houstonchronicle.com article says he may have done well enuff already to come straight to the team. joy
But it also says Rockets might have to compete with European teams to get him because he might be getting big offers from other European clubs. http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/3241303 Spanoulis played so well for Marrousi Honda in Greece this season that he is reportedly receiving rich offers from European teams. The Rockets might have been ready to bring him over, knowing that if he is not ready to crack Jeff Van Gundy's rotation, they could let him work in the D-League. But now that they have to compete to land him, the Rockets will have a tough decision about how much they are willing to spend. And they are not about to offer millions for a second-round pick unless he is ready to help their NBA, rather than NBDL, team.
If he shows enough during summer league and clearly proves he deserves a roster spot, who cares? We will offer and he will sign. If he is borderline and needs the NBDL, that means he isn't good enough yet to help the team. I view this as a good problem because maybe he can actually crack the rotation this year.
Interesting article. Darko said the same thing in regards to the NBDL. That Euro players are much more inclinded to STAY in Europe if they cant land on NBA teams than go down to the NBDL to play their way up to the NBA. I think the NBDL will have an overwhelming majority of American's working their way up and few Euros. The Rockets need to get younger, if the Rockets are on the fence on whether they feel V-Span can contribute, they should probably just sign him and put him on the team.
Why would we want him in the NBDL? Wouldn't that mean that any team has the opportunity to sign him? If he's stays in Europe, we can still hold his rights. Or maybe I'm confused.
The new CBA allows teams to place players in their first two seasons down in the NDBL. The Rockets would still hold his rights and would pay him as well. The NDBL is now a true minor league.
Question 1: If I understand the new CBA correctly, aren't players sent down to the NDBL guaranteed to be paid whatever salary they signed for with their NBA club? (IOW, they don't lose salary by playing in the NDBL vs NBA) Question 2: If this is so, it should make it easier for someone like VSpan to accept coming over and being assigned to the NDBL. They would have to pay him enough to keep him out of the upper Euro leagues anyway so, other than ego of Euroleague vs NDBL, wouldn't the money, playing time to develop, and committment from the NBA club be enough to accept the NDBL assignment, if it comes to that after training camp? I would hate to see him tie himself up contractually to another Euro league, making it messier to bring him later.
the Euro leagues may be a better spot to develop than the NBDL anyway. I really don't see the problem. He obviously wants to come to the NBA. As long as he's in Europe, we can wait as long as it takes for him to develop. Its great to hear that he's wanted over there. That means he's getting closer to being ready to be here.
I thought that, since we drafted Spanoulis in the official NBA draft, the contracts the Rockets could potentially offer are limited, right? Since rookie contracts are slotted, I don't think the Rockets have much leeway as far as how much or little they can offer, so I'm not sure what all this talk is about from Europe about whether or not he will sign if the money is right. He should know by know exactly what the money will be if he decides to play in the NBA this year.
I think that if that guy can play the rockets can use him now (Barry is a nice fouth guard, but he is older and has back problems) as for the contract - I think that the Rockets can still offer more than the Euro leagues will and long term he cn make more money in the NBA Why else would Manu have come here - being a second round pick - if the NBA wasn't still a longer term better choice ... BUT these guys want to play if they come here (unless their name is Darko, in which case they would rather sit on the bench than play Euro OR NBDL)
Actually, since Spanoulis was a 2nd rounder, the Rockets aren't limited in any way. An example of this would be Marko Jaric, who was a 2nd rounder, got a 3 year 6 million dollar deal (by the Clippers, of a all teams), to help convince him to come over ASAP (and help cover the buyout, iirc). Note though, to sign Spanoulis to a deal greater than the minimum, it would have to come out of one of our exceptions.
from NIKEstrad: Ugh. I have to agree with Deuce that we should just get this guy on our roster. We have heard from more than one source that he's been dominant in his league, and we can use a 6'4 pg with speed immediately. To me there's great irony that we have a guy in our organization that we think's ready to play and it's someone that our coach is going to be reluctant to play. We all know JVG's going to be hell on a rookie pg whenever he gets here, so let's just get that over with.
The Rockets just can't have players coming in and out of the Rotation on a regular basis. Sura, as of right now, we know will miss a lot of games because of his back problem. Sura should only play 15 to 20 minutes a game, instead of 30 to 35 minutes. Sura should no longer be a starter. If Spanoulis is ready to come in and contribute as a backup point guard and shooting guard, then that helps the Rockets a lot. The Rockets are looking for an identity, and the toughness was brought in by Sura last year. But, when the body says enough is enough, then that should tell a player that heart doesn't do it alone. I am quite interested in the possibility of Spanoulis making this a tough decision for the Rockets. And if he were to go to the NBDL, then could he be called up as soon as the Rocket's coaching staff saw he could contribute? Wether it be 5 games into the season or after the all-star break? I am intrigued by a James and Spanoulis Point Guard tandem. Trading Wesley and Sura for Wells makes this even more intresting! James/Spanoulis Wells/Barry McGrady/ ? Howard/ ? Yao/Mutumbo When are the dominos going to be falling into place?
Can somebody clue me in as to what his game is like? Is he a drive-and-kick guy, a spot up shooter (long-range or mid-range), a scorer, etc.?..... Also, what's the tale of the tape with him (height, weight, age, athleticism, etc.) Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Think he is 6-4. I know he is a scorer and good shooter. http://www.euroleague.net/ulebcup/n...E03&jornada=31&id=885&id2=865&id3=866&id4=867
The more you read about him, the more you like him. Hopefully the next Manu. Maybe not but he reminds me a lot of Marko Jaric. Jaric is a good player but always is inkured.
