He was a free agent last year I think, he had no buyout problems even before that I'm sure as he was expecting to be in the NBA. He would have earned his check a lot more than DeMarre Carroll or Trey Lyles.
If Zubac can succeed in the NBA in his role, Milutinov certainly could.
Anyways
I remember the good old days on this forum when so many were convinced that Scola couldn't play in the NBA, he was just a fiba and Europe guy. After all, if he was any good at all, the Spurs would have signed him, right?
And I remember the delight in the Spurs suckering some dumb new gm into taking his rights in a tiny salary dump, didn't that idiot know there was an impossible buyout? Didn't he know that Scola was demanding the max?
Besides, duncan and him could never play together, because they both could only play on the low block and two objects couldn't occupy the same space at the same time. Neither had any other way to score or contribute. It just wasn't meant to be.
Trip down memory lane aside, what really burns about Milutinov, or Scola, or even Hanga et al is this ...
In the harsh game of talent acquisition, the Spurs had already won at the hardest part: identifying NBA talent AND having exclusive rights. They did it! And that talent is usually gettable for cheap or reasonable for their first contract. After that it can be a rough road, but the Spurs scouting had done their job. They had the players! No one else could come in and steal them away in the NBA.
That's like free money. Free roll of the dice. Free square.
Every other team is scrambling to find guys and blowing picks, churning through 'second draft' busts, banking on washed up retirees, cycling through 10 days and 2 ways and summer leagues all just to find guys who can play on an active roster.
And the Spurs have had it and just tossed it aside; it's maddening. Why not use the asset while it's most valuable, that first contract? You've done all the work, just cross the finish line and take the prize.
And the Spurs guys wanted to be here. Scola wanted to play with Manu. Duncan was his favorite player. Hanga wanted to be a Spur, Milutinov too.
Morey pulled his hair out over Llull refusing any offer. The Magic set their franchise back with Fran Vasquez.
The Spurs had it, why didn't they just take it? I'll never get it. Instead of les in 05 and 07, is it possible that they would have run through 05, 06, 07, and 08? With just one small move, one flap of the butterfly wings ... A greasy haired flopper would have emerged from the chrysalis, glorious to behold!!!!
Oh well. At least they were able to spend their money where it really mattered most.
Bryn Forbes