I don't get all the sadness. Sure he is a stud in Europe but he has NEVER played a minute in the NBA. How did Vspan work out? I would bet more on Llull being another Vspan than being anything close to the player he is in Europe right now. I never cared if the guy came over or not. Especially seeing the kind of money he was being offered. After seeing that I was hoping he wouldn't join the team to be honest.
I think it's not worth for him financially because NBA can only cover 500k for buyout, rest comes from his own pocket.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sergio Llull decision likely had little to do w/ HOU's chase of LaMarcus Aldridge & more to do with his substantial buyout w/Real Madrid...</p>— David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/616355492839817216">July 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">...Rockets can only pay $625k toward Llull's buyout (~$5-6M?). Even if max 15% signing bonus given, that's a major hit to Llull's pocket.</p>— David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/616355766220423168">July 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
yeah that was obvious he wanted no part of the big leagues. He's a big fish in a small pond making $$$$ - it's easy street.
No bueno, but oh well I figured it would be highly likely. Can we go after the other spaniard wanting to come Sergio Rodriguez ?
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">For the Rockets, Llull's choice to stay in Europe makes the need to retain restricted free agent guard Patrick Beverley even more important.</p>— Adrian Wojnarowski (@WojYahooNBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/WojYahooNBA/status/616355963319160833">July 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Well, that or Sergio just can't bring himself to leave what seems like a wonderful situation for him in his home country.</p>— David Weiner (@BimaThug) <a href="https://twitter.com/BimaThug/status/616356168349282304">July 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Exactly. The bad part here is that his rights can't be traded. He is a wasted pick. The Houston Rockets need to be careful while making overseas picks. Good luck to him in Spain. He just isn't confident to play in the NBA.
Not really surprised. IIRC there was talk last summer that he wouldn't come to the NBA anytime soon. I was surprised by the recent reports that he was willing to join the Rockets. That said, my best guess is that Lull will never play for the Rockets.
