His name is unrecognizable in many American basketball circles, not to mention unpronounceable.
Fans soon will become much better acquainted with Sarunas Jasikevicius, however, if he fulfills his dream of signing an NBA contract.
Indiana Pacers president Larry Bird, who no doubt sees much of himself in the 6-4, 29-year-old point guard, is among the league executives who have pursued Jasikevicius throughout Europe and wouldn't mind making him a household name in Indianapolis.
"I think he's the best player in Europe," Bird said. "He's one of the best competitors I've ever seen."
Bird has interest in several players as the NBA's free agency negotiation period opens today, and Jasikevicius (pronounced yes-uh-KA-vi-shus) is reported to have interest from about a half-dozen teams. Still, the two seem to be made for one another given their respective playing reputations.
Jasikevicius, a native of Lithuania, attended high school in Pennsylvania and played at the University of Maryland from 1994-98. He averaged 12.4 points as a senior and went undrafted.
He since has become a superstar in Europe. What happened in between?
He played out of position at Maryland. A natural point guard and leader, he was relegated to the wing. He has also improved greatly, negating his relative lack of athleticism with exceptional shooting and passing skills, confidence and passion.
After playing a season in Lithuania and another in Slovenia, he played three seasons in Barcelona. After helping Barcelona to the Euroleague championship in 2003, he led the Lithuanian national team to the European championship that summer.
Jasikevicius has played the past two seasons for the Maccabi team in Tel Aviv, Israel, leading it to two more Euroleague titles. He was named MVP of the tournament this year.
He averaged 15.7 points over 24 Euroleague games, shooting 48 percent from the field, 40 percent from 3-point range and 94 percent from the foul line. He hit better than 50 percent of his 3-point shots in his past two years of regular-season play.
He has also excelled against U.S. teams in the Olympics. He scored 27 points for Lithuania in a near-upset in the 2000 Olympics and had 28 in a victory over the U.S. team last summer in Greece.
Pacers international scout Misho Ostarcevic said Jasikevicius has been ready to play in the NBA for two years.
"He's strong mentally and physically," Ostarcevic said. "He's not afraid to take the last shot. He runs the team. He's a very good passer and shooter. A decent defender. A team player and leader."
Jasikevicius' popularity is such that one fan has launched a Web site, www.jasikevicius.com, in his honor. After the final game of his previous season a video tribute was shown in which teammates and other local officials implored him to stay. He was presented a petition with 17,000 signatures.
Regardless, he is definite in his desire to play in the NBA next season.
"My general direction this summer is the NBA, and if I'll get an offer from a strong team, with a shot at the NBA title and the possibility for me to play meaningful minutes, I'll sign there," he told a Lithuanian newspaper earlier this week. "I know that nobody will guarantee me any playing time, but if I'll be good and prove myself, I'll play."
Portland, Utah, Dallas, Boston and Cleveland also are said to be in pursuit, but not all of them fit Jasikevicius' desire to play on a contender. The Pacers have only a portion of their mid-level exception to offer, which tempers Bird's confidence in landing him.
"There's some other teams after him, too," Bird said. "We don't have resources to make big offers to guys. Right now we're waiting to see what happens."
Another free agent option is former Duke and Chicago Bulls point guard Jay Williams. The second pick in the 2002 draft, Williams was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident after his rookie season and has not played since.
He has begun serious workouts again and the Bulls, who have restocked with young point guards, are reportedly planning to relinquish his rights. Williams' business manager, Kevin Bradbury, said the Pacers are among the teams who have shown interest. Bird, however, said he is more focused on players who can lend immediate help.
"If you're going to get somebody, you better get somebody you know can get some time right away," Bird said.
Don't expect to hear the names Michael Redd or Ray Allen, the top two players on the free agent market, linked to the Indiana Pacers during the negotiating period, which begins today.
It's not that the Pacers don't like them. They can't afford them.
The Pacers are over the NBA salary cap. They only have the midlevel exception, around $5million a year, and a $1.6 million exception to spend on free agents. Free agent signings cannot begin until July 22.
Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh said the team's first priority is to re-sign its own free agents -- Dale Davis, James Jones and John Edwards. Jones and Edwards are restricted free agents, meaning the Pacers can match any offer up to the midlevel exception. Neither player is expected to get that type of offer.
"I like to try to take care of our own guys before we go on the outside looking," Walsh said. "It's different for us this summer because we know we can go out and play right now and be competitive. There are teams that have to sign people just to put enough players on the court."
Davis played an important role in the Pacers making the playoffs. He was signed March 4, the day after forward Jermaine O'Neal went down for 22 games with a sprained right shoulder. Davis, who played his first nine seasons here, started all 38 games after rejoining the team.
"Indiana is definitely at the top of the list," Davis' agent, Chubby Wells, said Thursday. "Hopefully we can get something worked out."
The Pacers, who have 13 players under contract for next season, have some leeway for possible trades because of their depth. Backup center Scot Pollard likely will be mentioned in trade rumors because he is entering the final year of his contract.
Walsh said the Pacers don't need to make drastic changes, just a tweak here and there.
Ron Artest, suspended for most of last season, will return, and the Pacers are hoping Jonathan Bender, the fifth pick in 1999, can come back from injury.
"I think we're pretty well covered at each position," Walsh said. "I think we have a good team coming back. Drafting Danny Granger made us a lot better. You can certainly get better through signings, but also through trades. We'll explore all of them."
Granger is a perimeter player who could see time at three positions. But the Pacers still might try to acquire a veteran 3-point shooter through a trade or free agency. Stephen Jackson and Fred Jones, the team's top two shooting guards, aren't considered premier long-range shooters.
The Pacers could exercise a clause in the new collective bargaining agreement that allows them a one-time option of releasing a player to avoid paying the luxury tax on that salary.
Forward Austin Croshere could be a candidate. The Pacers still would be responsible for the remaining two years of Croshere's salary of about $18.4 million. Croshere is the team's second highest-paid player but averaged only 8.9 points and 5.1 rebounds last season.
"I don't know right now. Once we get going through the summer, we'll see," Pacers president Larry Bird said. "Our owners don't want to go over the tax; that's very clear. Austin has value to this team and he works hard and does the right things. It would be tough to lose a kid like that."
New York's Allan Houston and Dallas' Michael Finley reportedly will be released by their teams to avoid the luxury tax on their salaries. Walsh said teams can wait until the Oct. 1 deadline to decide if they want to cut a player.
"You can take a chance with your money by waiting to see who's going to be released," Walsh said. "You want to leave yourself some flexibility just in case there are some players out there you may be interested in signing."
I agree with Bird on the possibility of getting Jay W. Indiana does not need any more questions on durability, if we get some1 it has to be some1 who steps right in and makes a difference so I'm all for trying to get Jasikevicious, even though he's 29, he can still add depth, but I wonder how long it would take him to adjust...time will tell...
I'd rather see us go after Jay Williams, he would be the perfect backup to Tinsley. These are both interesting prospects, I definately wouldn't mind either of them coming off the bench next season.
Wow, you guys will have an extremely deep team next season:
Anthony Johnson, David Harrison, Jeff Foster, Austin Croshere, Jonathan Bender (if he stays), Fred Jones, James Jones, Scott Polard, Danny Granger, John Edwards and the free agents you will get will create the deepest bench in the NBA. Heck, I can't think of another team in NBA history with such quality 12th-15th men.
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"I'm going to be one of the best. Nobody's stronger than me. Nobody can really stop me at my position. I can play point guard through (power forward) effectively. And I can shoot the ball and play defense. I have one of the most complete games in the league." -- Ron Artest, the man, the legend.
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I dont think that the Pacers will pick up anybody from the free agents list. They are already stacked at the PG, SF, and C. If they pick anyone up i will be very suprised.
I dont think that the Pacers will pick up anybody from the free agents list. They are already stacked at the PG, SF, and C. If they pick anyone up i will be very suprised.
If they can fit a salary under the cap in.. I'd be very surprised..
Jasikevicius would be a nice signing though.
__________________ "I do a lot of things well, and I guess that’s what makes me special. I rebound, I block shots, I pass, I’m a pretty good passer and I make threes. I think I have the ability. My role just isn’t to score, I can do a lot of other things to affect the game. A lot of players, if they’re not scoring, they’re not really making their presence known on the court. I can do that."
Danny Granger - The next big thing to hit the NBA.
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Jasikevicius, Jay Williams, Free Agency
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