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Dejan Bodiroga - The European Larry Bird - Should We Pursue Him?

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets: Game Action & Roster Moves' started by Rockets34Legend, May 13, 2003.

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  1. Rockets34Legend

    Rockets34Legend Member

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    I got this off of ESPN Insider:

    Dejan Bodiroga, the Euro Final Four MVP, could be a difference maker on the right NBA team.
    Bodiroga is, without a doubt, the best player in the world who has never played in the NBA. He is a winner. And he should be in the NBA.

    Bodiroga, the Sacramento Kings' second-round draft pick in 1995, has never been reluctant to play the hero in Greece, Yugoslavia or Spain. But he's had his reservations about coming to the U.S. After listening to the crowd serenade Bodiroga "Bo-di-ROGA!" for at least 15 minutes, you understand why.

    Here, Bodiroga is a basketball god. He is Europe's Larry Bird -- a slow-footed, marginally athletic forward who uses his head and his craftiness to find a way to win.

    Last year, both the Rockets and Raptors seriously pursued trading for his draft rights but ultimately felt his asking price was too steep. It should be steep. Not only does he have the ability to pull a team together, any team bringing him to the NBA would be asking him to make the ultimate sacrifice.

    For most young European players, the NBA is the best option. But Bodiroga knows that at this point he would have to eat a large helping of humble pie to play in the NBA .

    At his age, and with his lack of athleticism, he'd be a sixth man, a role player, in the NBA. On the right team, he could make the difference between an early playoff exit and a championship. But he'll never be The Man in the NBA. The crowd won't chant his name at the end of games. He'd go from being a rock star to a back-up vocalist.

    That's a hard pill for anyone to swallow. But it's an especially tough one for Bodiroga. His agent, Marc Fleisher, says Bodiroga wants to come to the NBA, if he can find the right situation.

    He is under contract with Barcelona for next season, but there's a decent chance he can work a buyout with the club. He's close with head coach Svetislav Pesic and joined the team this year as a favor to him.

    What is the right situation for someone like Bodiroga? He would be perfect on a team like the Lakers, Spurs, Pistons, Sixers, Pacers, Jazz, Blazers or Rockets -- a championship contender looking for a veteran leader to do all the little things that make players like Scottie Pippen and Toni Kukoc so special. Bodiroga's ball-handling ability, combined with his fine-tuned court sense, is perfect for a team looking for a veteran playmaker.

    He'll never average the 19.1 ppg he did in the Euroleague this year, but he could give a team 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and do it with a high field-goal percentage. His free-throw shooting, especially in the fourth quarter, is amazing. But it's his poise under pressure and a talent for making plays with the game on the line that should have teams lining up to give him their $4.5 million exception this summer.

    The Kings have told teams they're willing to part with his rights for a second-round pick. Name another free agent on the market who can boast his résumé? Teams need to forget for a second about what he can't do and focus on what he can do. If they do, they'll find he's a one-of-kind NBA free agent.

    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    It looks like we went after him back in the day, but he was too pricey.
     
    #1 Rockets34Legend, May 13, 2003
    Last edited: May 13, 2003
  2. Easy

    Easy Boban Only Fan
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    Huh? :confused:
     
    #2 Easy, May 13, 2003
  3. Ghettostar85

    Ghettostar85 Member

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    i would love to see him as a rocket..........i saw him in the world championship final and he was amazing especially in the fourth quarter
     
    #3 Ghettostar85, May 13, 2003
  4. OUTITAN

    OUTITAN Member

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    I have to agree, he would have a good impact. I don't know how feasable this idea is though.
     
    #4 OUTITAN, May 13, 2003
  5. Woofer

    Woofer Member

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    Too steep compared to Moochie and Rice?

    Don't worry, Rudy would sit him on the bench, so he ain't coming here.
     
    #5 Woofer, May 13, 2003
  6. robbie380

    robbie380 ლ(▀̿Ĺ̯▀̿ ̿ლ)
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    Well if he is a great shooter then Lord knows Rudy can't pass him up.
     
    #6 robbie380, May 13, 2003
  7. Fegwu

    Fegwu Member

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    Boki is BETTER than Dejan Bodiroga. QED.

    Forget Bodiroga - give Boki PT. QED.

    Dejan Bodiroga would look good sitting on our pine though.



    PS. Harold Minor is the next MJ too. But there is only one Boki.
     
    #7 Fegwu, May 13, 2003
  8. A-Train

    A-Train Member

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    Every tall white dude that can shoot is called the next Larry Bird...
     
    #8 A-Train, May 13, 2003
  9. SamFisher

    SamFisher Member

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    They can have Eddie for him, He's the next Brad Sellers.
     
    #9 SamFisher, May 13, 2003
  10. crash5179

    crash5179 Member

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    I have a lot of reservations about 30+ year old players with limited athletic ability trying to learn the NBA. I thought Dallas made a mistake by signing Antoine Rigaudeau because of the same reasons and he has been nothing short of a bust so far.

    Dejan Bodiroga, would require a lot of time just to get used to the speed of the NBA and with his limited athleticism there is a high probability that he will never be able to get of an open shot. And please don’t think for a second that he is even remotely prepared for the kind of defense that he would face in the NBA.

    It does not sound like he would be willing to come over for anything less then a big guaranteed contract and quite frankly its just not worth the risk.
     
    #10 crash5179, May 13, 2003
  11. leebigez

    leebigez Member

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    That guy was pretty good in the wc last yr. It was also another smooth guy for with vlade's team that was pretty good. I think this is the best way for Houston to fill its void of a playmaker type guy without over spending for it. He's 29, so he still should have about4 or 5 solid yrs left. Its worth that 2nd rd pick or that 4.5 mill exception that we have.
     
    #11 leebigez, May 13, 2003
  12. SLA

    SLA Member

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    I like!

    Sweet!

    NWO...it would be nice if you could post more stuff about the Rockets from ESPN Insider. ;)

    Well this guy...slow...not good...but what the heck.

    Well I would take him.....for Tito Maddox....or Moochie Norris.....or maybe Terence Morris...or Jason Collier. ;)
     
    #12 SLA, May 13, 2003
  13. crash5179

    crash5179 Member

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    According to http://scifi.pages.at/dejanbodiroga/biografija-e.htm he actually turned thirty earlier this year. It would take him at least a year to get used to the NBA’s defense and learn how to get his shot off against NBA caliber players if he could ever get used to it. I would let him come in for a try out but I would never give him a guaranteed contract.
     
    #13 crash5179, May 13, 2003
  14. GATER

    GATER Member

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    Bodiroga already makes a boatload of Euros staying over there. Why would he want Houstons MLE?
     
    #14 GATER, May 13, 2003
  15. jello77

    jello77 Member

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    i think you underrate european basketball. the usa got crushed in the world championships last year. where did that nba defense that nobody else is remotley prepared for come into play there? granted, it wasn't the best usa players, but it was some pretty damn good ones who play in the nba, therefore should play nba defense.

    again, it would take everybody from overseas awhile to adjust, and i dont think bodiroga would come here for less than a big contract, and like you say, i wouldnt do it either. however, please do not make that comment about the kind of defense nba players play. it's not that much better then the rest of the world, really. not trying to start something crash, please don't be offended. im just stating what i think.

    anyway, bodiroga is gonna take those euros hes making over there to be a superstar over a rookie contract he could get over here to come off the bench and carry glen rice's bags.
     
    #15 jello77, May 13, 2003
  16. CompaqC

    CompaqC Member

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    Boki II

    No thanks
     
    #16 CompaqC, May 13, 2003
  17. Bailey

    Bailey Veteran Member

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    Errr... no.
     
    #17 Bailey, May 13, 2003
  18. DCballer

    DCballer Member

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    They are talking about this on nba tv right now.
     
    #18 DCballer, May 13, 2003
  19. lalala902102001

    lalala902102001 Member

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    Bodiroga is one of those players who should not play in the NBA. His style just doesn't fit here. He can be a superstar in Europe and would never be more than a bench role player in the NBA. Why would he come here and embarass himself? Besides, he's making way more money in Europe than he would make here.
     
    #19 lalala902102001, May 13, 2003
  20. 3 kids

    3 kids Member

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    hope he doesnt falter like that Rigudeau guy out in Dallas......
     
    #20 3 kids, May 13, 2003
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