Mahinmi and Scola to meet

[Mr. Body]

Garbs gets 8 and 5. I think he could do that.

[SequSpur]

Scola would be getting used by 80% of the NBA just like Elson and Oberto are.

[ChumpDumper]

Garbs gets 8 and 5. I think he could do that.

Pretty pricey for 8 and 5. He only gets 5.6 boards in Euroleague.

[Mr. Body]

Pretty pricey for 8 and 5. He only gets 5.6 boards in Euroleague.

Same production we get from our centers and we don't mind their cost. More touches, more points from Scola, and the next year he'd do better. The cost isn't that bad, either. $3M? Not bad. No one is doubting Garbajosa.

I think Scola could get 4-5 boards.

[ChumpDumper]

Same production we get from our centers and we don't mind their cost.

You don't mind?

[Mr. Body]

Not the cost. They're cheap.

[ChumpDumper]

But they suck.

[Mr. Body]

Eh. They're not great. The point, anyway, is that $3 million for a guy with Scola's projected value in this league is not bad at all. And as far as rebounds go, if Oberto culls 5 per game, I'd have to think Scola gets the same.

[ChumpDumper]

I'd rather not bother with more suck.

[mountainballer]

again I wonder about all those claims about how a EURO player will do in the NBA.
there should have been enough combined careers (NBA and Euro) that it is fair to state, that you never know.
some were stars in Europe (like for example Manu and Nocioni) and became also stars in the NBA.
some were stars there and didn't succeed in the NBA (Maciauskas, Jasikevicious)
some were stars, but not in the Euroleague MVP or 1st team category (like Manu, Scola and Saras were) and became quite decent NBA players (Garbajosa, Calderon)

so what does this tell regarding Scola?
well, it tells, that any scenario is possible. a team just has to take the risk.
and compared to the risk teams often take when signing ridiculous contracts, the risk of a 3years/9 million contract for a player like Scola doesn't look that bad, considering that a good chance to get a player in the decent starter/ quality back-up category is there.

btw. just for thoses of you, who were talking about stats in Spain.
Elson averaged 6 pts 5 rebounds in his 4 seasons in Spain and wasn't even close to becomming a star player there.

[JPB]

there ae some clues that can help figuring how a player would do in the NBA.
Character is one of them. Scola is a perennial, consistent top player in Europe who is in the same club for several years and who showed engagment and dvotion every year.
He is a smart, non egocentric guy (well not more than every other player.
Players you named were not proven top players on several years and were known as ballas. Guys from ex-yougoslavia are really gifted but also known sometimes for their hot temper and emotional instability. Scola has his head on his shoulders and sincerely when you have natural skills and good BBIQ, you can always find a way to express yourself whatever the place.

[JPB]

For those who would be interested :

http://www.euroleague.net/compe io...=bas&pcode=AJG

[ArgSpursFan]

would scola be willing to come off the bench and play the postion duncan does?

Of course He will.he is a grown guy who knows he needs sometime to get used to NBA rules and Living in a deferent country with a deferent lenguaje.The same thing happened to manu when he first came to the spurs,He knew he had to get used to deferent type of game and living in the USA.
Scola is not a College player.He is already a Pro.

[ArgSpursFan]

yes they did. he's the one that set his market value. uh o.

well, They signed him for a $14 M Euros contract in Spain

[AFBlue]

BTW, about the fact that having great stats in europe doesn't translate for sure in being good nba stats : a player in Spain averages 16.4 pts (.55 FG%), 10.5rbds, 1.8 blocks in 33 mpg....

... His name is Curtis Borchardt

Half a percentage point! That's got to be the worst average ever....

[ArgSpursFan]

right now it might have been better to pay scola then elson or butler
but who knows what scola can do
other posters posted players that played good in euro and not so good in nba for that kind of money

and what about Manu,Parker,Dirk,Peya,Vlade,Kukoc ect etc etc??????
Come on man,let´s get serius

[ArgSpursFan]

ohhhhhh ,i almost forgot,The 2 times MVP of NBA was a FIBA player at one time too.!!!
End of this thread I guess

[ArgSpursFan]

Memo to Argentina Fans.

Scola was a second round pick. Second round picks get minimum wage and all the peanuts you can eat during your first year. End of conversation.

So was manu,And them what happened Ainstein???

[AFBlue]

from the Express News this offseason:
Scola is seeking a three-year contract worth between $9 million and $10 million, about a third of which would go to paying the $3.5 million buyout he has with Tau.

Did anyone catch the last part of that statement. I'm not sure about it's reliability, but that statement says a third of the $ would go towards buyout....meaning he'd only be making about $6M over three years, similar to Jackie Butler. I'd do that deal in a heartbeat.

Another aggressive scorer is what this team needs and even if he's not as dominant, he's probably well worth $2M+ a year.

[ArgSpursFan]

Did anyone catch the last part of that statement. I'm not sure about it's reliability, but that statement says a third of the $ would go towards buyout....meaning he'd only be making about $6M over three years, similar to Jackie Butler. I'd do that deal in a heartbeat.

Another aggressive scorer is what this team needs and even if he's not as dominant, he's probably well worth $2M+ a year.

that´s what I have been trying to tell averybody here,most of the money from his contract will go towars his Buy out,he´ll be playing for Free almost.
And He is gonna have a work permition,I thought they just did that to the iligal aliens.

[diego]

I am less concerned about stats than what I can see a player do. Stats aren't meaningess in the NBA where they're more relatable to the NBA game (like Elson having 33 of 55 starts last season without a block), but even then they don't tell the whole story.

Oberto had okay stats in Europe but in the games I saw before he was a Spur I noticed he might end up with the worst vertical in the league and that he wouldn't be a shotblocking threat, in spite of his getting a gift block on Duncan in 04 because Duncan was falling and shooting so Oberto didn't have to leave the ground. I saw that he was slow.

It wasn't rocket science to apply these to the NBA game, and seeing that he wouldn't be a shotblocker, would have trouble finishing strong, and would have at best average speed, at worst have poor speed.

That's why I didn't see the need for him. Getting a back-up center with those qualities didn't make sense to me, all the more glaring when he is forced to be the starter.

Scola I view also through this prism.

I don't expect Scola to be a 16-20 point average scorer. I would expect him to be a hustler who scores around the block like Malik Rose did (which occasionally was quite effectively, other times not) and to be able to stick a modest jumper. To be someone the Spurs can go to in the post to at least threaten with when Duncan is out of the game to add some variety to their offense without TD, like they did with a prime Rose.

To be a hustler who can be effective in a delayed fast break and even a fast break. To be a guy who can actually finish strong with a dunk. Maybe not in Dwight Howard's face, but a dunk in a game. To bring a lot of emotion off the bench. To bring passion, energy.

To give up some rebounds, but not be a total disaster rebounding either. To have trouble in one-on-one post defense situations but to play well with his hands and staying active. To make selfish turnovers.

He has blocked the shots of Jermaine O'Neal and Elton Brand. He's not a pure shotblocker by any means, but he'll do more to get after it than Oberto.

So if all Scola would ever be is a prime Corliss Williamson or a prime Malik Rose (whose best year was 10 points a game), then to me that's easily worth 3-3.5 million a year. The Spurs could use a prime Williamson or Rose right now.

Too bad the Spurs will never sign him.

co-sign.
plus he makes us younger, but still has big game experience.

[ploto]

Spurs gave $3M per year to Elson, but it was too much for Scola.

[Mr. Body]

Passing on Scola was idiotic. It'll rank high in reasons why the Spurs failed to win a 4th championship.

[MoSpur]

I wouldn't have minded and still don't mind having the Spurs sign Scola. I don't think they'll give him 3.5 million per though. Maybe 2.5, but 3.5.

[Maddog]

Passing on Scola was idiotic. It'll rank high in reasons why the Spurs failed to win a 4th championship.

Maybe, maybe not,
I think they should have brought him over, but it's really hard to predict his impact. On one hand he has had great success in Europe. However, despite this- being a proven star- consistently listed as one of the best players in europe etc., the SPurs couldn't find anybody willing to trade a 1st round pick for him.
The impression I get is (and I'm definitely reading between the lines) is there is a lot of doubts as to his NBA potential among executives- be they right or wrong. THis based on articles and even an interview with RC Buford I heard last year.
I think the Elson signing was part desperation- here was somebody who had started in the NBA (last year with Denver), take a short term contract, and had some positives-speed etc.