Aleksandar Radojevic entered the NBA as a lottery pick in 1999, but injuries derailed his career. Having conquered his health problems, the 7-3 center hopes to return to the league on a full-time basis with an impressive showing in the Pacers' summer camp.
This was from Pacers.com. If the guy looks this impresive I think we should pick him up. From what im reading he is like a Jeff Foster Jr. but has a lot more potential.
Yes I recall he played for Utah I believe, had some prior injuries, so I am not sure if we would really have any room for him. Unless we trade Pollard and sign him to a minimum contract or something.
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" The People that talk the most usually have the least to say" --Me
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." -- John Wooden
Good, another useless player. We learned last year how important it is to have guys on your roster who can't play, so that if your team is shorthanded, they can't step up.
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If they think we're going into the stands again, then they have the I.Q. of a rabbit. - Stephen Jackson
Not that long ago, Aleksandar Radojevic was one of the hottest prospects in basketball, a young 7-3 center with agility and shooting range who drew comparisons to Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
That's what compelled the Toronto Raptors to make him a lottery pick, No. 12 overall, in 1999. He was, in fact, the first center drafted that year.
Shortly thereafter, everything began to go wrong, primarily with his health. Now, six years later, he finds himself battling with other summer campers just to get a shot at a full-time NBA job.
"I just have to show them that I'm healthy, because I had a health issue before I left the NBA," Radojevic said. "And I have to show them that I'm fighting and I can do the parts of the job. They have big guys here. They just need a few guys to fill in while the other guys are resting, whether it's two, three, five minutes – whatever it is. I just think I need to play strong every day and make the best of it."
Radojevic went on the injured list two games into his rookie season with torn cartilage in his left knee. Then came the discovery of a herniated disc in his back that resulted in two major operations that cost him most of the rest of his rookie season and all of 2000-01. He was traded twice while injured, to Denver and then Milwaukee, but never played for either team.
Considered damaged goods by the NBA, the native of what is now Serbia-Montenegro returned to Europe to rebuild his career. A brief trial with the Utah Jazz last season gave him hope that this time, with the Pacers, he can make it stick.
"I just want to stay in the NBA," he said. "I've been to Europe and it's a different story. My wife is American and I can spend more time here. That's what I'm looking for. When I'm in Europe, we have a 9-year-old daughter who's going to school and two sons and it's hard for me to leave my wife with three kids here. So, three kids here and I'm in Europe by myself. It's not easy. For her, it's terrible. I just don't want to go through that anymore."
After averaging 8.2 points and 7.9 rebounds for Prokom (Poland) in 2003-04, Radojevic opened the 2004-05 season on Utah's roster. He lasted until Jan. 5, just five days before the deadline when contracts must be guaranteed for the rest of the season. He returned to Poland and helped his team win the national championship.
The Pacers, who worked out Radojevic before the 1999 draft, kept track of his career and extended the summer league offer. He'll travel to Minneapolis for five summer-league games with the Pacers beginning Friday.
Burke
"He's showing some promise," said assistant coach Dan Burke. "He can plug up the middle on defense. Offensively, he's got a knack for making the right pass, and he can see the floor. He's just got to play more like a 7-footer, play strong inside when he posts up, and to attack more when he gets the ball.
"We were intrigued enough to keep him and bring him to Minnesota and we'll see how he does. The game's going to be fast up there because the summer league is just that way. It's a guard-dominated game. We'll see how he does with that kind of pace."
Though his health problems are in the past, Radojevic admits the surgeries took their toll on his game, but he believes he has made the requisite adjustments.
"The past four years, I haven't had any problems, (but) injuries did their job," he said. "I don't think I could be the same player as I was but I'm more experienced, certainly. I can never maybe jump as much or be as mobile as I was, but I can run the floor pretty well."
He'll get his chance to demonstrate his ability to contribute in Minneapolis.
Carlisle
"You're always looking for good big men," said Coach Rick Carlisle. "He has some experience and so far he's been solid. We'd like to see him be able to score a little in the post, be able to block some shots and get defensive rebounds and basically play a good complementary game relative to the team and I think he can do that."
As things turned out, the only similarities between Ilgauskas and Radojevic were health problems. Ilgauskas came back from chronic foot injuries to become an All-Star. Radojevic has his health. Now, he's just looking for a job.
Yes I think that Scot Pollard would be more productive than Radojevic
Scot Pollard wouldn't be more productive than a box of old Fleer Baseball Cards..
Pollard is worthless, when your only known in the NBA for your sideburns or other various hair styles you sport - you suck.
So to say Scot Pollard is BETTER than someone... that really says a lot about this player.
__________________ "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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Scot Pollard wouldn't be more productive than a box of old Fleer Baseball Cards..
Pollard is worthless, when your only known in the NBA for your sideburns or other various hair styles you sport - you suck.
So to say Scot Pollard is BETTER than someone... that really says a lot about this player.
Scot Pollard isn't worthless. He's a good rebounder, can make an occasional jumpshot or tip-in, is a good hustle player, and is our best post defender. He'll be playing 30mpg when we play the Heat.
Scot Pollard isn't worthless. He's a good rebounder, can make an occasional jumpshot or tip-in, is a good hustle player, and is our best post defender. He'll be playing 30mpg when we play the Heat.
Yes he was very productive in the Celtics series and helped score points in the Game 6 I believe.
You didn't want Brezec but you're interested in Radojevic
Radojevic is mediocre even for european standards- and centers are becoming really rare here, especially of his height and he still can't play normally... with that height he should dominate... anyway I'd suggest you not to pick him. You'd only embarrass yourself.
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Pacers might grab Radojevic
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