Donatas Motiejunas Thread. Superstar potential?

BillyGM · Post #1 » by **BillyGM** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:11 am

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tz7_uHdrJLc[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFqK-YXlsHs[/youtube]

Aaron Brooks · Post #2 » by **Aaron Brooks** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:15 am

Let's not get carried away here

PocketRockets · Post #3 » by **PocketRockets** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 3:34 am

Eh....those highlights made me like him less. Only thing he has going for him is he can probably shoot since he's from overseas and he looks like he hustles on def.

Superstar? I hope so, but very unlikely.

clockwork · Post #4 » by **clockwork** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:47 am

Superstar? No.

Potential All-star? Moderately likely.

2nd Offensive option? Definitely yes.

My opinion of him is that he's one of the best offensive players in this draft.

He's a bit arrogant being really successful at such a young age, but coming into the NBA and especially playing next to his favorite player, Luis Scola, is definitely going to ground him. His match-up at the 4/5 is going to be tough at first given his strength but he has gotten 15lbs in muscle in a little over a year in Europe where strength isn't that important. If he keeps progressing in that manner he could pan out to a Gasol frame.

I have never taken into account workouts as a viable way of analyzing a player for a game time situation... the video doesn't worry me a bit tbh..

Jaykoolzboy · Post #5 » by **Jaykoolzboy** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 4:54 am

I remember just 6 month ago, he was still listed as top 5 lottery pick this year, then free fall happened. I would say it's a low risk high reward situation.

Best Scenario: Poor man version of Dirk
Worst Scenario: Poor man version of Yi Jianlian

BillyGM · Post #6 » by **BillyGM** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:07 am

http://www.nba.com/wizards/video/originals/# - If you look closely you will find his interview. Very good english for foreigner. :wink:

He says that he is going to be the best player. I like his attitude!

clockwork · Post #7 » by **clockwork** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:36 am

Completely forgot, Karnisovas is one of your scouts. He's Lithuanian also..

Guy986 · Post #8 » by **Guy986** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 5:59 am

So..... we drafted Bargnani cone that can't shoot?

pumpfakeforprez · Post #9 » by **pumpfakeforprez** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:05 am

Guy986 wrote:So..... we drafted Bargnani cone that can't shoot?

He's got a good mid range game, and decent inside game.

clockwork · Post #10 » by **clockwork** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:12 am

Guy986 wrote:So..... we drafted Bargnani cone that can't shoot?

If you cared enough to actually do the research, he's nothing like Bargnani other than the trivial fact that they both played for the same club.

Motiejunas spends most his time in the post, unlike his "clone" counter part. He's a great passer too and a willing one at that when on the perimeter.

I don't know how many conversations I've had with people trying to convince that the two are nothing alike. If anything, Motiejunas is closer to a Gasol than Bargnani/Nowitzki.

BillyGM · Post #11 » by **BillyGM** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:34 am

Just a little stats comparison:
Brandon Jennings Stats in Italy:
20 MPG 7.6 PPG 1.6 REB 1.6 ASS
Donatas Motiejunas Stats in Italy:
25 MPG 12.8 PPG 4.4 REB 1.0 ASS

BillyGM · Post #12 » by **BillyGM** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:39 am

Donatas Motiejunas said that he's really happy to play in Houston Rockets. He's familiar with Arturas Karnisovas. BTW his favourite player is Scola.

Guy986 · Post #13 » by **Guy986** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:47 am

My first impression of Motie is in that awful workout video where he bricked half of his attempts and airballed a couple shots from 17 feet. I admit maybe i'm too quick to judge. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. But I fully expect him to be a long term project so i wont ask for immediate production.

Let me see if i can get my facts right.

7 foot tall
skilled player
good mobility
average shooter
poor rebounder
poor/below average defender
below average strength

I dont even know what his "niche" in the nba is right now. in the first few years, he's going to be a liability on the defensive end. He's not going to be strong enough to score efficiently around the basket against NBA bigs. And his perimeter game is not consistent enough to offset his defensive/rebounding deficiency.

atleast 2-3 years away from contributing imo which i'm ok with.
If we can stash him in europe even better.

Dr Positivity · Post #14 » by **Dr Positivity** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:31 am

You guys got the steal of the draft. I'd rather have him than the guy we took at 5 and I wouldn't even have to think about it

Man I'm so jealous of Jazz and Rockets fans... I would LOVE to be cheering for a Morris/Motiejunas or Burks/Kanter rookie combo next year. I can't believe we took a giant scrub piece of **** at 5

Guy986 · Post #15 » by **Guy986** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:41 am

Dr Mufasa wrote:You guys got the steal of the draft. I'd rather have him than the guy we took at 5 and I wouldn't even have to think about it

Man I'm so jealous of Jazz and Rockets fans... I would LOVE to be cheering for a Morris/Motiejunas or Burks/Kanter rookie combo next year. I can't believe we took a giant scrub piece of **** at 5

opposite imo.

Rockets DESPERATELY tried to move up for Jonas Valanciunas. He was probably Morey's #2 after Irwing.

-- The Rockets tried to work a deal for 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 in an effort to get one specific player. My hunch was the #2 pursuit was to get Kanter, even over Derrick Williams. That was wrong -- it was for Jonas Valanciunas.

http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=206141

Before the draft, there was alot of chatter about Rockets wanting to trade the 14/23 for #10 or #8 provided that the guy they wanted was available. I think the Rockets would trade Morris + Motie for Jonas in a second.

clockwork · Post #16 » by **clockwork** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:52 am

Dr Mufasa wrote:You guys got the steal of the draft. I'd rather have him than the guy we took at 5 and I wouldn't even have to think about it

Man I'm so jealous of Jazz and Rockets fans... I would LOVE to be cheering for a Morris/Motiejunas or Burks/Kanter rookie combo next year. I can't believe we took a giant scrub piece of **** at 5

Bargnani/Motiejunas front court. What the hell is wrong with you?

There's no reasoning with you is there?

Aaron Brooks · Post #17 » by **Aaron Brooks** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 9:40 am

have there been any european players coming into the draft that were considered good defenders? (big men only)

Post #18 » by **TMACFORMVP** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 1:33 pm

I'm not the biggest fan, he doesn't do anything a big man should do for our team, but the offensive talent is undeniably there. Superstar potential is getting carried away, but he could be a very solid rotational starter with a versatile offensive game.

BillyGM · Post #19 » by **BillyGM** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:47 pm

Rockets See Shades Of Nowitzki In Motiejunas
In Donatas Motiejunas, the Rockets see some of Dirk Nowitzki’s size, athleticism and offensive skills. That’s a huge projection, a huge leap. Motiejunas is far from a finished product, but so was Nowitzki when he entered the league.

“He has a really high upside, a lot of potential,” Morey said.

On a day when the Rockets believed they took a huge step toward returning to the playoffs even as they were unable to fill their biggest need, it’s the trade for Motiejunas that prompted high-fives and huge smiles in their draft room.

Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/21 ... z1QClrW6vV

Post #20 » by **Mr. E** » Fri Jun 24, 2011 2:58 pm

I'm sold on the potential of Motiejunas. I'm going to be patient with the guy, tho.

I want to see how he reacts to being sent down to McAllen to learn the system (which I fully expect the Rockets to do with him and Morris).