I've lived in Barcelona. It's one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The women there are very beautiful as well. I can't imagine being a young kid making millions of euros and living in Barcelona. I'm so jealous. I can't hardly imagine a better life.
Yes, an equivalent NBA contract for his current rate would have to the full MLE. They money from Europe has to be at least doubled because of tax. Barcelona's inital offer was claimed to be €700k/yr and that was said to be big raise in pay for him. There was a rumor he was willing to come over for $1.5M/yr. It looks like the Rockets misstepped badly on this one. They had the opportunity to sign him or trade him for good value but passed on it.
We already have Garcia and Parsons at the SF slot, how many minutes do you think he'll get over those two? If this papa-dude turns into something awesome then we have his rights, can buy out his contract then sign him no problem. Not sure why you think he is the difference between winning a title or not lol.
He's been in Greece, so I guess it is pretty hard to find a more damaged economy, but from what I understand, since Spain had to get a bailout a couple of years ago, Barcelona is beginning to look like Detroit with nice weather and architecture. Unemployement is approaching 25%, and there is no nightlife anymore, because nobody has any money to spend on anything but necessities.
He is not D-League caliber, he's an NBA ready player whom you sign with your MLE. His opt-out clause to go to the NBA is $1.3M next summer, $1 next one, 750K next one. Honestly, I see it very affordable for him, considering the money he's getting and the money he would be getting from the Rockets if he chooses NBA. Clearly he was thinking in leaving to the NBA while negotiating the contract. Can't say the same about Llull when he extended his contract with Real until 2018. I'd say his NBA clause is way more expensive (like around 5M). Returning to Papanikolaou, I thought his former greek club would give him this kind of contract, so didnt expect him to change teams, but yeah, probably even being an historic european club, his economy is resenting currently. Barcelona is giving him huge money (the soccer team provides the club big money). Papanikoalou btw, will play now in the same team as Marko Todorovic, player whom the Rockets own his rights. So it will be easier for us (and for me in particular, since Im spanish ) to follow their progresses. Oh, and they just signed another player known in Houston: Joey Dorsey. So it may be interesting for you to follow the spanish rivality Barcelona-Madrid (with Llull).
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p>I'm told Barcelona is preparing for the fact that Kostas Papanikolaou seems very likely to sign with Houston this summer.</p>— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) <a href="https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/statuses/437230096899112960">February 22, 2014</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> I don't understand How we will sign him ... I hope we dump somewhere Lin and Asik. Papanikolaou is a good defender ... he likes physical game... he is a little streaky shooter but when you need him in the end to take a shot he will make it.
I love it. I believe his buyout this summer is only a million bucks, and he's probably going to be on a salarly small enough to where if he's a dissapointment and they need to clear cap space they would feel confident in being able to move it fairly easily if they want to clear cap space for 2015. He's a streaky shooter but so was Delfino. I think he's someone they will really have high regards for in that role and could leap frog Garcia, Covington, etc fairly easily IMO. Oh and he actually plays defense.
Carl, i was expecting you but i didn't expect to post sth like that ... (btw Papanikolaou doesn't mean sth in greek so ....)
Disappointing. I thought for sure we had him this summer. I guess a bird in the hand is almost always better. Especially when you are talking about a young kid that has a special skill with a limited window to make money with it. To wait on us would be risky at best. He probably could have been had for some of the room MLE. But that would have meant no 3 year bird rights deal. Can't blame Morey too much for this one but he is another waste in europe.
His numbers are down across the board with higher usage. I don't know the euro league. It might have to do with playing stiffer competition w Barcelona. MPG - 26.2 (up from 23) FG% - .489 (down from .535) 3pt% - .362 (down from .462) Ft% - .531 (down from .673) Rpg - 3.89 (down from 4.26) Apg - 1.81 (up from 1.57) Spg - .67 (down from .98) Bpg - .50 (down from .65) TO - 1.42 (up from 1.03) Ppg - 7.53 (down from 8.98) Hopefully his defense has improved and has spent more energy on that side of the court bc it looks like he's regressed offensively a bit.
The basketball philosophy between Greek clubs(oly) and Spanish Clubs( Barca) are very different, they are two basketball schools and is very difficult to change so fast but is a player who will do whatever you tell him.
