Welcome to Detroit Balsa Koprivica!!!

[MotownMadness]

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[flow]

"This one's a surprise. Didn't have the big Serbian in the top 100 much less in the range of being drafted. He's got NBA size at 7-foot-1 but he's got slow feet and plays a more traditional style for a center. (Kyle Boone)"

cbssports

[tmorgan]

Actually, that scouting report doesn’t sound right. He’s actually reasonably fast and athletic, but it’s true he has no range. Check out the Draft board for a clip.

[SleepyShadow]

He’s a good shot blocker. Could be decent for the bench.

[mattao313]

He looks like a decent athlete to me a pure rim runner

Sent from my moto g play (2021) using RealGM mobile app

[440BB]

A seven footer with some potential that will likely have a year of development on the Cruise. I suspect Cunningham had some feedback on this pick as they played together a couple years ago.

Most importantly, for those who miss Wood, we now have Balsa.

[Kilo]

Must be heading overseas with the idea Pistons will hold his rights for awhile because no way this kid is worthy of even a 2-way deal.

[Pharaoh]

A seven footer with some potential that will likely have a year of development on the Cruise. I suspect Cunningham had some feedback on this pick as they played together a couple years ago.

Most importantly, for those who miss Wood, we now have Balsa.

Sent from my SM-G781B using RealGM mobile app

[DETermination]

A very Ballsy pick

[LaSheed]

Casey got his poor man's Poeltl. Not expecting much but that pick #57 for ya.

[Tecmo]

I'll raise my hand and admit I don't know anything about this guy. Time to see what he can do in the summer league!

[thesack12]

Short of his rights being thrown in to some random trade down the line, we'll probably never hear this guy's name again.

[BJK1]

Actually, that scouting report doesn’t sound right. He’s actually reasonably fast and athletic, but it’s true he has no range. Check out the Draft board for a clip.

Agreed. Some of his highlights actually show him stepping out and (effectively) guarding guys out on the perimeter. You don’t play for Leonard Hamilton at FSU unless you go out and defend. I was surprised by his athleticism and ability to finish in the paint.

[BJK1]

Casey got his poor man's Poeltl. Not expecting much but that pick #57 for ya.

That’s probably a fair comp.

[whitehops]

just going off some videos his game reminds me a little of plumlee's. has decent mobility, isn't exactly an explosive leaper but is very quick off the floor which helps him dunk a lot.

he almost definitely won't play a minute for the pistons this season (or ever) but how much can you expect from the 57th pick?

[Liqourish]

Actually, that scouting report doesn’t sound right. He’s actually reasonably fast and athletic, but it’s true he has no range. Check out the Draft board for a clip.

Agreed. Some of his highlights actually show him stepping out and (effectively) guarding guys out on the perimeter. You don’t play for Leonard Hamilton at FSU unless you go out and defend. I was surprised by his athleticism and ability to finish in the paint.

And the sad part is, some fans only go off these scouting reports for their opinions and sometimes they are completely wrong.

[The Moose]

safe to say a lot of scouts don't rate him very highly

https://theathletic.com/2740150/2021/07/30/2021-nba-draft-results-round-1-picks-grades-analysis-trades-including-cade-cunningham-to-pistons/

Vecenie wrote:

Balsa Koprivica | 7-1 center | 21 years old | Florida State
Vecenie’s Ranking: Outside top 110

Koprivica is big. He is definitely tall at 7-foot-1 in shoes, and he has enormous hands that he uses to catch and finish. He’s a pretty good shot blocker from the weak-side, but not quite strong enough to be a primary rim protector. He’s not overly athletic, doesn’t really have any skill outside of three feet away from the rim, doesn’t rebound well on the defensive end, doesn’t pass well. He showed absolutely nothing of value at the G League Elite Camp, and I’m not sure there is really anything here outside of “tall with big hands.” I’m not sure he was actually good enough to play at Florida State, let alone in the NBA. I’m at a loss that he was selected.

Hollinger Wrote:

Hollinger’s team fit: I’m at a loss. Koprovica played at the G League Elite camp and was brutally awful, and there was really nothing in his track record at Florida State that indicated NBA draftability. He is 7-foot-1 and has a passport (although he’s from Florida) which means he could be stashed overseas, but that’s about all the upside I see here. He wasn’t even the best Florida State player on my board (RaiQuan Gray).

I seriously doubt he ever puts on a uniform, but heres hoping

[BJK1]

safe to say a lot of scouts don't rate him very highly

https://theathletic.com/2740150/2021/07/30/2021-nba-draft-results-round-1-picks-grades-analysis-trades-including-cade-cunningham-to-pistons/

Vecenie wrote:

Balsa Koprivica | 7-1 center | 21 years old | Florida State
Vecenie’s Ranking: Outside top 110

Koprivica is big. He is definitely tall at 7-foot-1 in shoes, and he has enormous hands that he uses to catch and finish. He’s a pretty good shot blocker from the weak-side, but not quite strong enough to be a primary rim protector. He’s not overly athletic, doesn’t really have any skill outside of three feet away from the rim, doesn’t rebound well on the defensive end, doesn’t pass well. He showed absolutely nothing of value at the G League Elite Camp, and I’m not sure there is really anything here outside of “tall with big hands.” I’m not sure he was actually good enough to play at Florida State, let alone in the NBA. I’m at a loss that he was selected.

Hollinger Wrote:

Hollinger’s team fit: I’m at a loss. Koprovica played at the G League Elite camp and was brutally awful, and there was really nothing in his track record at Florida State that indicated NBA draftability. He is 7-foot-1 and has a passport (although he’s from Florida) which means he could be stashed overseas, but that’s about all the upside I see here. He wasn’t even the best Florida State player on my board (RaiQuan Gray).

I seriously doubt he ever puts on a uniform, but heres hoping

These guys do this for a living, so I’m not saying they’re wrong. I especially like Sam Vecenie (don’t like Hollinger as I just think he’s got the whole “smartest guy in the room” vibe). That said, I scratch my head at the “not good enough to play at FSU” comment. Just weird. He was a STARTER for them this year as a sophomore. I guess Leonard Hamilton thought he was good enough to play there.

Yeah, he likely never suits up for the Pistons. But you can’t teach 7’1” with athleticism and big hands. At 57, why not? He’s Serbian, so maybe he spends a couple of years playing there? By the way, I just found out that Garza’s mom is Serbian and was a star player there.

[DBC10]

safe to say a lot of scouts don't rate him very highly

https://theathletic.com/2740150/2021/07/30/2021-nba-draft-results-round-1-picks-grades-analysis-trades-including-cade-cunningham-to-pistons/

Vecenie wrote:

Balsa Koprivica | 7-1 center | 21 years old | Florida State
Vecenie’s Ranking: Outside top 110

Koprivica is big. He is definitely tall at 7-foot-1 in shoes, and he has enormous hands that he uses to catch and finish. He’s a pretty good shot blocker from the weak-side, but not quite strong enough to be a primary rim protector. He’s not overly athletic, doesn’t really have any skill outside of three feet away from the rim, doesn’t rebound well on the defensive end, doesn’t pass well. He showed absolutely nothing of value at the G League Elite Camp, and I’m not sure there is really anything here outside of “tall with big hands.” I’m not sure he was actually good enough to play at Florida State, let alone in the NBA. I’m at a loss that he was selected.

Hollinger Wrote:

Hollinger’s team fit: I’m at a loss. Koprovica played at the G League Elite camp and was brutally awful, and there was really nothing in his track record at Florida State that indicated NBA draftability. He is 7-foot-1 and has a passport (although he’s from Florida) which means he could be stashed overseas, but that’s about all the upside I see here. He wasn’t even the best Florida State player on my board (RaiQuan Gray).

I seriously doubt he ever puts on a uniform, but heres hoping

Yeah, I know vast majority don't even know who he is nor even watched him play, but sounds like he's a draft and stash unless we're giving him the Hasheem Thabeet treatment and using him as a decoy/practice center for the young guys

[Obe1ball]

Balsa, we'd like to send you home for a couple seasons.