Looking for help overseas - Part II: Power Forwards

My sense is that those who have watched him don’t think he’s ready… but his statistics suggest he might be a decent option off the bench and at least worth a look in training camp.

in the olympics but i gotta wonder why he never got nba consideration? especially after how he played in the olympics. as far as Bouroussis(i had to copy and paste that one) we don’t need another outside shooting big(just going off the description)

that he’s making a lot of money in Madrid (2mil/year), plus he’s the captain of the team. And the NBA scouts have always thought that he’s a couple of inches too short to play PF/C (which is the position he usually plays in Real Madrid). Plus last year he said: “Playing in the NBA is a dream for any player. But I’ve just signed an extension with RM, I’m pretty happy and I’m not considering playing in any other place than here, where I expect to finish my BB career. I’ve come to terms with the fact that if I have not yet gone to the NBA, it’s really difficult that I go now.”

I’m with you though. I think he would be a great rotation player, ready to contribute, full of energy and hustle, has a great mid-range jumper, and a pair of cojones the size of the Rose Garden. But I just don’t think he would come on over.

• I don’t think the Spurs will give up Splitter unless it is in a package for Batum. They need him in 2010
• You probably watched Vazquez much more than me, but he looked completely outmatched in the Euroleague Final Four. Even David Andersen was more convincing (Hawks), and David is likely too old to ever come to the NBA and more of an Okur type. If Orlando would accept Sergio or picks for him it could be worth it, but not sure they would.
• Haislip could probably have been a rotation NBA player, I never really understood why his teams didn’t keep him to develop. He was incredibly raw, but very athletic a la Tyrus Thomas and now seems to have developed a much better offensive arsenal and better ball handling (I remember he had a comically low rating in video games for his dribbling).
• Bouroussis didn’t look 6’11’’ to me, but I liked how active he was against Pekovic and Batiste in the game against Panathinaikos with his wide body. Not sure his skills would be useful against NBA players in the post, but would be worth it for scouts to study some of his tapes or work him out. Maybe a good option for Toronto or another team that really needs a big presence under the basket? And most top Greek players in the past in the NBA seemed to get homesick real quick :)
• I have not seen Norel play enough to have my own opinion on him, but you hear good things about him.

Two long-shot options not named: French players Ludovic Vaty (whose club just was relegated to the second league in France, so he needs a new employer) and Kevin Seraphin who was in Portland for the Hoops Summit. Vaty is efficient under the basket but likely needs more seasoning to develop his repertoire and his body, if you bring him over too early you get the same problems Charlotte has with Ajinca now. Seraphin could ultimately be the more talented one, but could also benefit from staying at home for 2 more years since he is only 19.

I would expect the Blazers to bring over Freeland to summer league to take a long look at him, but in addition rather go for a US power forward in draft or free agency than an international vet or young project unless someone really convinces them.

was really impressive. I remember being surprised. He might have been one of the biggest factors in the world team winning.