Petteri getting more play in Italy

by hoopla-pdx on Jan 1, 2009 10:48 AM PST Comment 42 comments

My Italian is rather limited (zero), but I've been able to find a few stories and box scores. Petteri's team, Virtus Bologna is currently second in the Italian league, and doing pretty well. Until recently, PK had been behind Earl Boykins on the PG depth chart, but it looks like they were starting both of them together some recently.

In what could be good news for PK, it looks like Boykins and the team aren't seeing eye-to-eye, and he may be on the way out.

He's been inconsistent so far, but they clearly see potential in him. I'm hoping the increased role allows him to really develop as a PG.

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We've got quality guys on layaway.

I love it.

I’ve read Freeland’s had some breakthrough play this year as well.

by Badalona Baddie on Jan 1, 2009 10:52 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

KP has acquired

so many assets with significant value it’s ridiculous

Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses

by blazeraddict on Jan 1, 2009 11:07 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

I see Freeland coming over next year

And being the long term answer behind LMA.One option in this years weak draft is to do what it takes to draft Ricky knowing he will be in Spain for at least 1 or 2 years, another is to trade our pick and trinkets to a febele minded GM,McHale or Jordan comes to mind, for their lotto pick the following year

by southern oregon on Jan 1, 2009 12:03 PM PST reply actions 1 recs

quick search for Joel Freeland found nothing new

Im also intrigued by the occasional blip about Freeland, but cant find anything new. Anyone got any good links?

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

by bow4meow on Jan 1, 2009 1:09 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Of the 150 Players averaging 15 minutes per game in the Spanish League

Freeland is ranked #8 overall in PER at 26.3. He’s also the youngest player in the top 20.

by as11osu on Jan 1, 2009 1:17 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

http://www.draftexpress.com/stats.php?sort=&q=usage&league=ACB&year=2008%2F09&per=pergame&min=15&pos=all&qual=all

by as11osu on Jan 1, 2009 1:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

thanks

I missed Freeland on the first pass. He certainly has shown statistical improvement.
Thing is why didn’t he play in the Summer League (2008) or did I miss him?

The reason a dog has so many friends is that he wags his tail instead of his tongue.

by bow4meow on Jan 1, 2009 1:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

His spanish team wouldn't let me

They wouldn’t agree to let him play this past summer. His contract is up after this year though so expect to see him again next summer.

by danielfarrell on Jan 2, 2009 6:48 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

And the contract situation

makes it more likely he comes over this year.

If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President

by jscot on Jan 2, 2009 1:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

"His Spanish team wouldn't let me" --????

Are you Joel Freeland? If so, thanks for posting.

The perfect is the enemy of the good.

by fisheyes on Jan 3, 2009 9:02 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Ricky

Is he going to declare for the draft this year and stay in Spain for another 1-2 years, or will he declare when he’s ready to go that season? If it’s the latter, landing him is a pipe dream, but if he declares now with the understanding he’s staying put, it might be feasible to put together a package to get him, as I don’t see a GM with a high lottery team in need of immediate help/a face for their franchise being willing to wait.

Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses

by blazeraddict on Jan 1, 2009 2:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

For $ reasons 2 more years in Spain is the smart bet

But we are one of the only teams in a position to draft him and let it play out that way

by southern oregon on Jan 1, 2009 2:28 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

for the explanation. I love that man’s game, he is a defensive terror, and he makes his teammates better/does a good job running offense. In a lot of ways, he reminds me of Derron Williams (with better D and a worse jumper – for now), big point guards like that are a rare find.

Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses

by blazeraddict on Jan 1, 2009 2:54 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

For money reasons he should get into the NBA as soon as possible

to get to that lucrative second contract. The longer he stays in Spain, playing for under 100,000 dollars per year, the poorer he’s going to be. Paying the buyout to get to the NBA sooner, will pay off within 3 years. Rubio, if he’s led by smart agents, and cares at all about money, will be in this years NBA draft.

by as11osu on Jan 1, 2009 3:24 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I think the deal is

That because of the NBA rookie salary structure Ricky would come out ahead with the $’s being the first pic in the second round rather than a first round pick.Last pick inthe first round,[wasent Freeland one?] is not where a Euro wants to be.

by southern oregon on Jan 1, 2009 3:57 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

True, but

Rubio will be a top 5 pick (and that’s probably being conservative, I’d say he’s a lock for the top 3) whenever he declares.

Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses

by blazeraddict on Jan 1, 2009 6:50 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I take your point

But the option is there to trade with a lottto team,we will give you this package for the rights to Rubio which would work for Ricky in $’s and a lotto team that cant afford to wait 2 years

by southern oregon on Jan 1, 2009 7:19 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think you understand how the draft works...

Rubio WILL be a top 5 pick regardless of when he enters the NBA draft. Whether he enters this year or 2011 is inconsequential to the contract he gets in the NBA. The money overall is bigger the sooner he gets to the NBA because of that lucrative second contract. The sooner he gets it, the more money overall he’ll have. This also completely disregards the amount he’ll make in endorsements, which most likely will be more when he gets to the NBA. Discussing Rubio as a 2nd round pick is completely pointless, because it’d never happen.

If you run the numbers, he makes a significant amount more over time getting into the NBA sooner. I did it in another thread, but that was a ways back.

by as11osu on Jan 1, 2009 7:31 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Correct me if im wrong

But Rudy is making less this year,Freeland is a similiar position if he comes next year and they both would be in a better $ situation if they had been 2nd round picks under the NBA rookie pay rules.I didnt mean to imply that Ricky is a second round pick but that any team that wants to pick him better be able to afford to wait 2 years.Is Greg making more $’s as a #1 pick than Rudy as a #24 pick? I dont know my lawyer died

by southern oregon on Jan 1, 2009 7:55 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

lurk more

by crazyfist on Jan 1, 2009 8:05 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Greg makes 22 Million over the first 4 years of the contract

Assuming Rubio goes 3rd (I’d guess 2nd) he’d make 18 million dollars over the first 4 years of the deal. Then assuming he declares for this draft, he’d be able to make his 5 year 90 million dollar contract starting in 2013. If he waits until 2011 to come into the NBA, he won’t get that second contract until 2015, killing a ton of his potential money. Him buying out his European contract, financially, should be a no-brainer.

by as11osu on Jan 1, 2009 9:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

What does Rudy make over 4 years

As a 24th pick? I would like to know

by southern oregon on Jan 1, 2009 10:14 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

$1 million this year

A little over $5 million over the four years (too lazy to figure it out exactly).

http://www.storytellerscontracts.info/resources/08-09salaries.htm

If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President

by jscot on Jan 1, 2009 10:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

If he can actually afford to do that

and there is no guarantee that he’ll get that max contract. Lots of “sure things” don’t.

But southern oregon is right that dropping to the second round is more financially advantageous for Euros. They aren’t tied to rookie pay scale. If Rudy had been picked at #31 instead of 24, he’d have been able to ask for at least $5-6 million a year to come over (probably a lot more after the Olympics). Because he was a first round pick, he’s tied to rookie scale.

You are correct that Rubio never drops to the second round, though. Even if he came out this year and told everyone he isn’t coming over for two years, he goes top ten, perhaps 15 if someone starts spreading rumors about a heart condition or something.

If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President

by jscot on Jan 1, 2009 10:15 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Maciej Lampe slid to the second round of the 2003 NBA Draft ...

due to him having a $1,800,000 buyout clause with Real Madrid at that time. Ricky Rubio, however, won’t slip in the same manner as Lampe, which is ‘cause of his immense talent and the likelihood that he’ll hash things out financially with DKV Joventut Badalona before declaring for the NBA Draft in whatever year.

The Portland Trail Blazers aren’t in a position to realistically obtain Rubio, though, so it’s a moot point. Besides, Rubio’s best bet may be to wait it out until 2011 and, in the meantime, play internationally.

by AK1984 on Jan 2, 2009 3:38 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Juan Carlos Navarro is probably regretting having bought out his ...

expensive, lengthy contract with FC Barcelona in the summer of 2007, particularly since his NBA experience was less than stellar in his book.

Navarro rejoined FC Barcelona this season, too, as he was signed to a five-year, €12 million contract. I’m sure that Navarro is happy that he left the Memphis Grizzlies, for FC Barcelona has a solid squad that features David Andersen, Fran Vazquez, Ersan Ilyasova, Navarro, and other guys.

Regarding Andersen, though, I wish he’d finally trek across the Atlantic Ocean and join the NBA; however, it’s probable that he’ll stay in Europe, while the Hawks — who own his draft rights — re-sign Zaza Pachulia.

by AK1984 on Jan 2, 2009 4:08 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

In an article about Brandon Jennings

Brandon said Ricky told him he was leaning towards waiting one more year to enter the draft.

by danielfarrell on Jan 2, 2009 6:49 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Cool

Thanks for the info, just Googled it up. Good read

Bayless has been testing the fences for weaknesses

by blazeraddict on Jan 2, 2009 5:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Koponen is poop

Of the 25 PG’s that played a single minute in the Italian League, Petteri Koponen has been the worst. His PER is 5.6, 1.5 worse than anyone else. Freeland is a completely different story, but its looking like not bring Koponen over was a necessary decision.

http://www.draftexpress.com/stats.php?sort=&q=usage&league=ITALIAN&year=2008%2F09&per=pergame&min=All&pos=PG&qual=all

by as11osu on Jan 1, 2009 12:26 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

i couldnt find koponen

but i saw quintel woods in the italian league on that table. ahh how great it is to have this team…i’m glad we are in the media for our good play and character instead of our mishaps with the law.

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Jan 1, 2009 1:23 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Its easy to find Koponen on that list

he’s last.

by as11osu on Jan 1, 2009 1:30 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

lol maybe i just overlooked it.

Honor Terry Porter

by Philthyanimal on Jan 1, 2009 2:01 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Is brandon jennings poop too?

by Falcao on Jan 2, 2009 3:51 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

No, Brandon Jennings is not poop

This is his first real basketball in his life. He’s a ton younger than Petteri and is already producing much better numbers in his limited action.

by as11osu on Jan 2, 2009 12:38 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

He's a couple years younger

and this is mostly Petteri’s first real basketball, too.

If you can't convince them, confuse them -- Harry Truman, U.S. President

by jscot on Jan 2, 2009 1:22 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Still, it's possible that Petteri Koponen will be next on the long list of European washouts ..

that includes several combo guards like Jiri Welsch, Zoran Planinic, et al. When someone’s best-case scenario is Beno Udrih — which, according to DraftExpress, is apparently the case with Koponen — it’s very difficult to be too hopeful about their prospects.

In the Italian League, 27-year-old Sani Becirovic — whose draft rights are owned by the Denver Nuggets — of Pallacanestro Virtus Roma is a Slovene combo guard, à la Sasha Vujacic, who would look mighty sleek in a Trail Blazer uniform.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpiBHbmKuto
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Sani-Becirovic-5360/

Yet, with Rudy Fernandez already in the fold, the unlikelihood of Becirovic wanting to come to America, and the fact that he’s the property of another NBA team, my desire of him in Portland is just a pipe dream.

Another Italian League standout who’d be a remarkable joy to watch in the NBA is Lithuanian Rimantas Kaukenas, 31, who’s the star shooting guard for Montepaschi Siena.

http://tinyurl.com/9d6nhc
http://www.draftexpress.com/profile/Rimantas-Kaukenas-5268/

There are a few issues with Kaukeans, however, which include his age, similarities to a fellow Lithuanian native who was an abject failure in the NBA (i.e., Arvydas Macijauskas) — although he probably doesn’t have the same abrasive personality — and, of course, the fact that he and Fernandez play the same position.

by AK1984 on Jan 2, 2009 10:42 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

While Petteri Koponen is compared to Beno Udrih by DraftExpress, the Finnish native reminds me ...

of a former New Jersey Net and current reserve combo guard for CSKA Moscow, Zoran Planinic, who was a bust in the NBA. Tall, lanky combo guards who possess decent ball-handling and distributing skills are usually sought after by organizations; however, those type of players aren’t worth anything if they’re so-so defenders, tenative on offense, and ineffective from downtown.

by AK1984 on Jan 2, 2009 4:23 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Growing year

He obviously wasn’t ready to make the big jump all the way to the NBA. This is good for him… now it’s time for him to step it up and get his game to the level where he can compete on that level before thinking about the NBA again.

by danielfarrell on Jan 2, 2009 6:55 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Let's sign D.J. Strawberry because his PER says so

Petteri is not seeing much action, which is not a good sign for his development. Still, it’s too early to label him a bust albeit it is not looking promising that he will be more than a backup in the foreseeable future, much less NBA-ready. We will see if he can get in front of Boykins in a year or so, and maybe get some more playing time for the Blazers in summer league if his club allows it.

by Norsktroll on Jan 2, 2009 3:43 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Honestly I'm not surprised in the least about Strawberry

A good friend of mine is a Suns fan, and he was very disappointed when Strawberry was traded. Apparently he and Alando Tucker deserve more time there, and didn’t get it. Strawberry was much better in his limited minutes than Dragic has been. Strawberry also is a very good defender.

by as11osu on Jan 2, 2009 3:52 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Apropos of D.J. Strawberry, here are some earlier comments of mine that reference him.

“In that case, the 52nd pick in the ‘07 NBA Draft should’ve been used to select a projected defensive stopper on the wing (e.g., D.J. Strawberry) rather than a fourth-string point guard in Taurean Green. While I won’t knock Kevin Pritchard for drafting Green over someone who’s become a more successful point guard (i.e., Ramon Sessions) — as a playmaker shouldn’t’ve even been targeted at that juncture — it absolutely boggles my mind that he added another player to what was an already overstocked position, as Steve Blake, Jarrett Jack, and Sergio Rodriguez were already on the team.”

http://www.blazersedge.com/2008/10/22/641020/kp-s-mistake#9539285

Strawberry would’ve been a decent third-string shooting guard both last season and this season, but that’s neither here nor there at this point in time. Yet, unlike Taurean Green, Strawberry actually has a chance to someday get a second chance in the NBA. Green was nothing more than a hanger-on with the Florida Gators during its run at winning two NCAA Men’s Division 1 Basketball Championships. In that regard, Green reminds me a lot of Gerry McNamara — who rode Carmelo Anthony’s coattails in a smilar fashion — although stylsitically he’s reminiscent of a poor man’s Chucky Atkins or Tyronn Lue.

by AK1984 on Jan 2, 2009 9:18 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs