HB

So is it true Delfino will be making 10 mill a year to play overseas?

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croco

Where did you hear that ?

HB

On hoopshype, but on the raps board they are saying the deal is 2 years 13.5 mill

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luther

I've seen quite a few figures on that deal, too. $10 million a year, 8.5 million euro over two years, $13.5 million over two years, 8.5 million euro over three years...who knows?

luther

Yet another "theft" of an NBA player: Primoz Brezec has signed with Rome, where he'll join Brandon Jennings and Sani Becirovic. By the way, while I believe we're in the early stages of Americans who are legitimately NBA caliber going overseas, today at work I jotted down former NBA international guys who have left after showing production in the NBA, meaning no Ibrahim Kutluay, Yaroslav Korolev, etc. There were something like 25. I counted another 20 or so who never made the leap but almost certainly could (a la Papaloukas, Andersen, etc.). I've never seen so many NBA-caliber players choose not to play in the NBA.

luther

BC Khimki, fresh off the Carlos Delfino signing and not long after the Milt Palacio signing, continues its spending spree by bringing over Jorge Garbajosa for a reported "several" million euros per season for two seasons.

argusa

They are spending some serious cash. How good does these moves make them?

luther

It's hard to say: I haven't seen a comprehensive list of their offseason moves (and not speaking Russian, the league website isn't a lot of help). But they are a program founded just 11 years ago and already competitive, so it's safe to say the ownership is dedicated. Last season they played CSKA Moscow in the Russian league finals, although they were swept in the best-of-5 series. They also played in the ULEB Cup, which is like Euroleague Jr., basically. Next year, they will be in that competition again, although it is renamed EuroCup or something. Still, their talent level was pretty impressive for a Russian league team (other than CSKA). Former NBA player Maciej Lampe was their leading scorer at 16 ppg and 6 rpg. Kelly McCarty chipped in 14 ppg. Former Duke guard Daniel Ewing added over 12 ppg, Clay Tucker had 11 ppg and Finnish guard Teemu Rannikko added 10 ppg. Russian PG Anton Ponkrashov was on hand adding 8 ppg and 4 apg. Pat Burke, Vladimir Veremeenko, Mike Wilkinson, Nikita Shabalkin, Nikita Morgunov ... this team was loaded for that level of play. They finished 10-4, losing to champ DKV Joventut in the Final 16. Unless they lost everybody, I've got to assume that considering their additions, they're going to be for real and will be in Euroleague play before long.

luther

Last week (I just noticed it, though) FC Barcelona signed Lubos Barton. They have REALLY stockpiled some talent this offseason, too, as have some other big spenders. They could trot out a starting five of Jaka Lakovic and JC Navarro at guards, Barton and Ersan Ilyasova at forwards and David Andersen at center, with Fran Vasquez and Mario Kasun off the bench. Those seven guys legitimately all could be in the NBA, if they chose to be. Very impressive roster there, especially in the frontcourt.

argusa

Wow, they are going to be pretty good this year. I'm still new to European Basketball. Is there always this much movement?

luther

Yes, it's pretty common to see a lot of change. Veterans don't tend to sign long-term deals, and even players under contract are pretty often pried free, as happened with Papaloukas this summer. In fact, they're also rented out to other teams (they say "on loan," but it amounts to rental).

luther