Interview by Spanoulis in a Greek newspaper

[whottt]

but there was all sorts of money in the trade to buy him out so I guess if he'll ever come back to the NBA it will be in a few seasons.

And that money could also be as insurance in case the Spurs can't get him.


If you are looking at it through Vassilis eyes...

The NBA Champions just gave up the European MVP for a chance to sign him....

[whottt]

if anyone had a right to talk like that it would be manu.....and he never has.

this dude is a loser.

Have you seen him play? I haven't. If he's talented enough...he can do it..

Scola isn't...as is obvious by watching him play.


besides, what is he talking? He wants to go home?

After Van Gundy scapegoated him? After he gave up 9 million to be there?

After they promised him PT and then renegged on the deal?

Van Gundy sounds like the asshole to me...

Don't promise the kid PT and get him to give up 9 million dollars and then not follow through with it...that's bull .


Just don't promise him the PT...

Obviously...he wanted to be in the NBA badly if he gave up 9 million to do it. They could have gotten him without that promise...

And I can promise you that the Spurs won't do something ed up like that...


He hasn't talked about the Spurs yet...

I'd rather get him here...see him play...then decide if he can talk like that...whatever that was.

[mountainballer]

when I first heard about the trade of Scola and Butler for V-Span, I was like "of course, makes perfect sense" and I was sure, that he had agreed to come back again to play for the Spurs.

looking at the Spanoulis of 2006, it would have been a wash when considering the talent.
Spanoulis was simply great and he played his best games against Tau in the quaterfinals (which Panathineikos lost in 3 close games). so it did make sense that the Spurs back then did get a great impression, assuming that they scouted Scola. Scola also played good in that series (at least in two of the three games, the third was very bad), but Spanoulis was the best player on the court in each of the three games. (averaging 16.3 PPG on ridiculous 71%FG along with 3.6 APG)
I'm sure that the Spurs back then thought like: wow, if we somehow could trade this Spanoulis guy for Scola, we would do it in a second.
so, no matter how bad he did this season in Houston, I'm still sure Spanoulis could do quite well in the NBA, because I can't see him have lost all his talent on the trip over the atlatic.

so, it was just the second impression, when I learned, taht it is very unlikely that he will come to SA and that the whole deal was about dumping salary in the first place.
in other words: the whole trade looks ugly, when he stays in Europe. but if the FO thought they find a way to get him here, the trade might have a huge upside for the Spurs.

but as the most comments tell, it's an almost zero chnce that he will come. very sad though. I think he might have fit great.
(btw. if not mentioned before. Spanoulis can defend with the best. at least in Euroleague he did so.)

[magic]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XT7uOvKGvR8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BBKdtcCG_I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-MiH4LEYp8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0PVgv_0gLo

[whottt]

. (averaging 16.3 PPG on ridiculous 71%FG along with 3.6 APG)

Spanoulis can defend with the best

Holy ...there's not a chance in ing the Spurs aren't trying to get this guy...


He is Parker part 2...he might be better.

[Kermit]

Holy ...there's not a chance in ing the Spurs aren't trying to get this guy...


He is Parker part 2...he might be better.

So wait, you went from Vaginas to "this guy is better than TP" in less than 24 hours. That's got to be a record.

Nevermind. I think I see your facetiousness shining through.

[whottt]

So let's see...

Gets drafted with the 50x pick:

Rockets FO: Hi Vasillis we sure are excited to have you on our team.

Vasillis: Well thank you. I love to play in the NBA, it's my dream, but Pathanikos has just offered me nearly 3 times the amount I can make in the NBA to stay here and I have my family to think about.

Rockets FO: mutters to self*cough mecough* 15 million Vasillis? That's nothing, in just 3 years you can be a star signing a 100 million dollar contract...and play in the NBA, with Yao and TMac.

Vasillis: Well that's very tempting, but I am not sure how I fit on your team and what happens if I wind up on the bench like so many European PG's do?

Rockets FO: That won't happen. You'll start, we promise.

Vasillis: I am there but I have to represent my country first.

RocketS FO: Not a problem.

Vasillis: It's done then, see you in September.

Rockets FO: Ok Vassy baby..see you then.

Calls Van Gundy

Rockets FO: Jeff, great news, we got your starting part guard, he's like a 6'3 version of Manu.

JVG: Great

Rockets FO: You have to play him and start him. And he's not going to be there for the Summer.

JVG: Go yourself.

Weeks later...as he's benching Vasillis...

JVG: As he thinks to himself: this little primadonna er demanding PT is going to get me fired. Says out loud: Rookie PG's can get coaches fired in contract years.


Vasillis: I hate you and hte Rockets. You lied to me and I gave up 9 million dollars.



It was probably something along those lines..that's what happens when the coaches don't have autonomy...

[AFBlue]

So wait, you went from Vaginas to "this guy is better than TP" in less than 24 hours. That's got to be a record.

Nevermind. I think I see your facetiousness shining through.

No, he's serious....

While I don't think this kid is the second coming of Manu, I do think that he would be an upgrade over Beno and has the ability to play both guard spots.

If the Spurs land this kid and he ends up contributing in the next couple seasons, the trade might not look so ugly...

I'm all for trying to bring this kid over and dumping Beno on some team for trade exception $$$.

[Pero]

And last I checked...the Greeks just kicked every team in the World's butt in WC's...was this kid part of the reason? Was he the reason?

I think timvp also thinks that
But last I checked, Spain is the world champion, not Greece.

[AFBlue]

So let's see...

Gets drafted with the 50x pick:

Rockets FO: Hi Vasillis we sure are excited to have you on our team.

Vasillis: Well thank you. I love to play in the NBA, it's my dream, but Pathanikos has just offered me nearly 3 times the amount I can make in the NBA to stay here and I have my family to think about.

Rockets FO: mutters to self*cough mecough* 15 million Vasillis? That's nothing, in just 3 years you can be a star signing a 100 million dollar contract...and play in the NBA, with Yao and TMac.

Vasillis: Well that's very tempting, but I am not sure how I fit on your team and what happens if I wind up on the bench like so many European PG's do?

Rockets FO: That won't happen. You'll start, we promise.

Vasillis: I am there but I have to represent my country first.

RocketS FO: Not a problem.

Vasillis: It's done then, see you in September.

Rockets FO: Ok Vassy baby..see you then.

Calls Van Gundy

Rockets FO: Jeff, great news, we got your starting part guard, he's like a 6'3 version of Manu.

JVG: Great

Rockets FO: You have to play him and start him. And he's not going to be there for the Summer.

JVG: Go yourself.

Weeks later...as he's benching Vasillis...

JVG: Rookie PG's can get coaches fired in contract years.

Vasillis: I hate you and hte Rockets.



It was probably something along those lines..that's what happens when the coaches don't have autonomy...

I understand that the system in SA is different, but I'm not so sure Pop could guarantee V-Span enough time to satisfy him either.

As of right now, the guy who he would likely replace (Beno), gets spot minutes in blowout games. IF he came over and proved himself worthy of additional minutes, I'm sure the Spurs would explore trading away a guy like Barry in order to get him minutes...but that's no guarantee, and it might not be enough to get him to come overseas.

Bottom Line: Unless the Spurs pull the same lines as the Rockets, I'm pretty sure V-Span isn't in a Spurs uni next year, if ever.

[TDMVPDPOY]

this clown reminds me of that lithu guy who was drafted by the pacers short dude who only knows how to shoot 3s, was once best in europe and got exposed in the nba.

had this greek dude played out or came to the nba earlier, he be just another peja dude

[whottt]

So wait, you went from Vaginas to "this guy is better than TP" in less than 24 hours. That's got to be a record.

Nevermind. I think I see your facetiousness shining through.

I'm not being facetious...

You know what I knew about him prior to this trade?

That he was some guy that made timvp and aggie look like dumbasses in the d-league.

I have never seen the kid play...I had no clue about his problems with the Rockets.


I looked into it more...and I change my stance..this kid is not in the wrong IMO...


I was wrong...plus the mother er shot 71% in the Euroleague finals.

Would you rather me be obstinate and try and defend a wrong opinion?

I am not Chump...when new info becomes available...I will change my opinon based on it...being right is not a novelty to me, so I do not try to force it as if it is.

Promising him PT to get him to give up 9 million dollars and then renegging on the deal and having the coach scapegoat him for his own failures is what was wrong.

Don't promise the kid PT to get him to give up 9 million dollars if you arne't going to keep that promise.

[AFBlue]

this clown reminds me of that lithu guy who was drafted by the pacers short dude who only knows how to shoot 3s, was once best in europe and got exposed in the nba.

had this greek dude played out or came to the nba earlier, he be just another peja dude

Except V-Span is a slashing guard and not a super-shooter like Jasikevicius...

Spanoulis MAY never be a stud NBA player, but if the Spurs don't at least make an attempt to bring him over, this trade looks worse than it could be if they got something other than $$$ out of the deal.

[whottt]

I understand that the system in SA is different, but I'm not so sure Pop could guarantee V-Span enough time to satisfy him either.

.

Pop would never gurantee him PT...and neither will RC, and if RC does...Pop will fire him. See how it's different?

Pop runs this show.

This kid thinks he's the total ...like a good PG should...I imagine the dialogue that lead to this was something along those lines of a lack of communication as I parodied...that does not happen with the Spurs because Pop is the Spurs. Chief big Jefe. Numer uno. The Big Kahuna. He and RC are on the same page...everyone is on Pop's page...and if they aren't...they are gone.

That's what makes the Spurs unusual, and IMO, so efficient and un ed up...Pop was the GM and then became the coach., and then fired himself as the GM. Pop is in charge of this mofo..he answers to Holt and no one else.


Pop is not that great of coach...but he just might be the best organizational architect/GM in NBA history. ...in pro Sports history.

[AFBlue]

I'm not being facetious...

You know what I knew about him prior to this trade?

That he was some guy that made timvp and aggie look like dumbasses in the d-league.

I have never seen the kid play...I had no clue about his problems with the Rockets.


I looked into it more...and I change my stance..this kid is not in the wrong IMO...


I was wrong...plus the mother er shot 71% in the Euroleague finals.

Would you rather me be obstinate and try and defend a wrong opinion?

I am not Chump...when new info becomes available...I will change my opinon based on it...being right is not a novelty to me, so I do not try to force it as if it is.

Promising him PT to get him to give up 9 million dollars and then renegging on the deal and having the coach scapegoat him for his own failures is what was wrong.

Don't promise the kid PT to get him to give up 9 million dollars if you arne't going to keep that promise.

I'm glad you're sticking up for the "victim" in this case, but aren't you going a bit overboard with his pro prospects?

Scola has had better, more consistent production over the long-haul of his Euroleague career, and yet you think he will not be a good NBA player.

But, you're willing to throw out Ginobili comparisons for a kid you've admittedly never seen?

Again, I think the Spurs should make an attempt to bring this kid back over and give him a shot at legit PT, but I'm just not sure it's going to happen....I'm not sure the Spurs will ever get to find out if he's the next Ginobili.



BTW, does anyone know how much longer the Spurs own his rights for? Could he conceivably play one year overseas, then come back to the NBA next summer when the Spurs have less of a roster crunch?

[BeerIsGood!]

The kid would definitely be a better backup PG than Beno and would probably relegate Vaughn to 3 PG IF he can handle the point at the NBA level and play D.

But let's not get carried away comparing him to Parker. This kid's not in the same league as Parker from what I've seen - much slower, doesn't handle as well, and probably doesn't shoot as well as what Parker has shown recently. I don't even think there is any question about mental toughness - Pop all over Parker for his first few seasons and Parker took it and got exponentially better. Van Gundy s on this kid for one year and he's crying to go home to mama. Parker's a tough guy mentally and physically, and I don't think this Greek kid has it mentally. If your dream is to play in the NBA, you don't tuck your tail between your legs and run to mama after one season of getting on. You ride it out and bust your ass and maybe a better situation arises - which has happened now. He showed he may not have the balls to be a contributor to this Spurs team, and I'm sure Pop has picked up on that.

[whottt]

I'm sure the Spurs would explore trading away a guy like Barry in order to get him minutes...but that's no guarantee, and it might not be enough to get him to come overseas.

This kid thinks he's good...I bet he never asked for a gurantee of PT...I bet he just had concerns about fitting in on the Rockets and someone in their FO guranteed him the PT, to get him out of Greece...he was probably more than willing to stay in Greece rather play in that ugly thing the Rockets called an offense....without Van Gundy being given a say..the Rockets probably a brick when they found out their second round draft pick had a 15 million dollar contract in europe.


Just tell the kid...try it one more year...if it doesn't work out you're free. just try it for a training camp.

The kids wants to play in the NBA...he wouldn't have given up 9 million dollars if he didn't.

[AFBlue]

Pop would never gurantee him PT...and neither will RC, and if RC does...Pop will fire him. See how it's different?

Pop runs this show.

This kid thinks he's the total ...like a good PG should...I imagine the dialogue that lead to this was something along those lines of a lack of communication as I parodied...that does not happen with the Spurs because Pop is the Spurs. Chief big Jefe. Numer uno. The Big Kahuna. He and RC are on the same page...everyone is on Pop's page...and if they aren't...they are gone.

That's what makes the Spurs unusual, and IMO, so efficient and un ed up...Pop was the GM and then became the coach., and then fired himself as the GM. Pop is in charge of this mofo..he answers to Holt and no one else.


Pop is not that great of coach...but he just might be the best organizational architect/GM in NBA history. ...in pro Sports history.

I think you could look at this one of two ways....

1) Spanoulis is so confident that it's eating away at him that he didn't get to prove himself on the NBA stage and that he'll look anxiously to get back and do exactly that.

2) Spanoulis is so egocentric that he'd rather be the big fish in the small pond than table his ego for the good of the team. Especially when he can stay in his homeland and be beloved by all.

Personally, I hope V-Span is more #1 than #2....

Either way, I think the Spurs approaching him is the least they can do. What's the worst he's going to tell them...no?

[AFBlue]

This kid thinks he's good...I bet he never asked for a gurantee of PT...I bet he just had concerns about fitting in on the Rockets and someone in their FO guranteed him the PT, to get him out of Greece...he was probably more than willing to stay in Greece rather play in that ugly thing the Rockets called an offense....without Van Gundy being given a say..the Rockets probably a brick when they found out their second round draft pick had a 15 million dollar contract in europe.


Just tell the kid...try it one more year...if it doesn't work out you're free. just try it for a training camp.

The kids wants to play in the NBA...he wouldn't have given up 9 million dollars if he didn't.

Just curious what you make of his initial reaction to the trade, saying it has changed nothing and that he still wants to stay overseas, back in Greece....

[BeerIsGood!]

This kid thinks he's good...

So did Uncle Rico, but that didn't get him jack .

[BeerIsGood!]

Just curious what you make of his initial reaction to the trade, saying it has changed nothing and that he still wants to stay overseas, back in Greece....

If your dream is to play in the NBA, you don't tuck your tail between your legs and run to mama after one season of getting on. You ride it out and bust your ass and maybe a better situation arises - which has happened now. He showed he may not have the balls to be a contributor to this Spurs team, and I'm sure Pop has picked up on that.

[spurster]

He already thinks he's an all-star, and he would be 3rd PG on the Spurs, so the chances of him playing on the Spurs are zero.

[whottt]

I'm glad you're sticking up for the "victim" in this case, but aren't you going a bit overboard with his pro prospects?

Scola has had better, more consistent production over the long-haul of his Euroleague career, and yet you think he will not be a good NBA player.

But, you're willing to throw out Ginobili comparisons for a kid you've admittedly never seen?

I read about the Ginobili comparisons...I didn't come up with them. And the stats sound like Manu.

You know what...you're right. I never get burned on players I have seen play and I always do when I try to jock ones I haven't...I've seen Scola play...he's not all that. This kid may not be either...

But those stats are eyepopping...and the Rockets sure as do want him, and they lied to him. And he's got a huge ass contract...


But I stand by what I have said about Scola...he's not going to be near as good in the NBA as he was in Europe. It's just not there for him physically...you need either size or speed to play that position in the NBA, and he has neither. Speed kills...in all sports, it kills. Why did Parker and Manu make the jump?

Because they are ing fast...why makes Dirk, Dirk? Because he is ing quick and agile.

Is Scola? No he isn't. He's not fast...at all.

And the Spurs know it...if he was that great? They wouldn't have traded him to the Rockets...I've seen him play, and I'm not afraid of him on the Rockets.


Would you be afraid of a non defending and rebounding version of Oberto being traded to the Rockets? Because that's what Scola is. He''s a bad defensive player...a bad one. By European standards he's a bad defender...you think about that for a second.

How good is Oberto's offense when defense focus on him? It sucks. But he can still do stuff...well Scola is going to get a lot more attention that Oberto does...and he's going to get owned.

And I did see Oberto play first time in 02...and I wanted him to replace Drob after seeing him play over anyone we were likely to get....

Again, I think the Spurs should make an attempt to bring this kid back over and give him a shot at legit PT, but I'm just not sure it's going to happen....I'm not sure the Spurs will ever get to find out if he's the next Ginobili.



BTW, does anyone know how much longer the Spurs own his rights for? Could he conceivably play one year overseas, then come back to the NBA next summer when the Spurs have less of a roster crunch?

Ex Rockets FO...Rocket player wants out...how hard would it be to swing that? You know what I mean right? And if you were swinging it...wouldn't you try to make it as unobvious as possible? And the only reason Beno and Barry are still here is because we didn't have another PG last year.

[whottt]

Just curious what you make of his initial reaction to the trade, saying it has changed nothing and that he still wants to stay overseas, back in Greece....

When did he say that? I haven't heard that he has said anything yet...

The only comments I have seen were made prior to the trade right?


Besides...he can change his mind.

[Aggie Hoopsfan]

like Robertas Javtokas , he is also really good but hidden.

Javtokas sucks. That's why he'll never be in the NBA.