Europe Media Spurs and Ramūnas Šiškauskas

[zepn]

He already declared. Other international players that have declared:
Alexis Ajinca, PF, France
Nicolas Batum, SF, France
Rodrigue Beaubois, PG, France
Omri Casspi, F, Israel
Victor Claver, F, Spain
Nando De Colo, PG, France
Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy
Serge Ibaka, F, Congo
Joe Ingles, F, Australia
Luc Louves, F, France
Rudy Mbemba, PG, Sweden
Giorgi Shermadini, C, Georgia
Ante Tomic, C, Croatia

Oh man, we HAVE to get that last guy, A.Tomic(!) just for his name!

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Why won't VS get his straight and come to the NBA then??

Did JVG really hurt his feelings that bad?

He was lie to by Rockets and coach JVG about play time as he make clear he will not leave Greece unless he play 10 minute each game IF he earn play time in practice and also he outplay Alston, Head and Lucas in practice all time and still never play. When he tell this to reporters (and he not start this they ASKS him about it) they prints story make fun of him and his mom also in Houston papers. Fans then make fun of him and mom and also on radio reporters coach and fans makes fun of him and his mom. And he take much less money to play with Rockets than PAO offer him to play in NBA. These thing do make him very mad and it is hard thing for him to get over. I can admit this that he is struggle get over what happen and it have affects his play some this year.

[Pero]

Oh man, we HAVE to get that last guy, A.Tomic(!) just for his name!

yeah but actually that last "c" is a "ch".

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

Ok I get that. I thought you meant chemistry issues in the sense that players didn't get along in general or something like that.

No they were mad after get eliminate and this natural. But issue was problems of team not players not get along.

[zepn]

yeah but actually that last "c" is a "ch".

Dang.

[pad300]

Consider what spot Siskauskas would be taking: Mike Finley's. Siska is a better shooter, much less prone to streakiness. Siskauskas is massively clutch (Robert Horry/Sam Cassel level!). He's a better passer. He's also a better defender than Finley. I would be very happy with Siskauskas taking Finley's spot. I'd make that trade right now. It would also eliminated the nonsense of Finley at the 4!! Signing him would be an excellent way to shore up the weakest position in our starting 5 (given Manu off the bench). I would be in favour of this signing...

Duncan, Thomas, Oberto, Mahinmi, Splitter, Bonner
Manu, Bowen, Udoka, Barry, Siskauskas, Sanikidze/1st round pick
Parker, Vaughn, LLE free agent

C - Thomas
PF - Duncan
SF - Bowen
SG - Siskauskas
PG - Parker

6th man - Manu

Looks pretty damn good to me...

[Streakyshooter08]

The only problem I could see with Siskauskas is his quickness. I admit, that I haven't seen him THAT much. At the international tournaments he was great but that was not against NBA compe ion. His skills and IQ are good enough. If he could defend SG/SFs well, he might be an option.

A funny side note: My coach and friend of mine played with Siskauskas when he was younger. He always took him to practise because he had no car. Now Siskauskas is making milions while my coach played in minor leagues.

[MONTENEGRINO]

yeah but actually that last "c" is a "ch".

Actually, it's '' Ć '' Ante TomiĆ. But, I know you can pronounce it only as a CH. Letter Ć should be pronounced as soft CH, like latinos pronounce name (let's say) Xisco, Xabi, Xavi... Southern Slavs have fonetic alphabet, one letter = one voice. Perfect writting system, we can writte every voice by one letter.

[MONTENEGRINO]

Consider what spot Siskauskas would be taking: Mike Finley's

What!!!??? You're joking, right...

[Pero]

Actually, it's '' Ć '' Ante TomiĆ. But, I know you can pronounce it only as a CH. Letter Ć should be pronounced as soft CH, like latinos pronounce name (let's say) Xisco, Xabi, Xavi... Southern Slavs have fonetic alphabet, one letter = one voice. Perfect writting system, we can writte every voice by one letter.

Oh I didn't know it was ć.
I'm from Slovenia BTW, so I don't need an explanation how southern Slavic alphabets are.

But in any case I don't hear the difference between č and ć, even though my second last name ends with ć.

[Kill_Bill_Pana]

The only problem I could see with Siskauskas is his quickness. I admit, that I haven't seen him THAT much. At the international tournaments he was great but that was not against NBA compe ion. His skills and IQ are good enough. If he could defend SG/SFs well, he might be an option.

A funny side note: My coach and friend of mine played with Siskauskas when he was younger. He always took him to practise because he had no car. Now Siskauskas is making milions while my coach played in minor leagues.

He is slow for NBA.

[pad300]

What!!!??? You're joking, right...

No. The single weakest spot in our starting 5 is the SG spot - especially now we have Kurt Thomas...

Look at next years roster for the Wing Spots

Under Contract - Manu, Barry, Bowen, Udoka

There are 2 more wing spots available. One will be filled with a veteran for the MLE, which is likely the amount of money Siskauskas will command. The other will very likely be a rookie. The musical chairs game for roster spots at the wing is already over; Barry cheated and stole a seat before the music stopped (although I personally would have taken him over Finley anyway). The roster has shown weakness this year, so there will be a FA signing (Siskauskas or someone else), and we have a 1st round pick to accommodate, not to mention possible 2nd rounders and Sanikidze (who might fit as a long 3).

At the start of next years training camp (assuming of course that Siskauskas comes), given Manu doesn't start, Siskauskas would be the guy who is assumed to start alongside Bowen. He might get outplayed for the position, but currently Udoka surely has not seized the spot (even from Finely - his shooting is just too weak/erratic), Barry & Manu are both comfortable with and productive coming off the bench. Pop is unlikely to want to rely on a rookie for a starting spot if he can help it. Who's left? If Siskauskas signs, he's likely our starting SG next year. Unlike you, I think that this is fine. Siskauskas is a great shooter, and is both willing and smart on D. For CKSA he's their top perimeter option, and is regularly game-planned against in the Euroleague. In the NBA, he will get the opponents 2nd best Perimeter defender (the best will be on Parker or Manu), and be the 3ed offensive option on the floor (1. Tim 2. Parker/Manu 3. Siskauskas); he will be fine with his stroke.... Defensively, he's smart, willing to work, and looks good on a Euro level. Again, he'll be matched up with an opponents 2nd best wing - Bowen on the primary, then Siskauskas. He'll be an upgrade over Finley, whose best days are much behind him...

[tav1]

No. The single weakest spot in our starting 5 is the SG spot - especially now we have Kurt Thomas...

Look at next years roster for the Wing Spots

Under Contract - Manu, Barry, Bowen, Udoka

There are 2 more wing spots available. One will be filled with a veteran for the MLE, which is likely the amount of money Siskauskas will command. The other will very likely be a rookie. The musical chairs game for roster spots at the wing is already over; Barry cheated and stole a seat before the music stopped (although I personally would have taken him over Finley anyway). The roster has shown weakness this year, so there will be a FA signing (Siskauskas or someone else), and we have a 1st round pick to accommodate, not to mention possible 2nd rounders and Sanikidze (who might fit as a long 3).

At the start of next years training camp (assuming of course that Siskauskas comes), given Manu doesn't start, Siskauskas would be the guy who is assumed to start alongside Bowen. He might get outplayed for the position, but currently Udoka surely has not seized the spot (even from Finely - his shooting is just too weak/erratic), Barry & Manu are both comfortable with and productive coming off the bench. Pop is unlikely to want to rely on a rookie for a starting spot if he can help it. Who's left? If Siskauskas signs, he's likely our starting SG next year. Unlike you, I think that this is fine. Siskauskas is a great shooter, and is both willing and smart on D. For CKSA he's their top perimeter option, and is regularly game-planned against in the Euroleague. In the NBA, he will get the opponents 2nd best Perimeter defender (the best will be on Parker or Manu), and be the 3ed offensive option on the floor (1. Tim 2. Parker/Manu 3. Siskauskas); he will be fine with his stroke.... Defensively, he's smart, willing to work, and looks good on a Euro level. Again, he'll be matched up with an opponents 2nd best wing - Bowen on the primary, then Siskauskas. He'll be an upgrade over Finley, whose best days are much behind him...

Yes, I agree with most of this. The sticking point is the MLE, though. Seems steep for a guy that's never played in this league and might squeeze 20 minutes a game.

[pad300]

Yes, I agree with most of this. The sticking point is the MLE, though. Seems steep for a guy that's never played in this league and might squeeze 20 minutes a game.

Perhaps - I tend to believe in a free market, which is why I wasn't that peeved about Javtokas not coming over - he got offered more money in Europe and took it. If a guy can get more money in Europe (net), I think he has a perfect right to go get it. Certainly, Siskauskas is getting money in at least the MLE range currently from CKSA. He might even be able to get more than the MLE in Europe; you could look at it as him taking a pay cut to come to the NBA...

As far as 20 minutes per night, well, we were paying Barry that kind of money for the same thing. 21.5, 17.0 21.8 and 17.9 mpg (according to database basketball) for the past 4 seasons. Some people think he was overpaid, whereas I think he took what the market would bear - I can't blame him for that).

[tav1]

I have no problem with free markets, but note the use of the plural. Market value needs to be contextualized. Really, what Siskauskas will be doing is pitting two distinct free markets against one another, which is his right, but the fact is that his value to San Antonio (or any NBA team) is far less than his value to CSKA, relative to the quality of the leagues. If he makes 5 million in Europe, he probably should make something like 3 or 3.5 in the NBA.

But again, I don't dispute his right to take as much money as he can.

[GSH]

He was the Euroleague MVP. He just won his second Euroleague le in a row, with two different teams. His contract states that if that happens, he gets a free walk if he wants it. In other words, no buyout. That was there because he wants to come to the NBA. I understand that he's making about 2M Euro. And he's a Spurs/Popovich kind of guy.

He has an extremely high basketball IQ, and works his ass off every minute on the floor. He defends very well. He shoots 40%+ from the 3-point line, and pushes 50% from the floor every year. He's an excellent passer, and he makes good decisions. He can get to the line and knock em down in the 80-85% range. Moscow usually runs a sort of plodding, methodical offense, so he would understand the Spurs game. He has been known to play the 1-4 at various times.

And he can do all that in the Euroleague, where Trajan Langdon was the Finals MVP. Hard to predict how that translates to the NBA. He's almost 30, and his head looks like an acorn with ears.

Okay, the last bit wasn't necessary. You can see why the Spurs would be interested in him. And I can believe that he is interested in the Spurs too. Regardless of what league he is in, he can put the ball through the little ring. He's been a winner and has that fire about his game. He won't get by with playing anything other than a 2 here, unless it's occasional point duty like Brent Barry. But he would defend better than Finley, and damned sure shoot better than Finley did this year.

[timvp]

This guy is pretty solid. If the NBA FA's don't work out, I wouldn't mind giving him a chunk of the MLE over two years.

[Indazone]

Considering that you're not getting Splitter, this might be your best option. Although, all the players you guys are targeting so is everyone else.

[intlspurshk]

He can solve a lot of SPURS problem, shooting, defense, ball movement,...the only issue are his speed and MLE. SPURS don't have any speed in Finley and Barry anyway. I think it's in both parties interest to agree a close to MLE but a short contract, making the 2010 plan possible.

[angelbelow]

looks like many posters are in agreement that he is a 8-12th man. if thats the case, i would rather go for a year athletic guard via FA or draft. i'll admit i havent seen this man play but i would pass based off statistics.

[mystargtr34]

Give me JR Smith/Azubuike

[Marcus Bryant]

This guy is pretty solid. If the NBA FA's don't work out, I wouldn't mind giving him a chunk of the MLE over two years.

We'll see what Europe can do when the Spurs aren't limited to paying a player $700K per season.

[Biggems]

He already declared. Other international players that have declared:
Alexis Ajinca, PF, France
Nicolas Batum, SF, France
Rodrigue Beaubois, PG, France
Omri Casspi, F, Israel
Victor Claver, F, Spain
Nando De Colo, PG, France
Danilo Gallinari, SF, Italy
Serge Ibaka, F, Congo
Joe Ingles, F, Australia
Luc Louves, F, France
Rudy Mbemba, PG, Sweden
Giorgi Shermadini, C, Georgia
Ante Tomic, C, Croatia

Does anyone have any info on the 4 bolded players? I have found data about the others....but those 4, I haven't found anything. In fact, of the 4, Ingles is the only one I have heard of.

[The Truth #6]

CSKA has one of the richest owners in the world, right? Isn't he an oil billionaire that was pressured into buying the team at the request of Putin?

Even if that's incorrect, this is probably another player using the Spurs Card to boost his value and get a better contract.

[TheProfessor]

Does anyone have any info on the 4 bolded players? I have found data about the others....but those 4, I haven't found anything. In fact, of the 4, Ingles is the only one I have heard of.

Ingles is a skinny 6'8" SF with potential, but not much else, playing in the Australian league against vastly inferior compe ion. He's already out of the draft. Louves and Claver might be similar in some physical respects - 6'10ish, lanky combo forwards. Louves is undeveloped as a prospect, while Claver is much further along and highly touted. Each would be stuck between positions in the NBA. Nando is a combo guard who has a knack for scoring and plays consistently, but could lack NBA lateral quickness on the defensive end. I think they'll all drop out in the end.

http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Joe-Ingles-1119/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Luc-Louves-1393/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Victor-Claver-336/
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Nando-De-Colo-5087/