Mantas Kalnietis

Post #1 » by **Nolan** » Tue Sep 24, 2013 12:38 am

After watching a few of the Lithuanian's games in the EuroBasket tourney this guy really stood out as one of the best players in the tourney. Seems like he's a bit of a late bloomer, but he's a 6'5 combo guard that's fairly athletic and can do it all on the floor. I'm not exactly sure what his contract situation is in Russia but i'd love to see him in a Spurs uniform.

Anyone else think this dude is a NBA player or am I just crazy?

Italians in NBA · Post #2 » by **Italians in NBA** » Thu Sep 26, 2013 1:43 am

Nolan wrote:After watching a few of the Lithuanian's games in the EuroBasket tourney this guy really stood out as one of the best players in the tourney. Seems like he's a bit of a late bloomer, but he's a 6'5 combo guard that's fairly athletic and can do it all on the floor. I'm not exactly sure what his contract situation is in Russia but i'd love to see him in a Spurs uniform.

Anyone else think this dude is a NBA player or am I just crazy?

Great European player who is in his second season of a three years contract in Russia. Some other european players could stay in NBA too but if the USA scouters observe them mainly in these international events they cannot find a single player over 24-25 who has not already signed a contract for a team in Europe. So NBA is continuing not to sign some decent/good (for the NBA) players who are overseas.
An example is the old (36 years old) Pablo Prigioni who is playing now in NY but he spent his entire career in Europe and his best years are over for sure. Milos Teodosic, Bouroussis, Diamatidis, Daniel Hackett, D. Lavrinovic, Ante Tomic are some other guys (not anymore young prospects) who could probably play decent minutes in the NBA.

pickIBL · Post #3 » by **pickIBL** » Fri Sep 27, 2013 4:59 am

I like Milos Teodosic better and CSKA Moscow would happily allow a NBA team (or a Turkish team as it was reportedly attempted) to buy him out. 575k sounds like it would get it done. If anything the Spurs could use the services of Lorbek over a guard. But overall the team is stacked coming back from a finals appearance hoping to hold back father time and do it again.