn't drafted by the Magic.
The Magic drafter Webber and traded him with Golden State for Penny.

The Magic did draft Dennis Scott who was a hell of a shooter.
Nick Anderson and Keon Clark weren't bad drafts either.

[itzsoweezee]

what a chump. this should teach teams to not use high picks on european players. at least two lottery pick euros have been busts and this punk is just too much of a wimp to play in the nba.

[clubalien]

players shafting teams seems fair when teams been shafting players for years

[Mixability]

players shafting teams seems fair when teams been shafting players for years

just like the Spurs got shafted when they drafted David Robinson and he got dunked on by Calvin Cambridge, who's only 4 feet tall, what a draft bust!

[picnroll]

Juries not out on Dwight Howard. The kid's a stud. Apart from that it must truly suck to be a Magic fan.

[T Park]

players shafting teams seems fair when teams been shafting players for years

Yeah those multimillion dollar contracts they hand out are atrocious.

Get a fucking clue.

[T Park]

Keon Clark weren't bad drafts either.


Keon Clark was a bust, where is he now? Vanished.

Nick Anderson had about what 4 good years??

Dennis Scott a couple.


Once again, Orlando cannot draft for shit.

[GrandeDavid]

OMG, what a pvssy this kid is! Nice job, Orlando scouts! :lol

[nkdlunch]

The Magic have not spoken to Vazquez but only to his European agent, Jose Cobelo. The team had been in almost daily dialogue with either Cobelo or his American-based partner, Marc Cornstein.


again, it could be that the agent was BSing. The kid might not have promised anything.

[fastestxc]

if he had been drafted by a better team i.e. satown, i bet he wouldnt have refused.

[SpizdiStrann]

maybe there are also some players with brains.. and aren´t all that stupid as darko the bust. this kid seem´s to be clever. he will wait two or three years, improve his game, get more experience, and work a lot of hard practise with coaches who care about him, and his future. this is difference. and someday when he will know he is ready, he will come here and start real nba career.
this is the way, all young euros should be doing.

[timvp]

What a coward.

In early June, he was considered a top five draft pick. But then he came to America and sucked in workouts. Most people thought his stock had dropped to the early 20's. Then the Magic shocked everyone by picking him at 11.

I think he'll suck whenever he decides to come over. Scola has owned him the last couple of seasons in Spain. And anyone who is scared to adapt to the American lifestyle will have huge problems adapting to the NBA lifestyle.

[samikeyp]

he is scared of a lifestyle that caters to pro athletes? maybe he's just not as good as the hype.

[Kori Ellis]

Dave Twardzik and Otis Smith, co-assistant general managers of the Orlando Magic, are expected to leave for Spain on Monday morning, hoping for a face-to-face meeting and a possible change of heart with first-round draft pick Fran Vazquez.

The Magic used the No. 11 pick in last month's NBA draft to select Vazquez, a 6-foot-10 power forward. They were confident they could sign him for this season.

Vazquez was equally confident about joining the team when he visited Orlando the day following the draft, which he attended with the other top picks in New York.

Vazquez, though, stunned the Magic and his American agent this week by telling reporters in Spain that he would play at least another season in Europe before joining the NBA. By drafting him, the Magic retain his NBA rights indefinitely.

"Should we have sent someone to live with him following the draft? I don't know," Magic President Bob Vander Weide said Friday. "Right now, we need to build a relationship with this kid, extend an extra hand."


http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/basketball/magic/orl-sptmagic30073005jul30,0,4501445.story?coll=orl-magic

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

This was bizarre. It's hard to know if the Magic just didn't do their homework enough on this kid. Things could still work out for them with this guy but he sure seems to have dug a hole for himself with the Magic organization.

[T Park]

An example of a team trying to be like the Spurs and draft a Euro and get a steal and not doing their homework enough and looking morons.

I thought Twardzik was a little better than that.


Shoulda packaged the pick up if thats what hed do with it.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

I'm not sure the Spurs would ever use a #11 pick on someone who might be a speculative signing. Maybe a #30. There were too many good players in this year's draft at 11 if this turns out to be a bust.

[MI21]

Another fantastic Orlando Magic draft pick.

Outside of Penny and Shaq, who have they drafted thats been worth a crap?

Dwight Howard, the jury is still out on him....

:lol

Ranks #8 in the NBA in Rebounds Per Game(10.0)
Ranks #10 in the NBA in Field-Goal Percentage(0.52)
Ranks #19 in the NBA in Blocks Per Game(1.66)
Ranks #4 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds(287.0)
Ranks #6 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds Per Game(3.5)
Ranks #7 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds(536.0)
Ranks #14 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per Game(6.5)
Ranks #5 in the NBA in Total Rebounds(823.0)
Ranks #13 in the NBA in Blocks(136.0)
Ranks #12 in the NBA in Double-doubles(32.0)
Ranks #12 in the NBA in Offensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(5.2)
Ranks #19 in the NBA in Defensive Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(9.6)
Ranks #11 in the NBA in Rebounds Per 48 Minutes(14.8)

4 Most important statistical catergories for NBA Big Men:

PPG - 12.0
RPG - 10.0 (8th in the whole NBA, 6th best Offensive Rebounder in league)
FG% - 52.0% (10th in the whole NBA)
BPG - 1.66 (19th in the whole NBA)

All as a 19 year old straight out of High School.

Could you possibly be any more incorrect?

[Clandestino]

pussy ass euro!

[Kori Ellis]

Now he switched teams in Spain and signed a new four-year deal.


Fran Vazquez, the Orlando Magic's first-round draft pick, has left his former Spanish team and signed with another one over the weekend, according to reports in several media outlets in Europe. Vazquez, the 11th player selected in the NBA draft, last week announced that he would stay in Europe for at least another year before coming to the NBA. Magic executives Otis Smith and Dave Twardzik are scheduled to arrive in Spain today to talk with Vazquez.

According to reports, though, Akasvayu Girona bought out his contract with Unicaja Malaga over the weekend and signed him to a new four-year deal paying him 2 million euros annually. One euro is worth $1.21. Mark Cornstein, his American agent, didn't return phone messages to comment on his new deal.