Do we need Igor Rakocevic?

[alex_cheung]

Igor Rakočević (Serbian: Игор Ракочевић; born March 29, 1978, in Belgrade, SR Serbia, Yugoslavia) is a Serbian professional basketball player currently playing for TAU Cerámica in Spain. He is a graduate of the IX-th Belgrade Gymnasium.

I heard from http://www.sina.com. that Murray now wants to sign this guy with a 4-year,$12 million contract. Do you think this guy will benefit us if its ture.

Pro career
NBA
Rakočević was selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2nd round (51st overall) of the 2000 NBA Draft. He did not play until the 2002-03 NBA season, in which he mounted 244 minutes in 42 games and averaged 1.9 points, 0.8 assists, and 0.4 rebounds per game. He was released after the season and signed by the San Antonio Spurs, who also released him shortly after.

Europe
Rakočević then returned to Europe playing for Red Star and was officially the best player of the Adriatic League. He continued his career in Spain where he played for Pamesa Valencia, Real Madrid and he's currently playing for Tau Cerámica. In the Euroleague 2006-07 season he won the "Alphonso Ford" trophy, which is given to the best scorer of the Euroleague and he was also selected to the All-Euroleague 2nd Team of that year's competition.

With TAU Cerámica, Rakočević won the Spanish Supercopa in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and the Spanish ACB League championship in 2008.

FIBA international career
Rakočević made his debut with the senior Yugoslavian national team at the 2000 Olympic Basketball Tournament. After that he played in the 2001 European Championship in Turkey (where he won a gold medal) and at the 2005 European Championship in Serbia and Montenegro. He was a member of the team that became the FIBA World Champions in Indianapolis at the 2002 FIBA World Championship and he was the captain of the Serbia and Montenegro national team in Japan at the 2006 FIBA World Championship. He also played at the 2004 Olympic Basketball Tournament at Athens.

[YaoZaii]

i think you mean 12 million.

[YaoZaii]

well, scola turned out good.
in morey i trust.

he has the midas touch.

[alex_cheung]

i think you mean 12 million.

yes

[Amel]

since I am from the balkans, I say maybe

Rakocevic was considered the best player from the balkans years ago

many of my friends used to immitate him during our one on one games

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVvbMbjC720

[YaoZaii]

how tall is he?

[langer]

I never give a damn about any news from Sina.com. Some of Editors in there are just 19 years old. I would prefer to call them "translator" in term of NBA related news or whatsoever. They will consistently check out all the forums or blogs whatever that could dig a news. Even some of threads that have been posted in here and clutch fans are translated to Chinese.

OMG, they are gonna trace my internet E-tail, and E-bully on me soon.

[alex_cheung]

how tall is he?

H: 6' 3"
W: 183 lbs

[texasholdem]

I'm getting a Vassilis Spanoulis flashback

[YaoZaii]

OMG, they are gonna trace my internet E-tail, and E-bully on me soon.

Good luck. don't mention any one of us here. They might just e-snipe us. lol.

[tisbee]

Juroplastika89-90-91 posted on McGrady done thread link to Eurobasketball site that said sort of same thing.(Altho they had it as 3yr/$12mil.)

(Edit Add)
Interesting that over the summer news came out the Rockets were in pretty serious talks w/the PG on that team. Wonder if watching film on him,Rakocevic caught Adelman or other staff's eye? The few clips I saw of him show a very quick catch and release,pull-up and shoot threes,dunking ability at rim and decent in-the-lane shots. But a very quick release. For Adelman's motion offense,Rakocevic looks like a very good fit.
And I wouldn't be suprised if Rockets had interest in him as a vet back-up SG,who could start if neccessary.

[MaxRider]

depend who's available on free agent and the draft

[tisbee]

Texasholdem,
The Rockets seriously upgraded their European scouting department,and are fostering good relations w/several teams they have draft picks playing for. Also his time overlaps w/Scola's,so I'm pretty sure the Rockets asked Luis about him. Not to say the team won't make mistakes,but I think they have alot more info now to base decisions on.

Of course this could all be his agent posturing to get a better deal from the Spanish team-but I doubt it.

What we haven't commented on,this is not some spur of the moment thing. The Rockets have spent alot of time on this,first identifying him as someone they'd want,making contact w/his agent(s) to see if Rakocevic would be interested,working out the framework for a contract and finally offering one. We learned from the Scola trade Morey gives his coach film of a potential acquisition and listen's to Adelman's input. So we can assume Morey kept Adelman informed,gave him some film and Adelman signed off on the offer.

Now if Morey can find a greyhound SF and a big who can shoot from outside-and play a little D-the bench will be set for next yr.

[Tomas_11]

So he's another pg? Or an undersized sg? I don't want him on the team then.

[HTown_TMac]

I like Jeff Teague out of Wake Forest... He reminds me of a poor-mans CP3

[texasholdem]

The Rockets seriously upgraded their European scouting department

that's great to hear. So does he pronounce his name E-gor or Eye-Gor?

[tisbee]

Texasholdem,
It looks like it doesn't matter. In interview w/Spanish paper he claims offer isn't from Rockets. Looks more and more like his agent is playing games to get better deal from his team.
The Rockets prob got drawn in because of their interest in the PG of the team,Priogni(prob mispelled from memory).

[texasholdem]

oh well, I'm content with Brooks and Lowry at the point anyway.

the name pronouncation question was just a joke from Young Frankenstein.

[Rogerson]

Rakocević is a pure sg in pg body. A great player and shooter but he would not be a good fit for a NBA team imo. Much better than Spanoulis btw. He didn't play good for the Wolves because they want him to be a first pass pg.

[Amel]

its pronounced Eegor Rakotchevich

hehe