Happy in Houston: Argentina's Scola about to make his mark on NBA

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Happy in Houston
Argentina's Scola about to make his mark on NBA
Posted: Thursday August 30, 2007 2:14AM; Updated: Thursday August 30, 2007 2:14AM


It was a typical NBA play in a very non-NBA game.

With 30 seconds left and Argentina leading by four in overtime of their quarterfinal matchup with Brazil, Luis Scola moved towards the top of the key to set a screen for Argentinean guard Pablo Prigioni. With Brazil's Nene attached to his hip, Scola set a textbook screen that freed Prigioni and forced Nene to shift off Scola. Prigioni lobbed the ball back to Scola for a wide open 15-foot jump shot on the left elbow. Swish. Ballgame.

Scola may be the best player in this tournament who has never played an NBA minute, though as a recently signed property of the Houston Rockets that will certainly change. The 6-foot-10 power forward is averaging 17.9 points on 53.8 percent shooting in the FIBA America's tournament and has a depleted Brazil team (they are without Manu Ginobili, Fabricio Oberto, Andres Nocioni, Carlos Delfino and Walter Hermann) undefeated heading into Thursday's game against the United States.

"I really like Scola," says former Rockets coach and Lakers scout Rudy Tomjanovich. "He's the kind of guy who doesn't do anything great but does everything well. He's smart and he has the size and strength to be an NBA power forward."

So why has the 27-year old Scola, a two-time Spanish League MVP, been toiling in Europe with Tau Ceramica the last five years while Argentinean national teammates Oberto and Ginobili have been racking up titles in San Antonio?

Part of the blame for that has to be placed on the Spurs, who have a history of drafting players and leaving them overseas until they need them. In 2005 San Antonio attempted to bring Scola aboard but failed to come to terms with Tau on a buyout (Tau initially was asking for a staggering $14.5 million for Scola). While continuing negotiations in 2006, the Spurs reportedly told Scola after the season that they would probably not sign him, due to the fact that they did not want to invest in another power forward after signing Oberto and trading for Matt Bonner. They also had questions about how well Scola would play alongside to Tim Duncan.

The decision prompted outrage from Scola's camp, which claimed the Spurs were holding Scola "prisoner" and that they were trying to "impede him" from playing in the NBA. "I did want to play in the NBA last season," admitted Scola moments scoring 23 points in Argentina's 86-79 victory over Brazil. "But it just didn't work out."

That's not to say there wasn't interest in Scola from other teams. With the Spurs again passing on signing Scola this summer, they opened the bidding to other teams interested in vying for his draft rights. Detroit, Seattle and Cleveland all expressed interest but it was Houston who emerged the winner, dealing Vassilis Spanoulis (who later bolted for Europe), a second-round draft pick and cash considerations for a man who has been touted as Europe's top player. "As an organization, we felt responsible to allow Luis to pursue his dream of the NBA," Spurs general manager R.C. Buford said at the time, "and this was the best opportunity to realize his value." The Rockets immediately signed Scola to a three-year, $9.3 million contract and paid $500,000 toward his buyout.

"He's a very active player," said LeBron James. "He's the kind of guy you have to find and keep a body on all the time."

"I think Scola is going to fit in great in Houston's system," says Tomjanovich, who compares Scola to former Laker Kurt Rambis. "He's very active and he passes the ball extremely well. Houston's not going to ask much of him offensively because of all the weapons they have their, but he is showing in this tournament that he can knock down that perimeter jump shot."

Scola will probably get a number of chances to do just that. The Rockets have a gaping hole at the power forward position next season and will likely pencil Scola's name into the starting slot. It's a role he is prepared for, even if it is long overdue.

"I feel like I'm ready," says Scola, who says he feels no animosity for San Antonio. "It's the next step in my career. When this tournament is over, it's all I am going to think about."

 

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Qualifying tourney sets stage for Scola's awaited NBA debut
Posted 8h 49m ago | Comment | Recommend

Argentina's Luis Scola shoots a free throw during Tuesday's 85-70 win over Canada in the FIBA Americas tournament. Scola will make his NBA debut with the Houston Rockets this fall.

By David DuPree, USA TODAY
LAS VEGAS — While most of Argentina's big-name players passed on playing in the Olympic qualifying tournament, countryman Luis Scola decided to come.

He is also finally coming to the NBA next season as a member of the Houston Rockets.

The 6-9, 250-pound Scola, 27, is a rugged defender, a reliable rebounder and a good ballhandler and can be a proven scorer — all skills that should fit perfectly with new Rockets coach Rick Adelman's up-tempo style.

Going into Wednesday's game against Brazil, Scola was averaging 17.0 points, 11th best in the tournament, and was seventh overall in rebounding at 7.3 a game.

GALLERY: Scenes from the FIBA Americas tournament

Scola, a two-time Spanish League MVP, has been one of the top players in the world outside of the NBA.

Chuck Hayes was Houston's starting power forward last season, but Scola is more versatile and a bigger offensive threat. Scola is projected to be the eventual starter and to be an ideal complement to center Yao Ming.

"Luis obviously fills a position we need," Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said. "He has size and experience, and he's been a winner at every level."

Carlos Delfino of the Toronto Raptors is the only one of the five current Argentines who played in the NBA last season who is in Las Vegas. Manu Ginobili and Fabricio Oberto of the San Antonio Spurs, Andres Nocioni of the Chicago Bulls and Walter Herrmann of the Charlotte Bobcats — all key members of the 2004 Olympic championship team — are not here.

"Those who aren't here have their own reasons, and I respect them," said Scola, who was also an integral part of the 2004 Olympic team.

Even without the NBA stars, Argentina entered Wednesday's games as the only undefeated team besides the USA. They meet today in the final game of the second round and appear headed for another meeting in the final Sunday, regardless of today's outcome.

The two teams in the championship game qualify for the 2008 Olympics.

The Spurs drafted Scola in the second round in 2002 but had been unable to sign him because of the difficulty in buying out his contract with his Spanish League team.

With Ginobili and Oberto already in San Antonio, the Spurs tried to get Scola. When they couldn't do it, they traded his rights to the Rockets, who were able to agree to a contract buyout and sign him to a multiyear deal.

"I'm really happy about the way things turned out," Scola said. "It has been a dream of mine to play in the NBA since I was 4 or 5 years old."

Posted 8h 49m ago

 

From Wikipedia, wiki link

During his playing days, Rambis was a favorite among the Lakers fans because of his status as an over-achieving underdog and ultimate team-player. Known for his defensive skills, Rambis also was an efficient clean-up man on offense with his field goal percentage reaching 59.5% at the peak of his career. Rambis usually wore a thick moustache and thick-rimmed black glasses, prompting Lakers announcer Chick Hearn to nickname him "Superman" (in reference to the character's alter ego, Clark Kent).

 

Actually, 5.5 ppg was for Rambis only playing around 10-15 minutes. I expect Scola to play more minutes than that. Also, as Rudy T said "Houston's not going to ask much of him offensively because of all the weapons they have there, but he is showing in this tournament that he can knock down that perimeter jump shot." In addition to his scoring punch, Scola will contribute in areas where stats may not be quantifiable.