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How does a guy go from being a MVP in the EuroLeague to a scrub in the NBA, especially while he's in his prime years?

Then also consider that Darko has a passing offense based on cutting, sacrificing good shots for great shots, and unselfish basketball. Along with that we need shooting due to the 3 non-shooters we have in our SL in Barrett, Poeltl, and Barnes.

It would be between him and Dick for that 5th starting hole. The team top down has said they want to be competitive and this looks like a great opportunity to build up the trade value of a relatively unknown player.

"We're still having that conversation," Raptors president Masai Ujiri said on television during Saturday's Summer League opener for Toronto. "We're trying to figure it out, too. I think the right decisions will be made."

"I think he's a phenomenal player, and had a tough season last season, but those things happen, and (he’s a) great shooter," Ujiri said. "So whatever happens, we're going to make the best out of this situation, and we support him in every way. ... So hopefully soon it should be coming to a decision on that."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/raptors-president-shares-update-on-sasha-vezenkov-situation/ar-BB1pXodE

He's acknowledged as a great shooter, we need shooting, and there is a pretty good chance he could be an above average NBA starter for us at the 4. By having Vezenkov at the 4 we would have Barnes shifted down to the 3 and Barrett at the 2.

Best case scenario rotation:

Poeltl (26) / Olynyk (22)
Vezenkov (28) / Mogbo (20)
Barnes (34) / Dick (20)
Barrett (34) / Shead (8)
Quickely (34) / Mitchell (14)

Not saying he can't be good but here are some former Euro League MVPs.

Vassilis Spanoulis
Sergio Rodríguez
Jan Veselý
Nemanja Bjelica
Sergio Llull

Some of them did nothing in the NBA.

Let's see if he decides to sign or leave first. If the former, they got a few months to decide where he slots in. And look at the list of Euroleague MVPs. They're not all Doncic. In fact, no one else is even remotely close.

6'8 elite 3 PT shooter. I'm sure we want to retain him cause we are still deprived of shooting.

I'd rather keep Jamison Battle.

I would love to give him a chance. What do we have to lose? Best case we picked up a free asset to flip to a contender later (or just keep). Worst case we just buy him out at the deadline and he can go home then.

KL78192020 wrote:Not saying he can't be good but here are some former Euro League MVPs.

Vassilis Spanoulis
Sergio Rodríguez
Jan Veselý
Nemanja Bjelica
Sergio Llull

Some of them did nothing in the NBA.

I don't think any of these guys played in the league after they won the MVP. I know Vesely was after and Bjelica was a decent role player.

KL78192020 wrote:Not saying he can't be good but here are some former Euro League MVPs.

Vassilis Spanoulis
Sergio Rodríguez
Jan Veselý
Nemanja Bjelica
Sergio Llull

Some of them did nothing in the NBA.

You conveniently left out Kirilenko, Anthony Parker the Raptor, Doncic.

This Vezenkov guy could be an AP type of player.

PD28 wrote:6'8 elite 3 PT shooter. I'm sure we want to retain him cause we are still deprived of shooting.

Seems like a good candidate to build value and trade at deadline.

mihaic wrote:

KL78192020 wrote:Not saying he can't be good but here are some former Euro League MVPs.

Vassilis Spanoulis
Sergio Rodríguez
Jan Veselý
Nemanja Bjelica
Sergio Llull

Some of them did nothing in the NBA.

You conveniently left out Kirilenko, Anthony Parker the Raptor, Doncic.

This Vezenkov guy could be an AP type of player.

Like I said, he can still be good but the majority haven't done anything of substance.

If his heart isn’t in it and he doesn’t want to be here, it’s not worth any of these attempts. He’ll ruin the chemistry. It’s up to his camp.

Why can't it be Jelani McCoy?

will wrote:Why can't it be Jelani McCoy?

Because he’s already starting over Jak

I hope there's no buyout. You don't want to play, then sit out. Injure yourself during training, we get a DPE, you can go back to wherever the F you want and chill until next year while collecting your cheque off our cap sheet. Making millions to play basketball, don't be a crybaby, be a professional.

ontnut wrote:I hope there's no buyout. You don't want to play, then sit out. Injure yourself during training, we get a DPE, you can go back to wherever the F you want and chill until next year while collecting your cheque off our cap sheet. Making millions to play basketball, don't be a crybaby, be a professional.

The better alternative is they negotiate a really low buyout. Everybody wins.

ontnut wrote:I hope there's no buyout. You don't want to play, then sit out. Injure yourself during training, we get a DPE, you can go back to wherever the F you want and chill until next year while collecting your cheque off our cap sheet. Making millions to play basketball, don't be a crybaby, be a professional.

Perhaps it's a case where he is undecided, and is in no rush to make a decision. It's a big decision for him. Or perhaps, for all we know, he could be waiting and putting pressure on his Euro club to increase his salary so he can negotiate a very low buyout.

Who knows.

Thaddy wrote:How does a guy go from being a MVP in the EuroLeague to a scrub in the NBA, especially while he's in his prime years?

Then also consider that Darko has a passing offense based on cutting, sacrificing good shots for great shots, and unselfish basketball. Along with that we need shooting due to the 3 non-shooters we have in our SL in Barrett, Poeltl, and Barnes.

It would be between him and Dick for that 5th starting hole. The team top down has said they want to be competitive and this looks like a great opportunity to build up the trade value of a relatively unknown player.

"We're still having that conversation," Raptors president Masai Ujiri said on television during Saturday's Summer League opener for Toronto. "We're trying to figure it out, too. I think the right decisions will be made."

"I think he's a phenomenal player, and had a tough season last season, but those things happen, and (he’s a) great shooter," Ujiri said. "So whatever happens, we're going to make the best out of this situation, and we support him in every way. ... So hopefully soon it should be coming to a decision on that."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/nba/raptors-president-shares-update-on-sasha-vezenkov-situation/ar-BB1pXodE

He's acknowledged as a great shooter, we need shooting, and there is a pretty good chance he could be an above average NBA starter for us at the 4. By having Vezenkov at the 4 we would have Barnes shifted down to the 3 and Barrett at the 2.

Best case scenario rotation:

Poeltl (26) / Olynyk (22)
Vezenkov (28) / Mogbo (20)
Barnes (34) / Dick (20)
Barrett (34) / Shead (8)
Quickely (34) / Mitchell (14)

Sometimes it just comes down to opportunity and playing time. Look at how much better Micić looked in Charlotte vs OKC. Same thing applies to any other NBA player except the true superstars.

mihaic wrote:

KL78192020 wrote:Not saying he can't be good but here are some former Euro League MVPs.

Vassilis Spanoulis
Sergio Rodríguez
Jan Veselý
Nemanja Bjelica
Sergio Llull

Some of them did nothing in the NBA.

You conveniently left out Kirilenko, Anthony Parker the Raptor, Doncic.

This Vezenkov guy could be an AP type of player.

Mirotić was also pretty good.

So this is year 1 of Darko’s rebuild and he gonna start a disgruntled 28 y/o bench player over the Dickmeister?? Y’all trippppin

PD28 wrote:6'8 elite 3 PT shooter. I'm sure we want to retain him cause we are still deprived of shooting.

Are we gunning for the play-in this year?... or in year 1 of rebuild?