Luka Samanic is gone (Update: Yeah, he gone)

[raybies]

I know some downplay this sequence as what cut him. Obviously it didn't cut him -- he'd shown plenty of laziness and ineffectual play before -- but this is the sort of insta-cut play that's bizarre to see from a guy fighting for his career in the league. I don't think I've ever seen a player just give up like that. What if he caught up? What if the layup was muffed?

Samanic might have been dangling from a thread before this play, but it absolutely cut it. It's so bad, I'm not sure other teams will look at him for a while. Best he can do is go back to Europe and grow some maturity right quick.

Yep, finish what he started. The ed up thing is he burned bridges over there... He's so talented, some team may take a chance but... we'll see.

[PhantomDashCam]

I wonder whether Luka’s hand fracture (and his subsequent response to it) played a role in his ultimate departure too.

With the controversy surrounding Spurs medical on more than one occasion, his decision to play for his National team against the likely wishes of PATFO and co. would only place further strain on a tenuous alliance.

Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if heading into camp he was unaware of how much is role, not only in the rotation, but the organisation was valued heading into that first pre season game.

Maybe on Season 2 of Marvel’s ‘What If….’

[Maddog]

As you might expect a sniffy embellished account.
But Luka did only chase the guy for a few steps then slowed in to a jog as he conceded the breakaway. Probably no way he was going to block the guy but still a very bad look.
Here, see for yourself:
6:52 - 6:58


another view
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/top-dunks-...004200954.html

And the play right after that one wasn't too good either

[Dex]

Keldon speaks a bit about the situation here but doesn't really give much info.

[poopbox]

Damn so now Luka is the only person in the history of the nba to jog back and give up a fast break layup

[MultiTroll]

I know some downplay this sequence as what cut him. Obviously it didn't cut him -- he'd shown plenty of laziness and ineffectual play before -- but this is the sort of insta-cut play that's bizarre to see from a guy fighting for his career in the league. I don't think I've ever seen a player just give up like that. What if he caught up? What if the layup was muffed?

Samanic might have been dangling from a thread before this play, but it absolutely cut it. It's so bad, I'm not sure other teams will look at him for a while. Best he can do is go back to Europe and grow some maturity right quick.

Like he wanted to be waived / already knew he was going to be waived.
NBA teams don't tell a player he is being waived and then play him another game, do they?

I wonder whether Luka’s hand fracture (and his subsequent response to it) played a role in his ultimate departure too.

With the controversy surrounding Spurs medical on more than one occasion, his decision to play for his National team against the likely wishes of PATFO and co. would only place further strain on a tenuous alliance.

Wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if heading into camp he was unaware of how much is role, not only in the rotation, but the organisation was valued heading into that first pre season game.

Don't play for the National team while CIA Popped is allowed to bandwagon the Olympic Commercialization Games? Or you mean due to injury healing?
Also why would he feel "valued" after seeing Aldridge and Bryn get minutes then get paid handsomely to become a Net got.
Nonetheless he could have valued his opportunity, absolutely. Again on that play it's like he knew he was getting waived / wanted to be waived.
Maybe he has some super hot Euro girlfriend who wants him to live there. Then again with the bank NBA players make one can easily afford to move in a GF.

Keldon speaks a bit about the situation here but doesn't really give much info.

I think it gave tons of info, while true no details.
"Things didn't work out how both sides wanted it to."

[cd98]

Damn so now Luka is the only person in the history of the nba to jog back and give up a fast break layup

That's the one thing from James Harden's game that I wish he didn't make a part of his game.

[Fireball]

Damn so now Luka is the only person in the history of the nba to jog back and give up a fast break layup

of course it happens but if I knew that I can be cut from the team I would give 110% in those PS games .... shots not falling can always happen but not hustling is not acceptable

[Dex]

That's the one thing from James Harden's game that I wish he didn't make a part of his game.

Apparently you can get away with it when you are an MVP caliber scorer... , this happens all the time in NBA games for lesser players.

But obviously not a good look when you are still fighting for the 15th spot in training camp.

[lefty]

To be fair, SPurs social media is annoying AF, maybe he is just decluttering his timelines

[Dex]

I think it gave tons of info, while true no details.
"Things didn't work out how both sides wanted it to."

Yeah, there are definitely some implications in the things he chooses to say....and also the things he chooses not to say.

Personally, it came off to me like he didn't want to throw his friend under the bus but also didn't seem overly surprised by the decision.

[R. DeMurre]

Apparently you can get away with it when you are an MVP caliber scorer... , this happens all the time in NBA games for lesser players.

But obviously not a good look when you are still fighting for the 15th spot in training camp.

True... Westbrook doesn't get back on D at least 3 or 4 times every game. That's why it annoys me when people say he gives such incredible effort. He gives incredible effort when he feels like it, but he has no problem lagging behind multiple plays a game barking at or staring down the refs either, and letting his teammates play 4 on 5 defense.

[Allan Rowe vs Wade]

Yeah, there are definitely some implications in the things he chooses to say....and also the things he chooses not to say.

Personally, it came off to me like he didn't want to throw his friend under the bus but also didn't seem overly surprised by the decision.

keldon: I love the putz but damn did you see him give zero-point-zero percent effort on that fast break?

[exstatic]

Damn so now Luka is the only person in the history of the nba to jog back and give up a fast break layup

Borderline players can’t get away with that . False equivalence. He just got way too comfortable having guaranteed money this year.

[The Truth #6]

I think focusing on one play misses the overall picture.

He has some challenges with motivation that is likely much deeper, possibly diagnosable with his mood, if I had to guess. He didn’t fit in. We can only speculate how much Pop supported him. My guess it was like Bertrans: underutilized until year 3, unfortunately Luka had already given up hope of being given a chance by then.

[PhantomDashCam]

Don't play for the National team while CIA Popped is allowed to bandwagon the Olympic Commercialization Games? Or you mean due to injury healing?
Also why would he feel "valued" after seeing Aldridge and Bryn get minutes then get paid handsomely to become a Net got.
Nonetheless he could have valued his opportunity, absolutely. Again on that play it's like he knew he was getting waived / wanted to be waived.
Maybe he has some super hot Euro girlfriend who wants him to live there. Then again with the bank NBA players make one can easily afford to move in a GF.

Yeah, the time required to fully heal, monitoring of rehab etc. would likely fall outside the Spurs’ purview in that timeframe.

Luka deserves the lion’s share of responsibility for what transpired leading to his dismissal, I believe that’s undeniable. However, it’s not like the Spurs should be absolved from their role in this.

It was only 10 months ago when Trey Lyles was seemingly entrenched as a part of the Spurs starting lineup, and team’s future plans appearing in the adverts for the new fiesta unis and the like.

In two of the more difficult years for basketball growth and development, and taking into account cultural differences and Spurs assimilation, Luka always seemed to be on the outer.

[D-Robinson 50 fan]

I find it funny that the usual suspects are doing what they usually do and blame Pop for a player most on this site was calling a scrub before getting cut. Lol.

Luka for all his limited flashes of potential couldn’t beat out lesser players for time. He was too inconsistent in his effort level and supposedly (due to reports on this site and others) remembering where he should be on the court.

last season while in the G-League Luka played with a more consistent level but he also was heavily featured offensively. His 1st G-League season his effort level and body language wasn’t the greatest when he didn’t get the ball regularly on offense. This sadly was one of the knocks on him reported by Mike Schmitz and a few other draft experts. Even some people on this site who watched him in Europe pointed out his moody nature and inconsistencies on the court.

the fact of the matter is Luka never really improved (besides getting more muscle) his knowledge or skill levels to be effective. The guy barely gave solid effort when he did get nba minutes

[weebo]

the sammich guy sucked....below average to average nba talent across the board...he got to the nba thinking he was going to bully scrubs around like he did in soft euro...boy got scared at the elite talent in the nba... he damn well knows he can't hang...oh ya and lol at getting your feelers hurt because some grumpy old man yells at you...if you can't handle pop yelling at you what the are you going to do when you're asked to hit a shot in the waning seconds of a game to help your team....next lonnie walker...ive seen enough of him live to know that dude isn't a real nba player...athletically talented sure but no basketball heart or brain

[MultiTroll]

Spurs related side point Keldon answering the reporter who inquired about his watching film of other players and suggesting Kobme.
I was saddened to hear "Kobme" altho i guess one could learn some offensive moves that he copied from Jordan.

Much rather hear Keldon learn things from Ginobili, which later in the q and a he said he looked fwd to working with Manu.

[exstatic]

Yeah, the time required to fully heal, monitoring of rehab etc. would likely fall outside the Spurs’ purview in that timeframe.

Luka deserves the lion’s share of responsibility for what transpired leading to his dismissal, I believe that’s undeniable. However, it’s not like the Spurs should be absolved from their role in this.

It was only 10 months ago when Trey Lyles was seemingly entrenched as a part of the Spurs starting lineup, and team’s future plans appearing in the adverts for the new fiesta unis and the like.

In two of the more difficult years for basketball growth and development, and taking into account cultural differences and Spurs assimilation, Luka always seemed to be on the outer.

Trey Lyles wasn’t even in the rotation last year, and you’re putting him in the SL in January? I think it was 9-10 months earlier than that, right before the shutdown in the spring of 2020 that Trey was playing, and starting a few games. Much closer to two years.

[PhantomDashCam]

Trey Lyles wasn’t even in the rotation last year, and you’re putting him in the SL in January? I think it was 9-10 months earlier than that, right before the shutdown in the spring of 2020 that Trey was playing, and starting a few games. Much closer to two years.

In November 2020, Spurs unveiled their fiesta uniforms featuring DW, KJ, DJ, Lonnie and Trey Lyles. Four of those guys are still with the team.

In the preseason of December 2020, Trey Lyles was heavily featured in the 3 pre season games. He played so poorly and pressed so greatly that he was subject of much scorn on these very threads.

We can argue over the semantics but Trey was penciled in as a key rotation piece for the 2020-2021 season (and likely starter), before his game was exposed in those ensuing performances.

And if you are going to say “it was only preseason…”, have a look at the thread we’re in and the current slate of games being played.

[D-Robinson 50 fan]

Free post.

[MultiTroll]

48 hours has passed.
Did he clear waivers?

[Leetonidas]

Surprised we haven't heard a peep about anyone even being interested. I guess getting cut from a bottom feeder like SA that is clearly devoid of talent at the F spot is not a good look at all

[exstatic]

In November 2020, Spurs unveiled their fiesta uniforms featuring DW, KJ, DJ, Lonnie and Trey Lyles. Four of those guys are still with the team.

In the preseason of December 2020, Trey Lyles was heavily featured in the 3 pre season games. He played so poorly and pressed so greatly that he was subject of much scorn on these very threads.

We can argue over the semantics but Trey was penciled in as a key rotation piece for the 2020-2021 season (and likely starter), before his game was exposed in those ensuing performances.

And if you are going to say “it was only preseason…”, have a look at the thread we’re in and the current slate of games being played.

He was inactive for the whole bubble to end the previous season. Not benched. Inactive. That was with LaMarcus away from the team. But, you think because he played some preseason games, and modeled the new uni, that he was key in their plans. Well, OK, then.