Update on Tomic and Dragicevic

[Charlie_S]

I looked a few pages back but couldn't find anywhere to post this... Sorry if it was already posted and I missed it.
In the past few weeks, the Jazz's two European second rounders from the 2008 Draft have both changed teams, moving away from the Balkans for the first time in their careers.
Tadija Dragicevic has left Crvena Zvezda (Red Star) Belgrade on a free transfer due to lack of payments and has signed for Italian team Lottomatica Roma - one of the biggest teams in Italy, the same team where Brandon Jennings played last season. They've been struggling as of late and are already out of the Euroleague, but it's still a good gig and the Italian domestic league is pretty competitive.
Ante Tomic has finally been bought out of his contract with KK Zagreb, which prevented him to get to a higher level before, and has gone to Real Madrid. He signed a big contract with a huge buyout clause, so he's not going to come over before it expires, in 2013. I don't think they would have wanted to sign him in the near future anyway, so it's good news that he was finally able to move to the highest level of European basketball. Real Madrid is a powerhouse which will contend for the title both in Spain and in the Euroleague, has some experienced players who could be good mentors for Tomic and is coached by Ettore Messina. If Ante is ever going to become a top player in Europe, it's with them. Even if we don't plan to bring him over, he could develop into a nice trading chip.

[DelaneyRudd]

The next time I think we ever hear about these guys in combination with the Jazz is when they get traded with a trade exception for some player on a salary dumping team.

[StocktonShorts]

The next time I think we ever hear about these guys in combination with the Jazz is when they get traded with a trade exception for some player on a salary dumping team.

Pretty much.

[jazzfan1971]

I think it's encouraging that Tomic is good enough for Real Madrid to get him. We'll see how well he can compete at that level. If he can stand out there, he can be very valuable to the Jazz. I wouldn't be quite so negative on him. Lets see how he does first.

[Charlie_S]

I know most posters don't really care about this, but I figured it might be interesting for someone and I don't think it could hurt to up this thread anyway - if you're not interested, just ignore this post. Plus, I just finished watching a Real Madrid @ Barcelona game where Tomic played great, have nothing to do and feel like writing about basketball. So I won't be short.

Ante struggled at first, but he's been improving and has recently earned a big spot in Real's rotation, being often ahead an accomplished Euroleague player such as Darjus Lavrinovic. Ettore Messina puts a lot of emphasis on the defensive end and has never been the kind of guy who gives minutes to a player just because he has a big contract, so it's very encouraging to see him rewarding Tomic.

I was able to watch a few of those past games, including tonight's upset win in Barcelona in game 2 of the Euroleague quarter finals, and I liked what I saw from Ante: of course he's still physically weak and unexplosive, but that's not something you can really work on during the season. It was his mental approach that has changed during these past few weeks: at the beginning he was pretty soft, often shied away from contact, really struggled estabilishing position in the post without using his arms too much, and generally had that "deer in the headlights" look in all situations, which was kind of understandable considering that he was used to playing at a much lower level, while being the focal point of his team.

Now he's getting a better understanding of what to do on the defensive end (he still isn't a consistent shot-blocking threat yet, though, despite his height), showing more willingness to bang down low and get his hands dirty; on the offensive end, he's learning how to be aggressive when battling for position without committing an offensive foul most of the time, and he's not looking as lost when running around setting picks and rolling to the basket (in fact, he's becoming pretty effective in p&r situations). Then you have the known positives of his game: he's still the same very skilled and talented 7'2" post player, with a great arsenal of back-to-the-basket moves, a soft touch near the basket with either hand, and a decent mid-range jumpshot.

Talking about NBA is still obviously premature, because his contract won't run out before 2013 and he needs to seriously hit the weight room and maximize his physical potential in the coming seasons. So, Tomic definitely isn't a part of the Jazz's short-term plans and I'm not even sure he's a part of their long-term plans, although if he becomes a star in the Euroleague (and it looks like that could be happening really soon) he will have to be reckoned with. Again, even if they feel there's no place for him - having another young big man to develop in Koufos, or not wanting to offer him a big contract - he might become an interesting trading chip so I believe it'd be worth it to at least keep tabs on him. He's not that inferior of a prospect compared to Kosta (quite different players, though).

[Matt007b]

Thanks for the update Charlie_S

I'd like to see him come over one day and see what he can do. Looks promising.

[jazzfan1971]

I was thinking he was a 6'8" PF not a 7'2" project center. Good to know.

[Ming Kong!]

I'm really starting to dislike the idea of getting goes overseas. Seldom do some of the mid-late first round picks actually come to this league, since they get a boat load of money in Europe, when they wouldn't see much money beyond their rookie contracts here unless they could really prove their worth. The NBA was a dream come true before, it still is, but to some extent, money speaks more volumes than goals now

[StocktonShorts]

Writeup of Madrid's upset, including some video.

http://www.ballineurope.com/european-ba ... blueprint/

[Charlie_S]

I'm really starting to dislike the idea of getting goes overseas. Seldom do some of the mid-late first round picks actually come to this league, since they get a boat load of money in Europe, when they wouldn't see much money beyond their rookie contracts here unless they could really prove their worth. The NBA was a dream come true before, it still is, but to some extent, money speaks more volumes than goals now

That's something that should be addressed in the next CBA. It doesn't make sense that a player like Tiago Splitter, who would be a valuable starting C in the NBA, won't probably ever come over. And how can anyone blame him? Why should he take a massive paycut - for multiple seasons - just to be in the League? Of course, teams should know better than pick those guys at the end of the 1st round, but still, that's kinda unfair to the players... A rule should be introduced to let rookie scale contract limitations expire in, say, 3 years after the draft.

Doesn't have much to do with Tomic, though, as he's been picked in the 2nd round so the Jazz can treat him like a free agent if they ever decide to bring him over. I feel they should at least keep in touch with him, which they apparently haven't in the past couple of seasons - I remember an interview where he said that. Regardless of what they plan to do with him, it definitely wouldn't hurt.

[Livno]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xpIv8HzV4w[/youtube]

[Pai Gow]

Well he is hella soft from that video. He only dunks it once when he has multiple opportunities to do so. But he has good touch around the hoop and passes pretty decent for his size. He reminds me a ton of Yao minus the range and dunks.

[Matt007b]

nice video livno

I think he looks good.. light weight but we played real madrid and they gave us some problems in the preseason. Very lightweight, he'll get pushed around in the NBA but he's young.

[LookingAround]

Tomic has been incredible at all the 3 games against Barca, also at the last one that Madrid lost at home. And Barca is the best European team at the last years IMO, and their are a great defensive team!

Reminds to many people the young Pau Gasol (also by the look. He used to be thin too). It's still early to make predictions about him, but he is very elegant big man, very versatile, great body control, good hands and touch, verity of moves...

Today another game. But I expect him to be tired, he played too much also after Real Madrid's game was already lost two days ago, and generally a lot of games at short period lately (for NBA it's usual thing, but you get use to it and the importance of each game is not that high and so is the effort)

[Wisedude42]

In serious need of a strength and conditioning program that only the USA can give him. See ya in 2013.

[HammerDunk]

Wow, their games are so noisy, I can't stand all that.

The best part of the vid was when he knocked the boy-wonder Rubio to the floor. He needs a lot of work, but is somewhat promising. Nice vid.