Wednesday Rumors
June 17, 2008 by Tobias
If you are really trying to provide readers with good stuff, the basketball off-season is probably more interesting and even busier than the actual season itself.
For this reason, we decided to provide you with the latest rumors out there regarding European basketball and European players. To make it more interesting, we’ll let you know what we think about these rumors…
Danilo Gallinari will go to New York next year.
We have been talking about this from day one more as a joke than not, since the real reason to draft Gallinari cannot be just because his father played with the Knicks head coach back in the day, right? Oh well, look at Luke Walton: Sometimes Dad does help. Since Gallinari is in the US to work out with some teams, he also stopped in New Jersey to work out with the Nets. It looks like the Nets told Gallinari that they would certainly take him if still available when the Nets’ time to draft arrives. The Nets will choose at no. 10 in the first round, while the Knicks are sixth. One reason why the Knicks might not take Gallinari is that they are seeking some experience and might trade away the first-round pick.
Given the facts, the chance that Gallinari will be drafted by the Knicks: 
Fran Vazquez will leave FC Barcelona and enter the NBA next season.
Fran was drafted by the Orlando Magic in 2005 draft. Since then, the Magic wanted to bring him over, as they have again asked him this year. Spanish website sports.es tell us that Vazquez will continue to play for FC Barcelona next season. Vazquez has a contract with the Spanish club through June 2010 with an option for another year.
So, again no Fran Vazquez in the NBA this season:
Marc Gasol will leave Europe to play for the Grizzlies.
During the NBA finals, I saw Marc working out with his brother at the Staples Center. He also told reporters that the really likes it in the US and would be able to help any team on any level. Just one problem: Marc will make more money in Europe than the Grizzlies will offer him in his first season. Keep in mind that Gasol just played with a ULEB cup team and has several offers from Euroleague teams such as Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Since he himself said that he is still “very young” in addition to the fact that he would make less money in the NBA, it is very doubtful that Marc will be seen in the NBA this upcoming season.
Chances of seeing Marc Gasol in the NBA next season:
Jorge Garbajosa will leave the Raptors and join a Euroleague team.
Another sad example how an injury can mess up your career - well, your NBA career at least. Remember Jorge’s real bad injury? This caused a lot of problems, and not only regarding the injury. As you know, the Spanish federation wanted Jorge to play at the European championship directly following the injury, while the Raptors did not agree with that decision at all. Jorge was re-injured and played only six games in this year’s NBA season.
Some Spanish media outlets reported that the Raptors now want to buy Garbajosa out of his contract and cut any ties. The Raptors have also added that he will not play at the Olympics as long as he is under contract with Toronto. Jorge is set to leave and any European team - particularly a Spanish team like Unicaja Malaga - will take him without a doubt.
Chances for this to happen:
Ksystof Lavrinovic is leaving Siena.
Lavrinovic just won the Italian title with Siena and also made it to the Final Four in Madrid this summer, where the team finished third. Ksystof was one of the main factors for Siena’s success this season and I am sure they will try to do anything to keep him there. There have been rumors that Lavrinovic will enter the NBA, which I’m sure he would if his “dark past” didn’t scare off any NBA team (including the Knicks) and even some Euroleague teams. But you almost can’t say “no” to a player like Ksystof. I’m sure many teams have been asking Siena about Ksystof, and we will soon hear the names of a few teams interested in signing him. How about a Greek team…?
Chances that Ksystof Lavrinovic will leave Montepaschi Siena:
Re: Marc Gasol (not) to the Grizzlies
While the recent piece on salaries for top-notch rookies in Europe and America (www.ballineurope.com/us-basketball/nba/is-it-still-worth-being-drafted/) was fascinating and educational, with the sentiments echoed here for Marc Gasol, there’s still one thing i don’t understand: What about the prestige?
No, i’m not talking about living and working in Memphis, Tennessee, as opposed to, say, Barcelona, Paris, Rome, etc. etc., but rather about playing at the top level of the sport.
Sure, it’s probably nice being the biggest fish in a small pond like the top Israeli league, but wasn’t Marc paying attention to the fact that maybe one billion people were checking out the Boston-LA finals? That the Pau Gasol Lakers jersey surely outsells all ACB jerseys combined by a massive ratio in Europe alone? That a Euroleague player who simply orbits a superstar like Kobe or Tim Duncan gets adulation well beyond the two weeks of glory in which Asians can maybe catch the European finals by (paid) internet broadcast?
While losing a million or two (most likely at a way-lower tax rate with a clever American accountant) dollars in the short-term, wouldn’t a player’s CV look a heck of a lot more impressive with a little NBA experience on it? Wouldn’t a player like the experience of playing in a foreign country of great wealth like America?
Or is it just all about money, money, money? If so, perhaps the Obama Administration can get the dollar back to a strong exchange rate and fewer money-grubbers will ignore the NBA…
interesting - Marcin Gortat just started to get some playing time in the playoffs and as it seems to me he did a nice job for the magic. in many ways Gortat reminds me of Vazquez - i would have thought the magic will stick with him. won’t they?
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Thanks for the great post! Keep up the good work….