I wouldn't be surprised to see Siskauskas in the NBA next season, especially if he has a good run with Lithuania in the olympics. I would hope negotiations with Landry are completed soon to see if we would have any money left to sign him, but that seems unlikely. I at leat hope it gets resolved as soon as possible and not go over to training camp or the start of the season like other restricted players on other teams in the past. But back to Siskauskas he looks like the real deal and could help out any number of teams next season.
What about Papaloukas's teammate, JR Holden. He's like a A.I./Arenas type of PG who can make plays and score real well. Maybe we can lure him with a starting spot.
I don't think that would solve the PG issue for the Rockets. Players like Papaloukas and Siskauskas are legitimately considered superstars at European level just like Scola was. So that's one thing to consider bringing guys in to be rotation players in the NBA. I don't think it is a good idea to bring in Euroleague players even if it is on a team that won a couple Euroleague championships unless they were in the top 1-3 players of their team. It still isn't the same thing as say a guy like Scola. He never won a Euroleague championship but he was without question the franchise player on his team. I would stay away from Euroleague players unless they are in a really big club and are in the 1-3 best players of their team. Holden is on a really big club but he's not in the 1-3 best players of that team that won titles.
I agree. All this stupid obsession in hopes of getting a steal out of foreign players is dumb. We just have to go for proven prospects that can help the team immediately. It doesn't really necessarily solve anything by getting them. And of course, Morey knows better. Or DD could continue making topics like these.. And we could all start talking like him... And end every sentence with a series of ellipses... That make no sense...
Mike Batiste may have improved enough to play in the NBA. When he went over there he sucked but now he's a star. Probably at least good enough to come off the bench for some team.
'It doesn't really necessarily solve anything by getting them.' I meant that as 'Getting these foreign players) doesn't necessarily solve anything.'
here we go..pulling another luis scola he has the passing skills and finishes at the hoop, but does he have a shot??
Tribute to the champs, CSKA Moscow: J.R. Holden! It is impossible to overestimate point guard J.R. Holden's pivotal role in lifting CSKA Moscow to the top of European club basketball again. As CSKA won its second Euroleague title in three seasons, Holden led the champs in minutes played, assists, steals and three-pointers made at the 2008 Final Four. Indeed, Holden has started all but six of 142 Euroleague games CSKA has played during its record-breaking six-year string of Final Four appearances. One of the best on-the-ball defenders anywhere and a lethal shooter, Holden is also ranked fifth or better on the Euroleague's all-decade leaders in games played, points, assists, steals and three-pointers made. His combination of talent, all-around skills and longevity has helped to make CSKA a dominant club again. They also make Holden a signature star of European basketball in the new millennium. http://www.euroleague.net/item/32213 JR played in Belgium for a while (BC Oostende) and I saw him play ... this guy can run the floor that's for sure!
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vfwH7sctsBs&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vfwH7sctsBs&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> JR Holden mix. DD
OK, I'm in, but We'll have to sign him for less than the MLE because we've gotta wait for Landry to sign. Better to sign him NOW, before his popularity goes any higher after the Olympics.
DD while I agree with you that Euro players have a lot more developed skills that will normally have a impact on a team immediately, unlike the time it takes for most rookies to develop. However my major concern is their attitude with regards to the NBA and their understanding of the business/management aspect of it. A lot of European league players where they were the starplayer, so understandably assume they will receive the same treatment when they come into the league. A lot of them fail to understand that what they done in Europe doesn't have that much of a impact once they come into the league, and they don't work as hard during practice or improving their skill. And they lack the patience to wait for their opportunity to play and simply be a good teammate when they don't. VSpan was a perfect example, he had all the skills and on court attitude to be successful in the league. However he came into the organization assuming that playing time will simply be given to him, thus leading to attitude problems with the front office once he didn't get such playing times. What made it worse was that Rafer, despite what the majority of the fan base here thinks, is/was still a very viable starting PG. So the coaching staff could afford to not play him with the concern of his weaknesses. While the majority of rookies, although less proven, know that they have to fight for their playing time. And in many cases don't expect to play any significant minutes in their first year. Instead many of them are willing to sit on the bench to gather experience, and work on their game during practices. Many of them also seem to have the hunger of wanting to prove themselves, something I don't seem to notice from those who where already stars in the Euro leagues. A perfect example of this would be Carl Landry. If i remember correctly Scola didn't play the majority of the minutes during the first 10 or so games during the season, but he had the patience to wait for his time and show his willingness to work. Sure enough he was playing a lot of significant minutes in the later part of the season.
He looks kinda short but his lateral quickness looks pretty good. So does his ball handling. He can go left or right and has a pretty good looking jumper.
JR Holden isn't any better than Rafer is, better shooter maybe. It's no upgrade. Sure CSKA won 2 Euroleague championships in 3 years and the other year they lost in the final but I would rate their players on those teams like: 1. Papaloukas 2. Siskauskas 3. Smodis 4. Langdon 5. Holden 6. Andersen Any of them is capable of being a role player in the NBA for some team, but it's a BIG difference talking about franchise players in elite Euroleague clubs like Siskauskas, Papaloukas, like Scola was to role players in them like Holden, Langdon, etc. Like I said, if you want a Euroleague player stick to franchise players of the biggest clubs. TAU = Scola Barcelona = Navarro Olympiakos = Papaloukas CSKA = Siskauskas Panathinaikos = well that didn't turn out so good. Actually, Diamantidis, Siskauskas, Mike Batiste have been mentioned and all of then could actually help the Rockets. Batiste would be a nice backup C and Diamantidis could make Battier expendable. Siskauskas could finally bump Luther Head from the roster. None of them would solve the point guard problem. But yeah the Rockets could use a backup C like Batiste and they could use a backup wing like Siskauskas or Diamantidis. These are players about in the same class as Scola was in Europe. They should be attainable with the MLE because none of them make what Papaloukas does. But again why would they leave from being a star in Europe to being a backup?
The NBA MLE came in at about $5.5 million so if Siskauskas took it for 3 years then he would be at a $1 million pay cut from what he currently makes in Europe (and he could probably get more in Europe than he makes now). Can probably officially cross him off the list now.
