payitforward wrote:Another year in Europe may be the right thing for Vukcevic, but it's a disappointment for the team all the same.
16 players were taken after Vuk in the '23 draft.
8 of them have gotten 2-way deals: Seth Lundy, Jordan Miller, Emoni Bates, Keyontae Johnson, Jalen Wilson, Jaylen Clark, Jalen Slawson & Isaiah Wong.
1, G.G. Jackson, is almost certain to get the Grizzlies' last 2-way slot.
& 5 have gotten regular roster NBA contracts: Sidy Cissoko, Rayan Rupert, Toumani Camara, Trayce Jackson-Davis, & Chris Livingston.
Only 2 will be stashed -- Tarik Biberovic, taken #53 by Memphis, & Mojave King.
It's also worth mentioning that another 13 guys who went undrafted have also received 2-way deals with NBA teams: Ricky Council, Terquavion Smith, Azuolis Tubelis, Oscar Tshiebwe, Craig Porter Jr, Mike Miles, Adama Sanogo, Omari Moore, Tosan Evbruomwan, Colin Castleton, D'Moi Hodge, Alex Fudge & Sir'Jabari Rice.
In fairness, both Rollins & Baldwin are younger than e.g. Trayce Jackson-Davis.
All the same, managing to add 1 rookie out of what most people are calling the deepest draft in many years cannot exactly be viewed as a triumph.
I don’t think that just because Vukcevic is being stashed implies that he is somehow a worse prospect than several guys on 2-way deals or regular contracts. Vukcevic was stashed because he can be, because he already plays for an overseas team. Frankly, it’s an advantage, not a sign that he is a bad pick. I’m happy that he got stashed because it postpones the start of they clock on his rookie deal.