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I doubt spurs ever sign him now
So, it's Friday and if the reports are true, then we'll have to wait another year to see what Robertas Javtokas can do in the NBA. It's been a long wait for many of us who took an interest him following his being selected as a second round pick.
Why was I looking forward to his coming to San Antonio. Three reasons I guess. The first is that I felt he filled a need. Over the last several seasons, even though we won the championship in 2005, I can't tell you how frustrated I've been watching opposing players go uncontested to the hole on us. Added to this has been my frustration with what seems to me to be a lack of rebounding production out of the center position. I honestly feel that Robertas Javtokas, of all the people we've considered for that spot, would have helped a lot in that regard. Anyone who watched him during the olympics couldn't help but observe that he has tremendous shot blocking ability and he's a good rebounder. More than anything else, that's what I wanted from our 5 position and I suspect that I am not alone.
The second reason I wanted him here was because the guy still appears to be a freakish athlete. I think you all know the stories of the 40 inch vertical and setting a dunking record for height, the time he jumped over the car, the statements that he was the fastest man on his Lithuanian team. Anybody with that type of athletic ability has got to be able to refine the other aspects of his game. Maybe he'd never get great at offense, but I do think he could have become much improved under the right tutor. You wonder how much of that he actually received in Lithuania, probably not a whole lot. I actually grow tired of all the posts about his being a "European" center. I think I know what is implied there and, if I'm correct, he's anything but that. The block on Duncan's turn-around in the olympics and other blocks he had there, plus all the stories, convinced me. He's a very good athlete by anyone's standards.
Lastly, man, I just wanted to see the completion of a good story. From the Spurs helping this guy out after his motorcycle accident (which - after which - many questioned whether he would walk again) to his fulfilling of a life long dream to play in the NBA. The bitterness of these negotiations has really trampled the beauty of that vision for me.
Part of me thinks he just should have accepted whatever they were willing to pay, the other part of me thinks he shouldn't get shafted just because he got drafted in the second round. I don't know how I feel about all that honestly. What I do know is that I'm bummed out. This was supposed to be the highlight of my offseason ... and it's not happening.
Next year maybe, Robertas.
Last edited by 40 inch vertical; 07-14-2006 at 07:58 PM. Reason: match title with last line
I doubt spurs ever sign him now
I'm still going to hope. Hopefully all the good will shown before will prevail after the sting of these negotiations go away.
the guy is unthankfull the spurs paid for him to get well and so he could walk
and was worried about playing time
I also don't think he'll ever be a Spur, but I wish him well.
That's a wholly unsubstantiated (and I would think incorrect) thing to say about his gra ude. As far as playing time goes, I'm not buying into that. He's used to splitting a lot of time, why would he not expect the same or more here? I think that was the normal posturing that goes on at signing time.
Why...
When a team does what it does, people call it a "business decision" and say that it is acceptable.
When a player looks out for his own interests, he is greedy and selfish and should have taken whatever he was offered. Can't he make a "business decision" as well.
Like with the Bruce interview- he seems to understand the Spurs making a business decision to get rid of Rasho but then faults Nazr for choosing to go to Detroit. If the Spurs owed Rasho nothing then Nazr owed the Spurs nothing. It's a business- right??
he got a offer and turned it down and signed a one year deal
worth a whole 2 million dollars for one year
spurs offer had to be more guaranteed money then that
might take 2 years but still he would have a chance at a much bigger payday later
see you later ungratefully bastered
.. still think he got caught up in some posturing, only the Spurs weren't playing.
The Spurs paid to put Humpty Dumpty back together again after his own version of a Ben Roethlisberger incident, so yes, a little gra ude was probably in order.When a player looks out for his own interests, he is greedy and selfish and should have taken whatever he was offered. Can't he make a "business decision" as well.
As for our reputation in Europe being tarnished, being drafted is part of the price of admission to the NBA. Deal with it. Second round picks have something to prove before they hit the jackpot. Even if they offered Javtokas the LLE ($1.75M), that's still more than a mid to late first rounder makes. They are not in a postion to dictate terms if they want to play in the NBA one day. I'm sure Isaiah would have caved, but then again, his payroll is $90M+ and his team is . Not a model I want to follow.
Posturing is a good word. Didn't his camp report that the Spurs never offered him a contract? Is that possible after they negotiated for two days?
See how the Spurs are able to turn a cute little duck against a player for making a decision that is best for him!
Spurs FO are a bunch of bastereds!
don't worry, the spurs are getting there - the " " part that is. unless they can tank another season, don't expect much once the duncan years are through.
spurs offered him a contract
getting paid 2 million for one year (if he gets injured he is toast)
or signing a bigger 2 or 3 year guarantee contract that is more then that
humm I wonder what is better....
also he has a bigger shot at getting a bigger payday later in nba
his agent said never a serious offer. I bet it was a offer. Then jav acted surprised that after nazr and rasho left that spurs did not offer him the the full mle.
HE WANTED MORE MONEY
ungratefully..........................
spurs said that he was never a starter
he was always a back
dude wanted to play
PUBLICALLY HE CRIED ABOUT PLAYING TIME
I think the contract offer was a pr move because fans watched him a long time and wanted to see him in a spur uniform.
Spur players do not whine in the press about playing time
1.75 million is CLOSE TO his 1.6 million euro's he is getting
1.6 million euros is 2 million and alitte change
do not believe me go to google type in foreign currency converty
time to package scola and him together and trade them
Luis Scola and Robertas Javtokas were two of Spurstalk biggest nutter-overers, but overtime Spurs FO kicks 'em in the ass over and over making mostly everybody sick of them and not wanting them anymore.
Yeah, I agree. If this guy's all that, why not take the LLE for two years or whatever to break in and then collect your big paycheck from some team or another (not necessarily us) once you've proven yourself?
That could be as far away as 7-8 years. Robinson played to that age with an extremely painful back, and Tim suffers no major health problems like that. Big men are durable and age well if they take care of themselves.
jav brought it on by himself opening his big mouth about playing time
spur did not have anything to do with that
scola I would not mind if he was cheaper but would he be happy playing 8-10 minutes a game
spurs do not think he can play with duncan
you're like a broken record on this one, ducks.
Still not buying it. I think he is thankful for all of that stuff that happened (how could he not be), just got caught in a situation where he (or really his agent) was trying to negotiate a better deal for him.
Actually, Javtokas might be in a better position had he not been drafted. Another team probably would have given him the money he seeks as a free agent. So, no, I don't think being drafted is part of the price of admission to the NBA. Lots of Euro free agents get inked all the time for better contracts than was offered. The Spurs have at least one of them.
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