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pretty damn good assesments.
Bruno !
pretty damn good assesments.
On the other hand if he wins everything in Europe (he's missing Euroleague le), he might be more open to moving on to the NBA. Perhaps the worst possible result would be if they somehow end up just one step bellow the top.How well this new team will perform this year will surely be a factor in Splitter’s choice to leave them or not in 2010. This year, I won’t only say “Go, Spurs, Go” but also “Go, whoever plays against Caja Laboral, Go”.
Nice writeup.
During Cavs and Olympiacos game Danny Ferry said Greek League was the best in Europe.
Tau (Saski Baskonia) has been this one step below the top for almost ten years. they won the Spanish championship twice, but that's about it. (not talking about Spanish cup etc., that's not important enough). they made the Euroleague final 4 for 5 times and lost the finals twice. so I don't think that if they again make the final 4 and lose again, that this motivates Tiago to stay, because he feels like "next year we make it". it will be no different to a feeling the Saski players have known for years. but I don't think the team will make the final 4 anyhow. they only kept 4 players from last years roster and while most of the new players are decent, they are not good enough for a Euroleague contender and the overall quality of the team will be lower than in the last years IMO.
so I'm pretty sure Tiago will decide to leave Vitoria next summer. the more serious thread for the Spurs will be, that another Euro powerhouse jumps in and gives Tiago a crazy offer. (including the offer to pay whatever buyout). Real looks like a very likely compe or for Tiago in 2010, especially with Messina as their coach, who wouldn't have signed there, if he didn't see a chance to win the Euroleague with Real in the near future. (Lavrinovic and Van den Spiegel are not exactly the Center duo you want, if you try to build a future champion.)
be prepared that Real will offer Tiago at least as much as the Spurs will offer next summer.
^ Real also has Reyes at C.
And I agree that Splitter options won't be only Spurs or Tau. Barcelona and Real should be interested given his level and his Spanish citizenship. Outside these two teams, I only see Panatinaikos and Olympiakos able to offer him a big contract and pay a buyout to Caja Laboral.
At the end, it will depend on what really matters to Splitter: the sentimental side (Caja Laboral,), the financial side (Real or Barcelona) or the compe ive side (Spurs).
I didn't mention Reyes, because I see him as a PF, who occasionally helps at center. or let me say differently, if I wanted to build a Euroleague champion, I would love to have Reyes at PF, but I also would look to pair him with a real center with legit center height. when it comes to top compe ion in the Euroleague (at the latest in the final 4) I would really want a 7 footer and not a 6'8'' guy to defend players like Bouroussis or Pekovic.
I agree that very likely only a few teams will be able to make a run at Tiago. (I wouldn't ignore CSKA though, even if it's very unlikely that Tiago goes to Moscow. but they don't have a top center and Russian owners are unpredictable). however, Pana and Olympiacos have handed long term contracts to young centers, so Barca and Real look like the more likely candidates. and Real like the most logical fit. I assume that Messina would love to pair Reyes in the frontcourt with a player type that Tiago is.
as mentioned, this scenario is my biggest thread 2010. because I'm really not sure the Spurs are willing to offer Tiago something like let's say 4 years and 20-25 million, even if they could by trowing the MLE at him. but this might be the type of offer he get's in Europe 2010. (especially if he plays a great 2009-10 season)
I'm pretty sure that Tiago signed in 2008 a 2+2 years deal with Baskonia. It means that at the end of the second year (30th June, 2010), he'll be able to sign only with Spurs (or the team that owns his rights in that date). If he doesn't sign any dean in NBA, he'll stay in Vitoria until 2012.
http://www.elcorreodigital.com/alava...-20080606.html
Una vez pasen las dos próximas campañas, el interior tendrá en su mano la decisión de completar el nuevo vínculo o, como pretendía hacer este verano, pagar una cláusula especial e irse a los Spurs de San Antonio, que le eligieron en el vigésimo octavo puesto del 'draft' de 2007. El nuevo contrato estima también una posibilidad de que cambie a otro equipo europeo. Aunque, en ese caso, el pago económico sería muchísimo más alto. Se trata de una práctica habitual en la política del TAU Cerámica para evitar que rivales directos se refuercen a su costa.
thanks for clarifying.
so a buy out for Real or Barca would be higher, but the possibility is there, right? ok, Basketball is another story than Soccer, but considering what crazy dimension of big spending Real showed us this summer, there is a thread that also the one or other peanut million for a buyout of a basketball player walks to the other department.
Once again your facts are all wrong. Reyes is a strict C. Splitter is much closer to a PF than Reyes is.
I wouldn't say it's impossible, but is highly improbable that Splitter signs to Real Madrid or other european team next summer.
Most people in Vitoria think that he'll try the Spur adventure.
In addition, Baskonia is now in financial trouble. Not close to crash or something like that, but their budget is lower than last 10 seasons... And it's expected to be similar or lower next season. If Tiago stays, he'll make less money than this year -but more than in SA, that's the deal!.
Wait, what??? Reword that last sentence, holmes. I have no clue what you said. I did see peanut, perhaps a reference to RJ.
If Tiago comes over next year...our front court will be just sick....
Duncan, Ian, Blair, Splitter, McDyess, Bonner, Haislip........and maybe even Jerome Jordan if we are able to draft him with our 1st round pick in 2010.
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