Robertas Javtokas to play in Utah Summer League

[Solid D]

http://www.eurobasket.com/LTU/LTU.asp

Robertas Javtokas (211-C-80, agency: Interperformances, college: Arizona) is going to play in the Utah Summer league who will start next week.The center will play in the Spurs team as they considering signing him for next season.Javtokas will play under his coach of last season - Neven Spehija who will coach the Spurs team.

[Mr. Body]

Wow.

[Solid D]

Interesting. Also, Neven Spehija coached Rytas to LKL championship last season and is now signed to replace the legendary Pini Gershon at Maccabi.

[Mr. Body]

I'm amazed at what kinds of contacts the Spurs have in Europe.

Well, I guess we get to see Javtokas and Mahinmi side by side sooner rather than later.

[Quadzilla99]

They have some Summer League games on NBATV this week. Houston-Dallas is on Thursday at 9:00 and again (same game I think) Friday at 2:00 and Cleveland-Golden State Friday at noon if anybody cares.

[Solid D]

http://www.euroleague.net/fotos/noticias/jornada1/med_1818_20.jpg http://www.eurobasket.com/AcPhotos_Coaches/1Spahija_Neven.jpg

Robertas Javtokas Neven Spehija

[NorCal510]

how can that lithuanian guy coach the spurs if he cant speak english? translator? or do they speak english in lithuania

[Solid D]

He's actually Croatian. I think he can speak English. I'll bet he also speaks Serbian, which is commonly heard by the Spurs players at halftime. :lol

[ducks]

I wonder if that center that ludden mentioned is coming over to

[Quadzilla99]

He went to High School here in the United States and also went to the University of Arizona for a short while.

[Doc Jerome]

Well, I guess we get to see Javtokas and Mahinmi side by side sooner rather than later.

Yes, and in my mind, it is very heavily anticipated. I am very curious as to what will be revealed, for now and the near future. If they rock summer league, particularly Mahinmi; then all acquisitions from hence forth is a moot point.

But, stay tuned.
:fro

[NorCal510]

He went to High School here in the United States and also went University of Arizona for a short while.
wow im suprised you didnt say i was stupid or call me whitey or any of that shit, its a first

[ducks]

Croatian center Nikola Vujcic is he coming to play in summer league solid d?

[Quadzilla99]

wow im suprised you didnt say i was stupid or call me whitey or any of that shit, its a first
You didn't use any ridiculous slang.

[NorCal510]

ninja say wahhh yee yee

[timvp]

Holy crap. This is awesome.

Now we'll know sooner whether the Spurs need to go out and get a real center or if Javtokas is the real deal.

Nice.

:smokin

[NorCal510]

I wanna see 15 and 8 from the boss

[Solid D]

He went to High School here in the United States and also went to the University of Arizona for a short while.

Quadzilla is speaking of Javtokas here, not Spehija the coach about whom your question was directed.


Croatian center Nikola Vujcic is he coming to play in summer league solid d?

Nothing regarding Vujcic...although one of the other articles mentioned that Spahija would be joining fellow Croat Vujcic at Maccabi.

[ducks]

thanks solid d

[Brutalis]

What if he sucks ass along with Ian? Then what?

[Kori Ellis]

I don't think Spahija will be the head coach of the summer league team. He's probably one of the assistants, I would think. The head coach of the Spurs summer league team is usually one of the normal Spurs assistants ... Newman, Brown, etc.

[Quadzilla99]

Yeah I misread the question. Don't know about the coach.

[angel_luv]

Rock! :fro

[timvp]

What if he sucks ass along with Ian? Then what?

If Javtokas sucks, then the Spurs have to go out and get a center. If Ian sucks, I wouldn't be too surprised. He's still young and the jump in talent will be hard for him handle.

[ducks]

What if he sucks ass along with Ian? Then what?
then I come after you :spin

[Kori Ellis]

I wonder if the Spurs will officially sign Javtokas before or after summer league.

[Solid D]

I don't think Spahija will be the head coach of the summer league team. He's probably one of the assistants, I would think. The head coach of the Spurs summer league team is usually one of the normal Spurs assistants ... Newman, Brown, etc.

I agree. The Spurs have made a habit of inviting coaches from Europe, etc. and they have always been assistants.

[Brutalis]

They'll both flop. Oberto wouldn't have even made the team last year if he'd have showcased in the summer camps first. He just doesn't have 'it'.

I just get the feeling these guys aren't what we think they could be.

Ian's young though so I won't ride his ass too much. Jak just don't impress me any.

[Brutalis]

then I come after you :spin
make sure your ducks are in a row first :angel

[Solid D]

They'll both flop. Oberto wouldn't have even made the team last year if he'd have showcased in the summer camps first. He just doesn't have 'it'.

I just get the feeling these guys aren't what we think they could be.

Ian's young though so I won't ride his ass too much. Jak just don't impress me any.

vBookie material.

[Brutalis]

you betchyass

[Quadzilla99]

Somebody said they have 1 game on TV and I see that NBATV is playing some Summer League games this week. Does anybody know anything about that?

[timvp]

4 of the 6 games will be on TV. However, they will all be tape delayed by more than a week.

[Kori Ellis]

Somebody said they have 1 game on TV and I see that NBATV is playing some Summer League games this week. Does anybody know anything about that?

They have 4 games on NBATV. But they are delayed by about 7-10 days.

I posted the schedule in another thread.

[Kori Ellis]

http://www.nba.com/news/summerleagues2006.html

[Quadzilla99]

Ty.

[Doc Jerome]

What if he sucks ass along with Ian? Then what?

Then Spurs are F!@#ED. They wasted time and money on Rasho which was not a wise decision to get him at that price in the first place. The signs were there with KG practically going off on him because of his lack of aggression and such. Now, with no center on the roster, looks like the Spurs need some of Nelly's basketball innovations just to stay in the game and not totally blow, yet another year of it's best players primes.

If Ian sucks, they (Spurs) know without a doubt, that the future is bleek, and will really go head first into frugal mode. But, stay tuned. :fro

[Kori Ellis]

If Ian sucks, they (Spurs) know without a doubt, that the future is bleek

I don't agree with that part. I would think Ian would be expected to "suck" somewhat in summer league. No one thinks he's NBA ready and most think he'll be overseas for another two years.

[Solid D]

Then Spurs are F!@#ED. They wasted time and money on Rasho which was not a wise decision to get him at that price in the first place. The signs were there with KG practically going off on him because of his lack of aggression and such. Now, with no center on the roster, looks like the Spurs need some of Nelly's basketball innovations just to stay in the game and not totally blow, yet another year of it's best players primes.

If Ian sucks, they (Spurs) know without a doubt, that the future is bleek, and will really go head first into frugal mode. But, stay tuned. :fro

Did a different person post your last sentence? :lol

[Doc Jerome]

I don't agree with that part. I would think Ian would be expected to "suck" somewhat in summer league. No one thinks he's NBA ready and most think he'll be overseas for another two years.

Then a serious reevaluation of how the Spurs use the draft is in order, given the team's current situation. One has to wonder why the Spurs did not draft Wayne Simien with that pick instead of Ian if they knew he needed this much time to develop. They could have just used thee pick in this years or next years draft for Ian. WTF

But, stay tuned. :fro

[Doc Jerome]

Did a different person post your last sentence? :lol

Sorry. I don't get it.

[Quadzilla99]

Simien went to college 4 years and still saw no run last year. Ian has more potential from the FO's perspective apparently.

[Doc Jerome]

Simien will see more minutes this season. He never was going to see much time unless Walker totally sucked and did not buy into Miami's team concept. However, he will see more time on the floor this season.

[Solid D]

Sorry. I don't get it.

Well, you were sounding like you were 100% convinced the Spurs' future is bleak in basically everything you said.

"But, stay tuned." sounds like you aren't 100%, there is hope, and you don't want to shut the door on them after all.

[Doc Jerome]

Well, you were sounding like you were 100% convinced the Spurs' future is bleak in basically everything you said.

"But, stay tuned." sounds like you aren't 100%, there is hope, and you don't want to shut the door on them after all.

Know that there is always hope. Also, know that even in the bleekest of times, all you have is the hope that things will get better. Even when you know that things don't look good, you have to believe that what is to come, just might bring what ultimately fulfills what you have been hoping for. Hence, stay tuned. :fro

[jcrod]

Then a serious reevaluation of how the Spurs use the draft is in order, given the team's current situation. One has to wonder why the Spurs did not draft Wayne Simien with that pick instead of Ian if they knew he needed this much time to develop. They could have just used thee pick in this years or next years draft for Ian. WTF

But, stay tuned. :fro


And what makes you think he wouldn't of been picked in the second round? Wayne wouldn't of played last yr or this yr on this team. At least there's a chance Ian can be a player, if not, then you lose or gain nothing. Like 90% of the end of the 1st round and all of the second round.

[Solid D]

Thanks for clarifying, Doc. True, there is hope. Today is pretty great too.

[Doc Jerome]

Wayne wouldn't of played last yr or this yr on this team. At least there's a chance Ian can be a player, if not, then you lose or gain nothing. Like 90% of the end of the 1st round and all of the second round.

I feel confident in saying that Ian would not have been picked in the 1st or 2nd round of last years NBA draft. The Spurs were the only team that even knew who he was then. All of the pundits thought he was a volleyball player.

Who is to say he would not have played on the Spurs team last year? I know if he were on the team, he would definately get significant minutes this season.

If Ian was 3 years or more away from competing on the NBA level, the picks could have been used on a player that is not so far removed from even being able to compete. Wayne was available, and was not taken. We all well see if that was a mistake or not. As for Ian, if he is not ready for another 2 years, I will go out on a limb and say the Spurs could have used this year's 2nd round pick to draft him.

Now, stay tuned.

:fro

[ChumpDumper]

Is anyone not going to stay tuned at this point?

[Doc Jerome]

Is anyone not going to stay tuned at this point?
:lol We are all compelled to do so by our curiousity and love for the team and/or organization.

[picnroll]

What good bigs are playing in the Utah SL that Javtokas and Mahinmi will match up against?

When is Javtokas supposed to start practice with the Lithuanian national team?

[ChumpDumper]

Utah is bringing in the beef this year with Araujo, Hiram Fuller, James Lang and Robert Whaley. It'll be interesting to see how strong Javtokas is with those guys.

Podkolzin is huge too.

Harold Jamison is playing for the 76ers.

John Edwards from Atlanta has a little NBA experience.

Of course Noel Felix will be there for Seattle, along with shotblocking specialist Deng Gai.

That's about as good as they're getting this RMR.

In oter words, Javtokas better dominate more than a few aspects of each game if we expect him to start.

[ro_50]

If Ian didnt make himself eligible for the draft last summer, he was on his way to Gonzaga to play for Mark Few.

Few raved about the guy.

[Solid D]

Few raved about the guy.

:lol That could be taken two ways.

[MannyIsGod]

I feel confident in saying that Ian would not have been picked in the 1st or 2nd round of last years NBA draft. The Spurs were the only team that even knew who he was then. All of the pundits thought he was a volleyball player.

Who is to say he would not have played on the Spurs team last year? I know if he were on the team, he would definately get significant minutes this season.

If Ian was 3 years or more away from competing on the NBA level, the picks could have been used on a player that is not so far removed from even being able to compete. Wayne was available, and was not taken. We all well see if that was a mistake or not. As for Ian, if he is not ready for another 2 years, I will go out on a limb and say the Spurs could have used this year's 2nd round pick to draft him.

Now, stay tuned.

:froNBA age limit. Ian blows up overseas and the Spurs don't have a chance to draft him for 2 years at which point they may not have a chance at all.

[SequNets]

The Spurs summer league team blows.

[ChumpDumper]

It's a pretty good team. Only about two guys are going to be able to score much at all, but it'll be pretty hard for other teams to score on us.

[Solid D]

Funny, the Spurs Summer League Team looks like the Anti-Small Ball Team, if you consider they have Karaulov, Mahinmi, Javtokas, Steyn, Baston, and Sanikidze.

[Doc Jerome]

NBA age limit. Ian blows up overseas and the Spurs don't have a chance to draft him for 2 years at which point they may not have a chance at all.

Good point; however, it remains to be seen if Ian will tear the hard court up in euroleague. There are a lot of ifs. Why waste a draft pick on 3-4 year projected ifs, when a guy has not proven himself to be adequate? Please don't misunderstand, I trust that the guy has the right "stuff" and will be a stud. But, the way the Spurs are brining him along, through euroleague, I don't think we or the Spurs organization can get a handle of how well he has progressed in terms of real NBA caliber competition. The only sure way to gauge his talent is to bring the guy in, and put him up against NBA full timers. I am positive that this is the only way to accurately gauge as well as accelerate his growth.

[MannyIsGod]

Good point; however, it remains to be seen if Ian will tear the hard court up in euroleague. There are a lot of ifs. Why waste a draft pick on 3-4 year projected ifs, when a guy has not proven himself to be adequate? Please don't misunderstand, I trust that the guy has the right "stuff" and will be a stud. But, the way the Spurs are brining him along, through euroleague, I don't think we or the Spurs organization can get a handle of how well he has progressed in terms of real NBA caliber competition. The only sure way to gauge his talent is to bring the guy in, and put him up against NBA full timers. I am positive that this is the only way to accurately gauge as well as accelerate his growth.Thats not the way the Spurs draft. They obviously valued Ian's potential as more of a value than the possible contributions of anyone left at that point. The Spurs dont' have a history of drafting players in the first round to fill an immediate need. Tony Parker is the only non lotto pick that fills this description for a long time.

[ducks]

spurs drafted ian to take the place of rasho
spurs did not think they could ever trade him because they could not give his guts away last year

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

What ever happened to Valter Monteiro?

[El_Mago]

Went back to Angola.

[ChumpDumper]

Have Quadzilla google him for you.

[Mr. Body]

Holy crap. I didn't realize how many bigs the Spurs have in SLC. Steyn and Karoulov alone are crazy - huge and immobile.

I'm more concerned about our point guards and some the shooters. Summer league teams can be miniature disasters when you have incompetent points or shoot-first point guards.

[NBA Junkie]

Can Spurs fans in the know enlighten me on how to pronounce Robertas Javtokas' last name?

[ducks]

the enforcer

[zeleni]

Yautoukass


Signing of Javtokas would not be a suprise. Two occasional Spurs summerleague coaches took care of his well being. Both of them had great results with him as the only center. The current season he played with a less PG-dependent team, and the results didn't regress. He is obviously smarter player than Scola who got too attached to his Argentinian friend.

Vujacic, if signed, was a part of a more quality-filled team. I'll say we won't see the Criatian signed until next year.

[zeleni]

Pop is of serbo-croatian heritage, and could go only Serbo-Croatian on his teammates. But who really cares?

Yugoslavia is dead.

The fact is that Wikipedia has him Serbian, but in Pop show he claimed Croatian heritage. Either way he said he hardly ever talks in foreign language as he feels to be an American.

[NBA Junkie]

Thanks, Zeleni!

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

Good point; however, it remains to be seen if Ian will tear the hard court up in euroleague. There are a lot of ifs. Why waste a draft pick on 3-4 year projected ifs, when a guy has not proven himself to be adequate? Please don't misunderstand, I trust that the guy has the right "stuff" and will be a stud. But, the way the Spurs are brining him along, through euroleague, I don't think we or the Spurs organization can get a handle of how well he has progressed in terms of real NBA caliber competition. The only sure way to gauge his talent is to bring the guy in, and put him up against NBA full timers. I am positive that this is the only way to accurately gauge as well as accelerate his growth.


If the Spurs followed your logic both Manu and Tony would be playing somewhere else in the league and we'd still be sitting here with exactly one NBA title to show for Tim Duncan's career.

[ata]

I am glad for Spahija (not Spehija). He is great coach and you bet he is fluent in English.

[Russ]

25-10-3. Should be Javtokas' numbers in summer league (if they play him minutes). He should absolutely dominate.

[Mr. Body]

25-10-3. Should be Javtokas' numbers in summer league (if they play him minutes). He should absolutely dominate.

Let's be reasonable. He needs to get used to the NBA game. He's not a scorer and he fouls a lot. At this point I'd be happy with 5/5/1.

[TheTruth]

25 points??? When did he become a scorer?

[Russ]

Let's be reasonable. He needs to get used to the NBA game. He's not a scorer and he fouls a lot. At this point I'd be happy with 5/5/1.
He won't be a big scorer in the NBA, I'm just talking summer league. Okay, 15-10-3 in the summer.

[Solid D]

Pop is of serbo-croatian heritage, and could go only Serbo-Croatian on his teammates. But who really cares?

Yugoslavia is dead.

The fact is that Wikipedia has him Serbian, but in Pop show he claimed Croatian heritage. Either way he said he hardly ever talks in foreign language as he feels to be an American.

Pop going "Serbian" is a common expression among Spurs, so thus the reference earlier. It's still a language spoken, is it not (for example, in Bosnia-Herzegovina along with Bosnian and Croatian)?

[40 inch vertical]

He won't be a big scorer in the NBA, I'm just talking summer league. Okay, 15-10-3 in the summer.


:smokin

He's going to have to get used to the spacing of the court after having spent so much time in Europe since the last time he was on an American basketball court. I'm hoping for more than 5-5-1 but, in the beginning, I can see that.

[Obstructed_View]

Pop is of serbo-croatian heritage, and could go only Serbo-Croatian on his teammates. But who really cares?

Yugoslavia is dead.

The fact is that Wikipedia has him Serbian, but in Pop show he claimed Croatian heritage. Either way he said he hardly ever talks in foreign language as he feels to be an American.
You are sort of overthinking it. "Going Serbian" is the accepted vernacular.

[Slinkyman]

does anybody know who's on the our summer league team? i went to the rocky mountain review site and couldn't find a list of players.

[ChumpDumper]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45515&highlight=summer

[ShoogarBear]

then I come after you :spin
Damn, ducks racks up another :lol

[Slinkyman]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45515&highlight=summer

Thanks, I'd like to see Donta Smith make the team if we can't get Ariza, he could Bowen's replacement and he should come cheap.

[furry_spurry]

I assume if he is coming all this way that it is to get a physical, to sign his contract AND then to play in the Summer League.

[timvp]

One advantage of playing in RMR instead of Vegas is that you can sign players and then put them on your summer league team. With how early the LV one starts, you can't do that.

By the way, has this been confirmed anywhere? I haven't seen it listed anywhere else that Javtokas will be on the summer league team.

[Kori Ellis]

There's been no official press release for the Spurs Rocky Mt Revue team. I'm guessing it should come from the Spurs tomorrow.

[shaggy17]

Kori let me ask you something. Do you see Javtokas (yes hes unproven) having the potiental of helping the Spurs more then Nazr or Rasho did? I am talking in terms of heart,toughness,agressivness,etc

[David@SLCC]

Kori & Timvp, you guys still not sure if you're coming down this year?

[Kori Ellis]

I am pretty sure we are not coming. But we'll know for sure early this week.

[Kori Ellis]

Kori let me ask you something. Do you see Javtokas (yes hes unproven) having the potiental of helping the Spurs more then Nazr or Rasho did? I am talking in terms of heart,toughness,agressivness,etc

Well he probably will be more aggressive than Rasho and a better defender than Nazr. But who knows what he can do on the NBA level. We'll have to wait and see.