Draft Prospect: Marko Tomas

[Marcus Bryant]

Full Name: Marko Tomas
Position: Guard
Height/Weight: 6-8 / 194
Birthdate: January 3, 1985 (Koprivnica, Croatia)
High School:
Team: Real Madrid (Spain)
Country: Croatia

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[timvp]

I think this guy is a real possibility at 58. He entered the draft in 2003, 2004 and 2005 before pulling out each year. The Spurs were very interested in him each time. Now his stock has really cooled off and he's signed a long-term contract in Europe.

However, at 58, it doesn't matter if he's locked up in Europe. He was a first round pick not too long ago.

This is from a Larry Bird interview in 2005:

Q: How likely is it that you will pick a European player?
Bird: Marko Tomas got out of the draft, who I really liked, he would’ve been probably around 15-20, 22. I really liked him, I’ve seen him play you know for the last two years.

Q: Since you’ve lost your shooting guard in Reggie, what shooting guards are out there that you like?
Bird: Marko Tomas. (Francisco) Garcia is in the draft, Marko Tomas, I really like Luther Head which I think can play point guard.


If Bird likes him and he is a couple years removed from being a rather high draft pick, he'd be a very nice pick at 58.

[timvp]

Interview with Tomas:

You signed a five-year contract with Real Madrid last summer. Why such a long contract?
MT: I don't know. For now, you know, the NBA is not my first option. Real Madrid is the biggest club in Europe, the biggest ins ution. And I'm happy with the five-year contract.

So you will forget about the NBA for the next five years. No chance you go there.
MT: Not yet. For now, not yet. But you never know. Maybe for two years. But I have to get experience here in Europe and, if I'm good enough, I would like to go to the NBA then.

You declared for the draft the last two years. Were you serious about staying in the draft?
MT: The last year was different. Last year, I pulled out of the draft, but it was because of a complicated situation. There was this big buyout in my club and, you know, because of that some teams wouldn't select me. They can only pay $350,000 for the buyout. In my club, they told me, "If you go to the NBA, the buyout is double the money compared to the buyout if you go to Madrid." I strongly consider staying, but anyway it's no big deal.


The Spurs can wait that contract out while not many other teams in the league can afford to wait that long. He sounds like a Spurs type pick to me.

[Darkwaters]

I definitely like rolling the dice on him at 58. The best two options I see legitimately being available at 58 are Tomas and Ali Traore.

[ThomasGranger]

Sounds like he wants to leave the door open so he can make the leap to the NBA in a couple of years if the situation is right. I'd be happy if the Spurs picked him with the 58th pick and brought him over when he turns about 25 or so.

[T Park]

Gotta find out what his buyouts are in a couple years.

If they are low 2s, then you definately draft him.

If Larry Bird is THAT high on you, that has to make you take pause.