Reply With Quote
Pretty good article. Basically a summary of the debates on the forum. No real new information of note, however it does sound even the Spurs were impressed with the way Scola played.
And@ the Spurs couldn't sit on Scola because it would be unfair.
Harvey: Spurs lose Scola; they aren't alone
San Antonio Express-News
Luis Scola held a trophy Sunday night, and the Spurs will hear about that.
They will hear more if Scola ever holds one in June.
At least the Spurs have an excuse for trading the MVP of the Olympic qualifying tournament. They are the champs, after all, with a set rotation.
But what about the rest of the league?
Shouldn't another team have out-bid Houston for this super-sized version of Manu Ginobili?
Scola wasn't really the best player in Las Vegas these past two weeks. Scouts would rank every player on the U.S. team higher.
But he was clearly the best player in the Olympic qualifying tournament not in the NBA. He's a smart, bullish scorer, and even the Spurs admit he's been more effective than Tiago Splitter, their first-round draft pick.
Scola was more effective Saturday, too. Then Scola outscored Splitter and Brazil, guaranteeing Argentina an Olympic berth, impressive because both Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto weren't involved.
Furthermore, Scola comes with the typical Argentine edge. He's as tough and as fearless as they all seem to be, which is why the Spurs could have won a few games with this roster: Tim Duncan, Tony Parker and the Argentina national team.
But a buyout got in the way two summers ago, as did a few other factors. Scola isn't Oberto, a glue guy willing to play a role. Scola is a post scorer, and an undersized one. That played well in Europe where he's been the focus, but the Spurs wondered how Scola would share the same area of the floor with Duncan.
Still, even if Scola didn't fit in San Antonio, wouldn't other teams line up for him? If Splitter was worth a first-round pick, wasn't Scola?
The Spurs have been openly shopping Scola for over a year, hoping for a prize in return, and nothing developed. The European Final Four the last three years didn't help the Spurs. Then Scola faced bigger and better players, and he struggled against compe ion that is more like the NBA.
The consensus: His game won't translate to America.
As a result, Scola became this era's Dennis Rodman. As with Rodman, the Spurs faced a dilemma with a player better than his trade value.
Rodman undercut himself. By 1996, he had scared away most general managers, as well as Madonna, despite his rebounding genius. Only one or two teams even talked to the Spurs about him, and those who did wanted him for free.
Only the Bulls offered anything of substance, because they rightly figured Michael Jordan could control Rodman's scattered brain cells. In return, Chicago was willing to give up a serviceable big man, Will Perdue.
The Spurs could have given Rodman to an awful team, and Rodman would have dissolved into a mess. They instead traded Rodman to the one place where he could succeed, and, as Rodman won championships, the Spurs felt some criticism.
The Spurs accepted this fate for one reason. The Bulls made the best offer, and Perdue was an asset. He was part of the Spurs' first le.
Scola isn't Rodman, exactly. For one, Scola has yet to wear a wedding dress, at least in public.
But this power forward created the same potential backlash as the other. After a three-way deal involving Cleveland fell apart in the summer, the Spurs had a decision to make. They could have done nothing, forcing Scola to return to Europe, but that wouldn't have been fair to Scola. And they could have given Scola away to an Eastern Conference team, but that wouldn't have done much for the Spurs.
They instead got the best they could, which was payroll relief. This kind of exchange is not to be diminished in the world of the salary cap, but, in doing so, the Spurs traded Scola as they did Rodman to the one place that could come back to bite them the hardest.
The Rockets aren't just division rivals. They happen to need a power forward.
And if Scola fits next to Yao Ming?
The Spurs will feel the same kind of sting that came when Rodman won les, when the sting should be shared.
http://www.mysanantonio.com/sports/b...N.34b5bdf.html
Pretty good article. Basically a summary of the debates on the forum. No real new information of note, however it does sound even the Spurs were impressed with the way Scola played.
And
If they would have held onto scola until after these FIBA games could they have gotten something A LOT better? Nocioni perhaps!?
I foresee Manu or Parker drawing a lot of stupid fouls on Scola in the future
"Scola" and "Rodman" in the same breath is pretty crazy, at least at this point. We should wait until this guy actually plays an NBA game before we call this trade Rodman-for-Purdue (which, by the way, after all was said and done, wasn't really a bad trade).
Huh?
So this guy believes it was the Spurs decision not to sign Scola, based on basketball related concerns? He has inside information to the Spurs organization, and he still hasn't heard about Scola's ridiculous demands for the past years, Tau holding him hostage by saying they'd release him if he paid the buyout while letting the Spurs know they wouldn't, and Scola's recent absolute refusal to wear a Spurs' jersey?
Wow... he's totally clueless.
Geezus...I can't believe so many people are making a big deal about this scrub.
After reading all the comments about what if's and what not-if's regarding Scola, I just got one sentence to say:
In life, you win some and you lose some..
Don't take too much heart..
I think this Scola debate have been carried on for far too long..
I agree it's been on far too long...but once the season starts the Scola crew is going to look foolish...they need to get their shots in now before Scola Abdur Raheem has actually stepped on an NBA court.
At this point Scola could make the all-star team and whottt would say "See I told you he was a bum". whottt has way to much invested in being right on this.
He's not going to be near as good in the NBA as he is in Interntaional Compe ion.
Keep in mind, this is where he has always excelled. He's better in International play than he is in Euroleague play IMO.
Am I the only one that watched him during the Olympics in 04? He played about the same...only he had Manu on his team and Manu played even better.
Scola won't make an All Star Team in the NBA...at least not one voted on by the coaches.
I just think it's funny how FIBA counts for Scola but it didn't for a guy like Shane Heal.
To me the one thing that does transfer is shooting....
Sour Grapes? ^
Too many roars about Luis, let's see.
It always takes me a while to get your posts Walter, but yes, I agree.
In the end what's done is done, let's wait and see what happens...
(However, that Rockets roster does look pretty strong to me).
Had Luis' friends, Manu and Fabricio, not been part of the Spurs family, keeping Scola's rights may have been an easier thing to do. There is that human element in business that is placed onto the scales in weighing a decision and with the Spurs - even though the financial aspects were key - that element could not be ignored.But this power forward created the same potential backlash as the other. After a three-way deal involving Cleveland fell apart in the summer, the Spurs had a decision to make. They could have done nothing, forcing Scola to return to Europe, but that wouldn't have been fair to Scola. And they could have given Scola away to an Eastern Conference team, but that wouldn't have done much for the Spurs.
They instead got the best they could, which was payroll relief. This kind of exchange is not to be diminished in the world of the salary cap, but, in doing so, the Spurs traded Scola as they did Rodman to the one place that could come back to bite them the hardest.
If you call Scola a scrub and your really mean it you should stop watching basketball because you dont understand it.
Good point and good article by Harvey. It still just boggles the mind that we gave this guy away to the Rockets. A huge blunder down the road I'm afraid...If they would have held onto scola until after these FIBA games could they have gotten something A LOT better? Nocioni perhaps!?
I foresee Manu or Parker drawing a lot of stupid fouls on Scola in the future
Again, I don't think he will be a star, but he will be an effective player, much to good to give away to a division foe...
quick foots donŽt transfer when HeŽll face Bigger,slower,havier PFs in the NBA tham in Europe??,and also,He wont be a franshise player no more,with all the attention seted in Yao in the Low post HeŽll will have more spaces to hit the midrange or to assist some one esle.
In what parallel dimension does the Australian basketball league of the 90s rival the modern day ACB and Euroleague?
Also I'm not that familiar with Heal's career. But this is a summary of Scola's accomplishments. A few are missing though, like the fact that he was ACB first team and second and third in MVP voting in the two years of the last four where he didn't get the award. But anyway, here they are:
Won the gold medal at the South American Cadet Championship with the Argentinean National Team in 1995.
Won the gold medal at the South American Junior Championship with the Argentinean National Team in 1996.
Won the silver medal at the South American Championship with the Argentinean National Team in 1999.
Won the gold medal at the Under 21 South American Championship with the Argentinean National Team in 2000. Named MVP of the tournament.
Won the bronze medal at the Under 21 World Championship with the Argentinean National Team in 2001. Named to the All-Tournament team.
Won the gold medal at the Tournament of Americas with the Argentinean National Team in 2001.
Won the silver medal at the World Championship with the Argentinean National Team in 2002.
Won the gold medal at the Olympic Games with the Argentinean National Team in 2004.
Won the Spanish Cup with Tau Ceramica in 2002, 2004 and 2006.
Won the Spanish League with Tau Ceramica in 2002.
Won the Spanish Supercup with Tau Ceramica in 2005 and 2006. Named MVP in 2005.
Named Spanish League Rookie of the Year in 2000.
Named MVP of the Spanish League in 2005 and 2007.
Named to the All-Euroleague 2nd Team in 2005.
Named to the All-Euroleague 1st Team in 2006 and 2007.
Won the silver medal at the Tournament of Americas with the Argentinean National Team in 2007. Named MVP.
Does Shane Heal's career compare?
EDIT: Wait, never mind. I found out he got the 1990 "Good Hands" award in the Australian league. I take back what I said. If he didn't make it in the NBA it's definite proof no FIBA accomplishment means anything.
Last edited by Ariel; 09-03-2007 at 11:25 AM.
Hey picnroll, you need to fix your tagline....
"Mahinmi in ?"
Mahinmi is joining us this year...
Unless your counting down to him becoming an all-star...
I'm holding out until he can actually stick with the Spurs' A team not the NBDL.Hey picnroll, you need to fix your tagline....
"Mahinmi in ?"
Mahinmi is joining us this year...
Unless your counting down to him becoming an all-star...
I admit that I, for one, don't think that Scola's game will translate into what we've seen from him as a member of the Argentine National team.
He may be about the size of Carlos Boozer, but he will not be near as effective. Besides that, he doesn't rebound well enough to be considered a legitimate PF threat at the next level.
Having said all that, I do believe, however, that he will become a very effective player for the Rockets. He's a nice addition to their starting five and should do well in Van Gundy's system. I just simply don't see him becoming the second coming Karl Malone, Boozer, Barkley or anyone of that ilk.
So let's the criticism of the Spurs begin now. Because the Spurs will be the ones laughing in June.
who? jvg aint the coach no longer and his system like himself just got thrown out of the building.
but yeah scola!
Buck actually raises a valid point, for a change.
It's not like this guy was a third-pick or some diamond in the rough.
Every front office in the league knew he was a big gun for Argentina. They knew he was a capable big-man and a dependable scorer. Otherwise, they just haven't been looking over their freaking scouting reports.
We took this guy with the 56th freaking pick 5 years ago, in a draft where we didn't even have a first round pick (traded to Sixers). That's 55 chances other teams gave up on him, not to mention the past two years we've been shopping his trade rights around.
I don't see why this is such a big coup for Houston when nearly every team in the league, including the Spurs, has passed on this guy.
I'm not saying Scola won't be a good player. I was excited about his prospect and would have rather seen him come to the Spurs.
But some people need to get the over it already.
Last edited by Dex; 09-03-2007 at 12:53 PM.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
