Luka Doncic hints that he might stay in Europe next season

[rpa]

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nba/sacramento-kings/kings-blog/article150725327.html

At about the 18-minute mark, the interviewer mentions to Bogdanovic that the Kings’ front office has Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic – arguably the best Serbians to play in the NBA – and if he’s ready to go to the United States.

“I don’t like to talk about that during the season,” he said. “I have my goals here.”

Almost exactly a year ago too. But yeah, keep the hot takes coming.

[antonac]

europeans are brought up with a different mindset to americans in sport. you don't aim to be a "franchise guy" to make endorsement deals in europe, if you're good you want to play with a good team and succeed. hence Doncic signing with madrid in the first place, the best basketball team in europe.

I do think he's just being polite but I could imagine that's made somewhat easier by all the top picking teams being somewhat dead end markets.

[Marty McFly]

What is the lowest you guys sees him falling? 5? 6? Would love too see him and Porzingis, playing together. Knicks would love to stash him in Europe one more year, while Porzings get better and they tank another season.

there's just no way he falls out of the top 2 if he declares.

maybe a team drafting trae young around that 5-6 range can get a trade going considering vivek's affinities.

[Dupp]

Poor kings

[wco81]

He´s still playing for Real Madrid. He´s not going to say: "I´m leaving" until the season ends.

What kind of money does he get there as opposed to what he'd get as a top 5 lotto pick?

Obviously Euro Basket players don't get paid anything like soccer stars.

So it's in his interest to get on the NBA rookie contract as soon as possible and start the counter towards hitting RFA and then UFA.

He's from dinky Slovenia. He's got to play in a big city?

[codydaze]

Sacramento, Atlanta, Memphis, Orlando.... Let's be honest, not exactly places a high profile player from Europe would dream of ending up giving the alternative.

(Personally, I'd love to see him stay and not come out this year if it meant he could maybe end up on the Bulls or Knicks next year but that's not the news here)

This is just be a ploy to get Phx to commit to him so he knows he doesn't end up ^^^^ places.

Uh, Florida and Northern California aren't exactly barren wastelands. And Atlanta is a lot of fun. If he's too good for those places the US isn't for him.

Sacramento isn't Northern California. It's a cow town sitting on top of the dung pile that is the San Joaquin Valley. If you've ever been there you'd have an idea as to why Doncic isn't excited about joining the Kings.

Funny how I live in Sacramento and don't see one cow in my day to day life going all over the city. Is San Francisco Northern California? Last time I checked on a map, Sacramento is further north than SF.

And also I wasn't aware that "we have yet to make the decision. perhaps after the season" = "I don't want to play in Sacramento."

[Curmudgeon]

Funny how I live in Sacramento and don't see one cow in my day to day life going all over the city.

Nothing wrong with the city: it's the capital of the world's 5th largest economy. It's the Kings franchise that may be the issue. Having said that, Doncic is exactly the player the Kings need. They've got young bigs up the wazoo. They need someone who can play the game, not just run and jump.

[codydaze]

Funny how I live in Sacramento and don't see one cow in my day to day life going all over the city.

Nothing wrong with the city: it's the capital of the world's 5th largest economy. It's the Kings franchise that may be the issue. Having said that, Doncic is exactly the player the Kings need. They've got young bigs up the wazoo. They need someone who can play the game, not just run and jump.

I don't understand how anyone can interpret what Luka said as "I don't want to play for Sacramento". That's a Dhalsim level reach. He's just committed to his team who are about to start the playoffs, what would you expect him to say when asked that question?

[Mulhollanddrive]

And every NCAA player says they want to come back too.

[aznsk91]

You guys trying to figure out which team he's avoiding, I don't think that's the issue. He's been undecided about coming over for a while now, this isn't the first time he's "hinted" that he may stay overseas another year. Dude is living the life and getting all kinds of tail in Spain right now, he's a huge star.

ditto, I would be more interested in knowing the specifics about how doncic has "hinted" about playing in Real Madrid for another year. For example, if he has "hinted" throughout the entire year, than you can compare his situation to other European players that moved to the NBA, and check for similarities/differences. because the information given in that article can be interpreted in multiple ways

[LightTheBeam]

Lol. These hot takes are amazing. Sacramento is a cow town, its 1985 all over again!

"With a 3.1 percent surge in GDP last year, the Sacramento region's growth was more than double the national average."

Omaha, Witchita, Sacramento, aww hell ya'll whats the difference we all a bunch of red neck folk just wanting to raise our cattle with our god given acre of land!

In other news can't wait to take my cousin to the ho down tomorrow, gon' be a whippin good time!

[codydaze]

And every NCAA player says they want to come back too.

Pretty much this.

4/11/18: "Wendell Carter Considering Returning To Duke For Sophomore Season"

4/16/18: "Wendell Carter Declares For NBA Draft"

[WalterBenjamin]

Smooke screen every day.

[Snotbubbles]

Boston has that pick. Boston has every pick lol

Boston doesn't have that pick yet. The pick is #1 protected. If the Kings win the lottery the Celtics will get the Sixers pick.

Looking at the king's roster I feel pretty good about the pick being in the 2-5 range

They were 7th this year.

[Wagonband]

There is like a 0,1% chance of him not coming to the NBA... What's he supposed to say? Before the most important game of the season "yeah i can't wait to go to the NBA!, Who cares about Real Madrid!"

[antonac]

He´s still playing for Real Madrid. He´s not going to say: "I´m leaving" until the season ends.

What kind of money does he get there as opposed to what he'd get as a top 5 lotto pick?

Obviously Euro Basket players don't get paid anything like soccer stars.

So it's in his interest to get on the NBA rookie contract as soon as possible and start the counter towards hitting RFA and then UFA.

He's from dinky Slovenia. He's got to play in a big city?

he'll make more in the NBA for sure but then the deal he'll get from madrid will probably be the biggest ever for a euro player if they can get him to stay a few seasons.

the comment on "dinky" slovenia is a bit ignorant though, firstly, he lives in Madrid, obviously, which is considerably bigger than chicago so it's hardly a dinky city. secondly, it's not even really about the size of the city either, it's sometimes about the status. no european person dreams of visiting Sacramento, it might be pretty huge but it's nowhere of interest. the majority of the big cities in the world now are in China, but it's beijing and shanghai people know. No one is rushing to go to Fenzou or something despite it having a populace the size of new york.

[AingesBurner]

Think he saw the lottery and got scared of going to Sacramento or Memphis...

Honestly this could be it. Wouldn't be the first time a coveted euro player tried to steer clear of going to a small market team

It has less to do with that and more to do with FO and team structure, Sacramento is still a mess and he won't play PG in Memphis, same with Atlanta. Damn straight he would play for Utah if he would start and same with San Antonio.

[John Murdoch]

He actually fits with Bog/Fox/Hield quite well so it would be a shame if he tried to maneuver his way around but at the same time i get it.

[NapoleonII]

Phoenix will move mountains to get him and Ayton.

Luka has the same agent as Ayton, now has the same coach?

There's some definite smoke here.

[Lauri_Legend]

Phoenix will move mountains to get him and Ayton.

Luka has the same agent as Ayton, now has the same coach?

There's some definite smoke here.

That doesn't happen unless Devin Booker is out of there in a trade. Nobody wants Bender or Criss or Payton