Europe to the NBA?

[Cammo101]

Which international players do you think could come in and play in the NBA next year? I'm not talking about draft age players or younger, but guys who could be free agents. Guys like Theodorus Papaloukas. Who do you guys think could come and do well in the NBA?

[AdamTheGreek]

Papaloukas will not go, he's too old and getting massive amounts of money to stay in Europe that far outweigh any possible wishes of having an NBA career (especially when he'd demand to be a starter). Sadly for Theo, he's starting to decline a bit in my eyes (hope I'm wrong come NT time).

Diamantidis is the guy to keep an eye on. He's already a god with PAO and he's young enough to come over. Plus, his defense and size alone will garner him a lot of NBA team interest.

[Livno]

Nikola Vujcic said last summer that he will move to the NBA next season!

[suckfish]

I agree about both Papaloukas and Diamantidis.

Papaloukas has never struck me as a player with an NBA game, great great player, but I'm not sure he is very well suited to the speed and athleticism of the NBA. Possibly in the right situation and team he could be pretty effective, well he could have been, it's a little late now with his age in consideration. A very smart player though and an ideal floor general.

As a bulls fan, Vujcic would be somewhat of a dream. Probably would be a better fit somewhere other than Chicago, but I'd still love him. Not the low post guy the bulls both desperately want and need, but instead a very skilled big who is not just great from the high post facing up and shooting (not that he can't play with his back to the basket either), but also a highly skilled passer. Would be interesting to see how he would translate to the NBA playing a point-forward role, kicking out to shooters and feeding athletic wings on cuts..

I haven't been following the Euroleague half as much as I would want too or have done in past seasons, so I'm not the best guy to judge these players based on their recent basketball.

Wasn't Vujcic suffering from a little injury a while ago? Anyone care to update me? I'm a little out of touch.. Wasn't he out a little while only just after he had returned from injury?

[Cammo101]

IMO Diamantidis would be a perfect fit in Orlando where he can spend time at the PG and SG positions. We have the MLE and should spend some or all of it on him.

[AdamTheGreek]

If he wants to play in the NBA, someone will offer him more than the MLE (that's what I'd offer).

[pustiuady]

More players from Europe are good for play in NBA. In Germany champion ship, France, Turkey...

[turkishstar]

After i see Rubio's performance, i believe that Teodosic can be very succesfull

[VUK1]

After i see Rubio's performance, i believe that Teodosic can be very succesfull

I think Teodosic would be fantastic on offence, he's shooting is superb and court vision and passing is better than Rubio, but in defence Rubio is 10 X the better player...

[Johnlac1]

After i see Rubio's performance, i believe that Teodosic can be very succesfull

I think Teodosic would be fantastic on offence, he's shooting is superb and court vision and passing is better than Rubio, but in defence Rubio is 10 X the better player...

After seeing a few CSKA games he's definitely an excellent shooter and capable ballhandler-passer, but he's not in Rubio's league as a passer or seeing the court. Rubio is one of the best I've ever seen regarding court vision and passing skills going back to Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson. Top five ever.

[Raptor_Claw]

After i see Rubio's performance, i believe that Teodosic can be very succesfull

I think Teodosic would be fantastic on offence, he's shooting is superb and court vision and passing is better than Rubio, but in defence Rubio is 10 X the better player...

After seeing a few CSKA games he's definitely an excellent shooter and capable ballhandler-passer, but he's not in Rubio's league as a passer or seeing the court. Rubio is one of the best I've ever seen regarding court vision and passing skills going back to Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson. Top five ever.

Teodosic can make every pass Rubio can and so can numerous other play makers in Europe. Also, Teodosic isn't an excellent shooter. He has unlimited range and a very quick release, but he's extremely streaky.

[Johnlac1]

"numerous playmakers"

I sincerely doubt that.

[Raptor_Claw]

"numerous playmakers"

I sincerely doubt that.

So you know this after seeing a few games of one team? Rubio was nothing special in Euroleague. Several play makers in Euroleague can make the same passes Rubio makes. It's not unusual in Europe, where passing is a lot more emphasized and prized than it is in the American game. Rubio might be flashier than others, but he's not much of a better passer.

You have said that Llull looks like Nash from watching him play, so you obviously have not seen that much European basketball. Llull is considered below average in passing terms for Euroleague point guards.

[VUK1]

"After seeing a few CSKA games he's definitely an excellent shooter and capable ballhandler-passer, but he's not in Rubio's league as a passer or seeing the court. Rubio is one of the best I've ever seen regarding court vision and passing skills going back to Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson. Top five ever."

Sorry but Teodosic actually has a better passing range and better court vision than Rubio. I think most Spanish fans would even admit that as well as most people that follow the Euroleague. You "few games" watching CSKA is no way enough to judge. Believe me Teodosic is an absolute freak with his passing and court vision. He does have range and is absolute clutch but I admit is a little streaky. But in comparing his with Rubio he is miles ahead when you think about Rubio's struggles from 3.

Again, his major downside in a potential transition to the NBA would be on defense. This is where Rubio has pleasantly surprised most followers of European bball and has been excellent in the NBA. Teodosic is simply to slow and doesnt have the long arms that Rubio has. I shudder to imagine Teo trying to stop Westbrook or Rose etc.

[Johnlac1]

"After seeing a few CSKA games he's definitely an excellent shooter and capable ballhandler-passer, but he's not in Rubio's league as a passer or seeing the court. Rubio is one of the best I've ever seen regarding court vision and passing skills going back to Bob Cousy and Oscar Robertson. Top five ever."

Sorry but Teodosic actually has a better passing range and better court vision than Rubio. I think most Spanish fans would even admit that as well as most people that follow the Euroleague. You "few games" watching CSKA is no way enough to judge. Believe me Teodosic is an absolute freak with his passing and court vision. He does have range and is absolute clutch but I admit is a little streaky. But in comparing his with Rubio he is miles ahead when you think about Rubio's struggles from 3.

Again, his major downside in a potential transition to the NBA would be on defense. This is where Rubio has pleasantly surprised most followers of European bball and has been excellent in the NBA. Teodosic is simply to slow and doesnt have the long arms that Rubio has. I shudder to imagine Teo trying to stop Westbrook or Rose etc.

I'll stick to my original statement: Rubio is a much better passer than Teodosic. Or anyone else for that matter. As for defense, Teodosic wouldn't do a worse job than Steve Nash. Probably better since Nash has always been mediocre or worse on defense. In fact, Teodosic paired with Westbrook would be a pretty good combination. He can really shoot.