Janis Timma declined offer by Orlando Magic before joining Olympiacos in July

[OrlandO]

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“I wasn’t quite satisfied with the offer I received this summer,” Timma said in an interview on Latvian 360 TV channel, per Delfi. “If I go there, I want to play. You are the 12th, 13th player and then you have to fight for the rest of the spots. After that, I signed with Olympiacos.”

Timma was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 60th overall pick in 2013. The Magic acquired his rights via trade in 2015.

[RookieStar]

Does this means he wants to be the 6th-8th man? He doesn't wanna fight for his spots?

[The Real Dalic]

I don't like his "not gonna earn my minutes" entitled attitude.

[Anti Chalmers]

So he doesn't want to fight for minutes? Who does he think he is?

[fendilim]

Not surprised. The guy is doing well in europe.

[SOUL]

I don't like his "not gonna earn my minutes" entitled attitude.

Makes sense if he has something stable where he is, prob not worth it for him.

[OrlandO]

He's in his prime... I can't fault him for not wanting to come here just to be a third stringer on a bad team. My takeaway from this news is the Magic are interested in him and will likely be keeping an eye on how he plays this year. Lots of spots up for grabs on this team next summer, so it's possible they'll try to bring him over again.

[npiper17]

Hardly surprising - he has a much bigger role with one of the best teams in Europe and he’s probably earning similar money to a minimum contract in the NBA.

Good to know the Magic are keeping tabs on him though.

[pepe1991]

Vets minimum would be for 0 years in nba $840K as far as i know, knowing how nba players don't actually get payed anywhere near their contract money ( due all tax scaling , paying menager and house to live he would make like 1/4 of money he makes in Europe, with payed place to live included in his contract , like most players in Europe have ,at least good ones.

When you combine money situation with Magic roster situation and being dark corner of nba marketing where nobody watches or cares about team ( reality since Dwight left ) it is simply bad career move to come to Orlando without guaranteed PT over one season.

Last thing you want is come here and end up being like Kostas Papanikolaou. Mirotić and Bojan Bogdanovic knew pretty damn well why they crossed over. They made around 7 to $10M over 2 years in nba guaranteed. Ofc they also proved to be good enough to land second big contract but that's whole different story now.

[doct3r dr3]

Height: 6'7"
Wingspan: 6'7.5"

[j-ragg]

Don't think it comes off as entitled at all. The guy is 26 and having a great career, I wouldn't want to be at the end of the bench on a bottom feeder while taking a big pay cut either.

[AdamTheGreek]

Makes sense now why he was spending so much time training in Miami in July, he was in negotiations.

This isn't quite a Khem Birch situation. I knew immediately Khem could take Biyombo's minutes and find a permanent spot for rotation minutes because our center rotation was weak. Janis is a wing guy (PF/SF depending on the lineup) and we have a lot of wings (AG, Isaac, Simmons, Fournier, Ross, Frazier, Martin, Jackson, Iwundu). And if they wanted Janis to play Summer League, it probably means he wouldn't have a guaranteed contract past training camp. It kind of would have to play out the way it did for Damjan Rudez (and Timma is overall better than him).

He's getting paid more by OLY. He's going to likely have a large role in our run to get back to the Euroleague Final Four. And living in Athens when everything is paid for isn't bad living.

It'll be interesting to see how David Blatt uses Janis. OLY has looked pretty solid so far (real early) as we shook up the roster a ton.

Between Olympiakos and Latvia FIBA World Cup qualifying (they'll get in) and the actual 2019 FIBA World Cup next year, Janis can really raise his player stock.

I think the Magic will try one more time in a year or two to bring him over. The guy's progression and improvement (even at 26) indicates he's not done being a better basketball player.

[drsd]

Timma will be paid about US$3M for two years work, which is an after-taxes paid salary line. In the NBA, that is about a 2-year $USD-6M deal.

That is in the Jerian Grant/Jarell Martin salary range, and is a lot more than, for example, than Khem Birch, Wesley Iwundu, and Melvin Frazier will be paid.

In other words, to get Timma, the Magic would need to pay-for in the 6th-8th man range, and I think therefore TImma is justified in asking for a role in that range.


..

[PennytoShaq]

I like Timma but it sounds like the FO was real with him and did not make any false promises. I like that. Hopefully he comes over next season once we figure out how the team needs to look long term. As of right now, there are a lot of question marks still.

[Furinkazan]

He is just being relistic about his chances.Why move and play garbage minutes or sit at the end of the bench when you can star for a team in Europe which is btw his ground.Not to mention a likely paycut.Nothing to be angry or upset about.
Its not like he pulls Fran on us.

[BadMofoPimp]

If it comes down to similar money and getting to play meaningful minutes closer to home, I would stay in Europe as well.

[Blue_and_Whte]

I have no issues with his decision. Hes in a really good situation making money AND playing.

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[The Real Dalic]

I don't think anyone has a problem with him staying in Europe where he's comfortable playing and maybe loves it overseas way more than over here. My problem is that he said he didn't like the idea of having to fight for a spot. Sounds like he wanted us to guarantee him playing time.

When you're in the NBA, you have to earn everything against the best. He didn't want to fight for it and that's what's bothering me. So, I'm glad he's staying overseas, I want hungry players who claw and scratch their way to this league if they have to. A player like Simmons for example.

[T-Cat]

He is just being relistic about his chances.Why move and play garbage minutes or sit at the end of the bench when you can star for a team in Europe which is btw his ground.Not to mention a likely paycut.Nothing to be angry or upset about.
Its not like he pulls Fran on us.

Maybe Weltman and Hammond can bring over both Vazquez and Timma!

[Uncommon]

Well **** him then.