NBA prospects

[sloter]

I don't know if this is interesting to you guys...

So I saw my yearly Partizan game against Zagreb. This year's team should have 4 players in the NBA draft's first round next year and probably 2 of them will be lottery picks.

http://www.fiba.com/pages/en/news/la...r_cat=8&page=4

I had the 2nd row seats and Larry Bird and Chris Mullin were right in front of me (as well as Sasha Danilovic and Siske Colovic, but I am less excited about that, Partizan fans will understand why). There was another gentleman with Bird and Mullin and his face looked awfull familiar. He's white, about 6'5 and had Dallas shirt on him... I thought it might be Donn Nelson (Junior) but I can't tell this for sure, does he scout for the Mavs ??? Anyway, that was pretty cool.

Notes about players:

UROS TRIPKOVIC

We witnessed perhaps the best game by young Uros Tripkovic, who from what I saw from him in the last few games might be the most talented Serbian player in the last 5 years. He's about 6'5 PG, with excellent shooting, dribbling AND passing ability. He needs to add another 15 pounds to his body and work a little bit more on his defense, but he has a VERY VERY bright future. He is a good leader and creates for himself and everyone else.

KOSTA PEROVIC

This guy took a step back from last year. If he manages to lift the ball up and shoot from close, most of the time it will be a good look. The problem is this usually involves catching the ball, perhaps taking one dribble, not traveling. He's still a monster (especially for his age) but his pick and roll defense is very questionable too. He is slow and too big so he gets in the way of his own players sometimes... BAD! They project he will be a lottery pick, so I really hope he improves before the NBA.

PREDRAG SAMARIDZINSKI

Like Perovic, except a little smaller and a little less clumsy.

LUKA BOGDANOVIC

SF, versatile, with a really good shot. Has good leaping ability and is pretty fast for his size, but needs to work on his upper body.

And finally, the player that impressed the most together with Tripkovic.

MARKO TOMAS.

He playes for Zagreb. 6'7 SF. I was stunned to realize he is only 19. He was by far the most dominant and ahtletic player on the floor. He was shooting over SFs, dribbling past guards and laying it in when fouled against tall Partizan centers. He is very versatile and I am really curious what his game will look like in a couple of years. ENORMOUS TALENT.

I'm also curious to see what some Serbian people who saw Partizan think about what I said here and whether they agree with my thinking. Hope someone finds this interesting

[sloter]

Oh yeah ... Marko Jaric's dad was right next to Chris Mullin. Don't know if that means anything...

[Gargamel]

Hey, sloter, I'm gonna assume you're an international bball fan. What could you tell us about the games of Martynas Andriuskevicius and Nemanja Aleksandrov? I've seen mock drafts where they're as high as 2nd and 5th overall. Do you think they're that good compared to the best American collegiates (PF Chris Taft, PG Chris Paul, and PG Ray Felton)? Thanks.

[sloter]

I've only heard of Aleksandrov and I've never seen him play. Sorry.
However, someone like Perovic would dominate collegiate basketball because of his size.
Tripkovic and Tomas would also be stars, but not only because of their physical abilities, but because of how they play the game. I think those are the two names I will closely follow in the next few years. I love how they play.

[Gargamel]

I've only heard of Aleksandrov and I've never seen him play. Sorry.
However, someone like Perovic would dominate collegiate basketball because of his size.
Tripkovic and Tomas would also be stars, but not only because of their physical abilities, but because of how they play the game. I think those are the two names I will closely follow in the next few years. I love how they play.

Hm. It's always amazing seeing foreign names that high on mocks that no one seems to have heard of. Makes you wonder how many more Darkos there are out there. I've seen Perovic's and Tripkovic's names mentioned in mocks (mid to late first round), but the most frequently mentioned foreign-borns projected to go first round are:

Andriuskevicius: 7'3" 240 Lithuanian C, 1986
Aleksandrov: 6'10" Serbian PF, 1987
Tiago Splitter: 6'11" 236 Brazilian PF, 1987
Rudy Fernandez: 6'5" 175 Spanish combo G, 1985
Johan Petro: 7' 260 French C, 1986

Fernandez is universally lauded as a very intelligent scorer and passer. Splitter is viewed as a decent 2-way PF. Petro is usually tagged as a slacker with a NBA-ready physique and raw offensive skills.

[piksi]

Hey, sloter, I'm gonna assume you're an international bball fan. What could you tell us about the games of Martynas Andriuskevicius and Nemanja Aleksandrov? I've seen mock drafts where they're as high as 2nd and 5th overall. Do you think they're that good compared to the best American collegiates (PF Chris Taft, PG Chris Paul, and PG Ray Felton)? Thanks.

I can tell You that if a NBA team decides to pick them - they should be prepared to "park" them in Europe for 3-4 Years. Both of them are as talented as anyone their age. They do not have the experience and the body for NBA.

Darko Milicic means anything to You ?

[Gargamel]

I can tell You that if a NBA team decides to pick them - they should be prepared to "park" them in Europe for 3-4 Years. Both of them are as talented as anyone their age. They do not have the experience and the body for NBA.

Darko Milicic means anything to You ?

Well, that's what has made the draft so risky over the past 10 years. With names such as Peja, Pau, Dirk, Parker, Manu, Yao, AK, Zydrunas, as well as Jermaine, Kobe, TMac, Amare, Bron, KG, Harrington, (and probably Dwight), the biggest upside has been in scouting internationals and high schoolers. The hardest things to find from the lower 1st thru the 2nd are seasoned American collegiates with star-potential.

[sloter]

I agree, piksi. But they'll be high picks in the draft and then they'll need to put some weight on.