If Saraunas was in the NBA draft, where would he be picked?

[Sense]

In between 2 and 5 IMO.

That's STUPID, IMO.

[jermaine7fan]

WTF? When I said that people smoke crack, would that happen to include you?

I am saying that all three players are coming to new teams... Sarunas is the most proven player from Europe this year... the only knock you have on him is that he won't transition to the NBA cause he is slow... he is just not as fast as most top rate point guards... he is not far behind Van Exel and Finley, in terms of being proven. His only knock is that he has not played an NBA game... Finley and Van Exel have both seen better years and different roles in their past... so they may not be as proven at their new roles yet.

P.S. - Why do you keep throwing personal attacks at me?

[jermaine7fan]

That's STUPID, IMO.

Utah was one of our opponents in the Sarunas sweepstakes. They most likely would have started him over Deron Williams. IMO... Utah would have selected Sarunas with their top pick.

[2centsworth]

Utah was one of our opponents in the Sarunas sweepstakes. They most likely would have started him over Deron Williams. IMO... Utah would have selected Sarunas with their top pick.

Dude, it's obvious you love Sarunas' game. I happen to like his game too, and think he'll do just fine in the NBA. However, the NBA draft is notorious for picking the tallest, fastest, most athletic people before the high IQ players. Note Marvin Williams #1 and Sean May #14 or so. Sarunas' for scouts has some real questions marks, so he probably would have been picked in the late first round. But who cares because the best player in a draft can be picked anywhere, Note Manu Ginobilli.

Relax, and see how it goes down.

[jermaine7fan]

But who cares because the best player in a draft can be picked anywhere, Note Manu Ginobilli.

I agree with that more this year than ever... this was the most deep draft I've seen in my days... anyone pick 1-30 could win the ROY. The same goes with who will be the best 10 years down the line... and you are also right that someone in the second round could shock the out of people in the future... I don't think there will be very many (if one) dominating rookie this year... but overall for the future... I think this draft class will add a ton of talent to the NBA.

[TheWriter]

I am saying that all three players are coming to new teams... Sarunas is the most proven player from Europe this year... the only knock you have on him is that he won't transition to the NBA cause he is slow... he is just not as fast as most top rate point guards... he is not far behind Van Exel and Finley, in terms of being proven. His only knock is that he has not played an NBA game... Finley and Van Exel have both seen better years and different roles in their past... so they may not be as proven at their new roles yet.

P.S. - Why do you keep throwing personal attacks at me?

Dude.

Sarunas has not PROVEN himelf in the NBA.

Finley and Van Exel have PROVEN themselves in the NBA countless times.

If this was nascar, Finley and Van Exel would have lapped Sarunas 100 times by now.

[The Artest Factor]

Talent-wise he would have been top-5. However he's 29, which would scare the rebuilding teams away.
He would've probably went somewhere in the teens, seeing as how he's the Euro Jordan and a potential All-Star, 29 or not, thats too good to slip any further.

[2centsworth]

Talent-wise he would have been top-5. However he's 29, which would scare the rebuilding teams away.
He would've probably went somewhere in the teens, seeing as how he's the Euro Jordan and a potential All-Star, 29 or not, thats too good to slip any further.

Nothing about the guy's game says jordan. Reggie Miller maybe, but Sarunas is not a penetrator. BTW, he has a very good chance of being a complete bust too. No one knows how he's going to respond to the type of defense he's going to see night in and night out. He just might be too slow.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

I believe we must difference between being a troll and supporting, having a good opinion of your own players. I've seen Sarunas play both at European and International level, and he has been a top 10 international player for the last 5 years. He is an amazing talent, has high Basketball IQ, can lead a team offense, run the point, or play as a shooting guard, and has a very good three-point shot. His passing skills are very good too. He is clutch, a leader, and he makes things happen. He might not be a penetrator, but when his 3s start rainning, defenders will leave him the line open, and he can penetrate and kick it out or dish to a big man.

Of course he is unproven at NBA level, his man to man defense is doubtful (specially against quick point guards), and he would need at least a year to adapt to the system. The latter because he was the team 1st. or 2nd. option wherever he played, while in Indiana he will have to adapt to a different role, but as I said, he has a high basketball IQ, so that might help him in the transition.

About the question that started the topic. Well, it's hard to say where would a 30-year old player be selected in the draft, and if it was when he was 22 or 23, back then he wasn't the same player than he is right now.

If he was the player that he is right now at 22 years old, he would have been a top five pick without a doubt. If 30 years old players could be drafted, then he would be drafted from pick #15 and on.

I think he could be your backup at the 5... over Rasho... if he pans out...

Ok, then, I defended your opinion believing you weren't a troll. I was mistaken. Oberto has been there with Sarunas as a top international player for the last 5 years (at least), and both are unproven in the NBA. Why Sarunas would adapt better than Oberto? There you have no reason to state such a thing. The odds would be better for Oberto, who was the last International player to adapt to Indiana? Rik Smits?

[TheWriter]

Talent-wise he would have been top-5. However he's 29, which would scare the rebuilding teams away.
He would've probably went somewhere in the teens, seeing as how he's the Euro Jordan and a potential All-Star, 29 or not, thats too good to slip any further.

Talent wise?

Dude, seriously.

It's great that he's a good passer and shooter, but please, he'd need a lot and I mean a lot more talent than that to go top 5.

Jesus do Pacer fans suck it hard.

[jermaine7fan]

I believe we must difference between being a troll and supporting, having a good opinion of your own players. I've seen Sarunas play both at European and International level, and he has been a top 10 international player for the last 5 years. He is an amazing talent, has high Basketball IQ, can lead a team offense, run the point, or play as a shooting guard, and has a very good three-point shot. His passing skills are very good too. He is clutch, a leader, and he makes things happen. He might not be a penetrator, but when his 3s start rainning, defenders will leave him the line open, and he can penetrate and kick it out or dish to a big man.

Of course he is unproven at NBA level, his man to man defense is doubtful (specially against quick point guards), and he would need at least a year to adapt to the system. The latter because he was the team 1st. or 2nd. option wherever he played, while in Indiana he will have to adapt to a different role, but as I said, he has a high basketball IQ, so that might help him in the transition.

About the question that started the topic. Well, it's hard to say where would a 30-year old player be selected in the draft, and if it was when he was 22 or 23, back then he wasn't the same player than he is right now.

If he was the player that he is right now at 22 years old, he would have been a top five pick without a doubt. If 30 years old players could be drafted, then he would be drafted from pick #15 and on.



Ok, then, I defended your opinion believing you weren't a troll. I was mistaken. Oberto has been there with Sarunas as a top international player for the last 5 years (at least), and both are unproven in the NBA. Why Sarunas would adapt better than Oberto? There you have no reason to state such a thing. The odds would be better for Oberto, who was the last International player to adapt to Indiana? Rik Smits?

I don't think I said Sarunas would adapt better... and that is a possitive statement that you quoted me on... so... how am I a troll?

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

I don't think I said Sarunas would adapt better... and that is a possitive statement that you quoted me on... so... how am I a troll?

Rasho will be in the dog house / traded this season...so that's not a very positive statement about Oberto.

[jermaine7fan]

Rasho will be in the dog house / traded this season...so that's not a very positive statement about Oberto.

It still does not make me a troll.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

It still does not make me a troll.

But you are comparing both players, under the same conditions, and you are stating that Sarunas will adapt better than Oberto. Why? Only because he is in the Pacers roster?

[TheWriter]

Rasho will be in the dog house / traded this season...so that's not a very positive statement about Oberto.

Why will Rasho be in the dog house?

He was our starter until he was injured and Nazr showed to be as good or better a starter so Rasho got lost in the rotation behind Horry and Nazr.

It wasn't that he was in the dog house.

If he's traded, he's traded because of his contract not because he's a bad player.

[Manu'sMagicalLeftHand]

Why will Rasho be in the dog house?

He was our starter until he was injured and Nazr showed to be as good or better a starter so Rasho got lost in the rotation behind Horry and Nazr.

It wasn't that he was in the dog house.

If he's traded, he's traded because of his contract not because he's a bad player.

I didn't say he was a bad player. Malik wasn't a bad player and he was in the dog house and later traded.

[jermaine7fan]

But you are comparing both players, under the same conditions, and you are stating that Sarunas will adapt better than Oberto. Why? Only because he is in the Pacers roster?

I never said he would adapt better... I may have said he was the best player in Europe... but I did not say he would adapt better... and I am saying that because it widely believed around the world that Sarunas was the best over there... I did not start that rumor.

[picnroll]

I'm assume since the Idiana fans posting here have such high regard for Saurnas, they all expect him to beat Tinsley out for the starting PG position. Afer all if he's that high a draft selcetion at 30 it certainly isn't based on his potential to develop down the road.

[jermaine7fan]

I'm assume since the Idiana fans posting here have such high regard for Saurnas, they all expect him to beat Tinsley out for the starting PG position. Afer all if he's that high a draft selcetion at 30 it certainly isn't based on his potential to develop down the road.

It depends on how much Tinsley tries to step up this year... Sarunas has a chance to replace him by the end of the season.

[Mark in Austin]

Let me get this straight: Pacer fan comes onto a Spurs board and asks San Antonio fans where they think one of the Indy FA signings with a rep among NBA scouts as being too slow and 30, but clutch and a great leader and winner in Europe would be drafted. Then when most Spur fans don't say lottery, Pacer fan gets bent? Please.

I'd post more on this, but I still have to visit some Pacer boards tonight to post a topic about what they think of Manu's rockstar-like treatment when he came back to Argentina this summer. Good thing I kept my Johnny Ludden columns. If they don't compare him to the Beatles or Jesus, I'm going to throw myself out a window.


btw, Saras would have most likely been picked in the late first round or early second round.

[THE X-FACTOR]

He would of not gotten drafted higher then 20th, there was too much talent in the draft the last few years for him to of gotten picked any higher. He is good but his defense is substandard, he is a great fit for the Pacers but right now he would of not gotten drafted very high.

[THE X-FACTOR]

Talent-wise he would have been top-5. However he's 29, which would scare the rebuilding teams away.
He would've probably went somewhere in the teens, seeing as how he's the Euro Jordan and a potential All-Star, 29 or not, thats too good to slip any further.

OVER RATED!

[Spurs Biggest Fan]

Can someone post a pic of this guy please? I remember a guy from the Olympics and would like to know if this is the same guy....

If it is... then I say 1st round -- but lower 20's or maybe high 2nd round... not top 10 1st round...

anyway -- IF that's the guy I'm thinking of...

[TheWriter]

[MI21]

I personally cant stand the guy but he has game. I expect him to have his moments, but I'm not sure how well his game is built to play in the NBA.

As a 30 year old in the NBA draft with below average athleticism and never going to get any better? Late first round at best.