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DraftExpress wrote:This move is interesting for a number of reasons, but has appeared to draw the ire of the college basketball community, who cannot understand why he would chose Europe over the NCAA or the possibility of playing in the NBA.

The reasoning is pretty simple. It comes down to money.

Calathes’ 3-year, 2.1 million Euro contract gives him an incredible amount of financial security, while still providing the opportunity to continue to get better on the most competitive team in the world outside the NBA. In addition, his very comfortable buyout situation means that he can return to the States as early as next year if he pleases.

Much of the criticism Calathes is receiving stems from the fact that he is considered by many to be a potential late-first round NBA draft pick. If there is anything we’ve learned from covering the draft over the past six years, it’s that it is virtually impossible to project who will ultimately get drafted in the late first round and who will slip to the second. Calathes could very well have gone in the 30’s and ended up with a non-guaranteed contract, only to get cut in training, as many second rounders often are.

If anything, Calathes may have improved his draft stock with this move. There are a number of teams in the late first round—such as New Orleans, Minnesota, Oklahoma City and Chicago who either have multiple picks or may not be interested in adding another guaranteed contract/roster spot to their team at this point. The fact that Calathes will play for one of the most decorated coaches in the world in Zeljko Obradovic on someone else’s coin and come back a much better player in one year has to look attractive. With Sarunas Jasikevicius reportedly on the way out of Panathinaikos, a decent amount of playing time will be opened up for him.

This is interesting for a couple of reasons. First off, the section I have bolded. If there is one thing that the average NBA/college fan doesn't understand about the draft, it is the unpredictability of the second half of the first round. It literally never goes as people expect it to. This is something that anybody analyzing the draft should keep in mind, whether you are a beat reporter talking up the possibilities for the team you cover or a message board fanatic with an opinion about whether or not a player should declare.

Secondly, it would be interesting to see the Wolves pick up Calathes. He could look like a complete steal with a couple of years under his belt in Europe.I mean, "lucky pick"...my bad Devilz.

There are advantages to Calathes at the Boston pick.

--He develops in Europe, we keep his rights but do not use a roster spot this year. He reminds me of Jaric from his LAC days and I like Jaric as a role player off the bench. The problem is the Tiago issue. Would putting him in a late 1st slot prevent him from signing with an NBA team?

Good call

I <3 Calathes.

I guess we would have to see how it goes on draft night (once again, unpredictability of the 2nd half of the 1st round), but if we could get the 31st pick, that would be a great place to snag Calathes. MAYBE the Kings trade it for the 28th pick if there's a player they don't think will last a couple more picks. I guess the team would probably have conversations with Calathes prior to draft night to see if he would come over at the #28 pick salary, or if we would have to trade into the top of the 2nd.

Why would we need to trade down from 28 to 31?

At #28 he's locked into the rookie cap, at #31 we can offer him whatever cap space, or MLE, we have. I think Calathes has a chance of being a very solid player with a couple years in Europe. He could blow up.

I know he's Greek, but he's originally from the United States right? So he'd be more likely to take an NBA contract if he knew it meant a career? He's not like Tiago in that he'd prefer to just stay home? Or in Europe?

I brain farted and thought there were 32 picks. wow. I am tired. sorry about that.

Ewww, NFL.

yup...that would be why.

FROM CHAD FORD - ESPN

The latest draft talk from around the league:

• Everyone is scratching their heads about Nick Calathes' decision to sign with Panathinaikos of Greece. I'm not.

Here's what's not being reported. Calathes' three-year, 2.1 million euro contract is worth more than you think. Given the exchange rate, that's $3 million guaranteed. Now here's the kicker: that's Calathes' net, not his gross. European contracts take care of taxes, an apartment, car, travel and living expenses. So Calathes' take-home pay comes with many perks.

He'd have to get a contract starting at roughly $2 million per year to make up the difference. He'd have to be a lottery pick to manage that.

As for concerns about a huge NBA buyout, the buyout is $500,000 (and the NBA team that drafts him can pay the entire amount) and he can return to the NBA after one year in Europe.

But money isn't the only thing. He also knows he'll play a prominent role on Panathinaikos next season. The teams that were looking at drafting him this year -- Dallas was the hottest for him -- couldn't offer the same guarantee.

I know people are shocked that a young man with a chance to make an NBA roster would turn it down, but given Calathes' background, it's not a terrible move. In fact, it might end up helping his draft status.

Contrary to reports, sources say there is no clause in his contract requiring him to withdraw from the draft.

If he stays in the draft, the contract doesn't necessarily hurt his chances of going in the first round. A number of teams drafting in the 20s (where Calathes was projected) might still have interest. With a number of teams in that part of the draft worried about payroll, getting Calathes off it for a year or two could be attractive.

If he withdraws from the draft and plays well in Europe, the NBA will be knocking his door down when he's ready to head this way.

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Based on that, I'm absolutely all about drafting Calathes with our #28, if we still have it. Depending upon what trades are made, and who is drafted early, I'd even look at him with #18 for that. Low buyout number, added experience. Sign me up.

If Casspi was gone at 28, I'd be happy to see them draft Calathes.

Calathes has a 3 year contract. So far reports in Greece say he has an NBA opt out after the first season only. Also he was signed to be the 3rd string SG of Panathinaikos. So the reports that he will stay 2 years in Europe and as Ford said "will play a prominent role on Panathinaikos" are wrong.

He will stay 1 year or 3 years based on how the contract is from reports so far in Greece. And the third string SG is not a prominent part of any club. There should be an update tomorrow and I will try to give it. Tomorrow he arrives in Athens and he has a court side seat reserved for him at OAKA to watch game 4 of the Greek Finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.

I thought I read that one of the prominent guards from Panathinaikos was possibly leaving the team (signing elsewhere?) and that would open up time for Calathes. Can't remember where I thought I read it, so have no source or link, but that was listed as another reason Calathes was happy to sign with the top Greek team.

Jonathan Watters wrote:I mean, "lucky pick"...my bad Devilz.

thank you

KWSN-Men wrote:Calathes has a 3 year contract. So far reports in Greece say he has an NBA opt out after the first season only. Also he was signed to be the 3rd string SG of Panathinaikos. So the reports that he will stay 2 years in Europe and as Ford said "will play a prominent role on Panathinaikos" are wrong.

He will stay 1 year or 3 years based on how the contract is from reports so far in Greece. And the third string SG is not a prominent part of any club. There should be an update tomorrow and I will try to give it. Tomorrow he arrives in Athens and he has a court side seat reserved for him at OAKA to watch game 4 of the Greek Finals between Panathinaikos and Olympiacos.

I'd still say that he'd be a solid pick at 28, whether he stays 1 or 3 years overseas.

Winter Wonder wrote:I thought I read that one of the prominent guards from Panathinaikos was possibly leaving the team (signing elsewhere?) and that would open up time for Calathes. Can't remember where I thought I read it, so have no source or link, but that was listed as another reason Calathes was happy to sign with the top Greek team.

Sarunas Jasikevicius is a free agent. There has been no word on him leaving or staying yet. IF he leaves, which is very doubtful Calathes is still down on the depth chart.

PG depth chart is Spanoulis/Jasikevicius
SG depth chart is Nicholas/Diamantidis

Even if Jasikevicius leaves Calathes would probably only have 10 minutes of playing time. I'm not sure how that makes his role prominent but Chad Ford is well, Chad Ford. But even though he would still have not much playing time the signing would make a lot more sense if Jasikevicius was leaving. It just seems doubtful to me.

http://www.superbasket.gr/?c=139&a=113686

Jasikevicius re-signed with PAO so I don't see much playing time for Calathes as he will be the 5th guard on the team's depth chart. I bet he just stays 1 year.

So is Calathes going to play in the Euroleague or the Greek league? Is that the ACB league? I'm so confused!

Jonathan Watters wrote:So is Calathes going to play in the Euroleague or the Greek league? Is that the ACB league? I'm so confused!

No.

ACB = Spanish League

A1 = Greek League

Euroleague = best teams on the continent from all the European national leagues.

The two best national leagues are Spain and Greece. They are probably also the best leagues in the world after the NBA and Euroleague.

Panathinaikos plays in the Greek league because they are a Greek team. They play in the Euroleague because they are the best Greek team. They are the Greek league champions, the Greek Cup champions, and the Euroleague champions. They play in all 3 leagues and are the champions of all of them.

So what you're trying to say is that they're good?