This week's coffee: I completed much of this post at the new Alterra on 68th in Tosa- it's awesome!
As we head into August, the free agent frenzy has calmed and few transactions remain for each team before training camp. Our attention begins to gravitate towards football, and the final trickle of NBA moves often fly under the radar.
Such late-summer activity becomes even more covert when foreign players are signed, since the casual fan lacks familiarity with the names (not to mention their pronunciation). These international signings sometimes involve a player who had been drafted by an NBA team years ago; that player was "stashed" overseas while an NBA team held dibs.
Since 1985, NBA teams have consistently found gems by waiting for their "draft-n-stash" players to break ties with international squads. By the same token, it's a very risky draft strategy.
As we head into August, the free agent frenzy has calmed and few transactions remain for each team before training camp. Our attention begins to gravitate towards football, and the final trickle of NBA moves often fly under the radar.
Such late-summer activity becomes even more covert when foreign players are signed, since the casual fan lacks familiarity with the names (not to mention their pronunciation). These international signings sometimes involve a player who had been drafted by an NBA team years ago; that player was "stashed" overseas while an NBA team held dibs.
Since 1985, NBA teams have consistently found gems by waiting for their "draft-n-stash" players to break ties with international squads. By the same token, it's a very risky draft strategy.
Some ballers stay overseas for many years before signing with their NBA team, while others never sign at all. NBA teams cross their fingers during those
years of waiting, in hopes that their draft pick continues to develop their skills & physique.
Below I've documented a complete list of every draft-n-stash international player who eventually signed with the NBA team that held their rights. I've excluded those who attended college in the United States, because their situation (i.e., contract and transition) is far less complicated.
***Updated 8/16/14***
Below I've documented a complete list of every draft-n-stash international player who eventually signed with the NBA team that held their rights. I've excluded those who attended college in the United States, because their situation (i.e., contract and transition) is far less complicated.
***Updated 8/16/14***
Past
What type of international player (besides elite talent) would intrigue an NBA team to the point of making a risky draft-n-stash selection? My answer: Supply & Demand (I didn't like Econ class, so I'm probably not using these terms properly!)
By taking a quick look at the list below, I notice many pure shooters and skilled big men who epitomize the traditional half-court European style. Moreso than today, the NBA playing style in the 90's and early-00's was slower and focused on crisp half-court execution. With that being said, there was a high demand for those European sharp-shooting big men who also happened to be skilled-passers; especially since the supply of such fundamentally-sound big men was scarce in US amateur circuits.
In other words, NBA teams will risk a draft pick for the chance to have a unique talent that fits the style of today.
*Format: Name (Position, Country, Year drafted) - Most notable NBA experience*
By taking a quick look at the list below, I notice many pure shooters and skilled big men who epitomize the traditional half-court European style. Moreso than today, the NBA playing style in the 90's and early-00's was slower and focused on crisp half-court execution. With that being said, there was a high demand for those European sharp-shooting big men who also happened to be skilled-passers; especially since the supply of such fundamentally-sound big men was scarce in US amateur circuits.
In other words, NBA teams will risk a draft pick for the chance to have a unique talent that fits the style of today.
*Format: Name (Position, Country, Year drafted) - Most notable NBA experience*
All-Star caliber: Arvydas Sabonis (C, Lithuania, 1985) - POR '95-03
Zydrunas Ilgauskas (C, Lithuania, 1996) - CLE/MIA '97-11
Mehmet Okur (C, Turkey, 2001) - DET/UTA '02-12
Dino Radja (PF, Croatia, 1989) - BOS '93-97
Peja Stojakovic (SF, Serbia-Mont, 1996) - SAC/NOR '98-11
Andrei Kirilenko (SF, Russia, 1999) - UTA '01-14
Andrei Kirilenko (SF, Russia, 1999) - UTA '01-14
Drazen Petrovic (SG, Croatia, 1986) - NJN '89-93
Manu Ginobili (SG, Argentina, 1999) - SAS '02-18
Manu Ginobili (SG, Argentina, 1999) - SAS '02-18
Starter-worthy:
Nikola Pekovic (C, Serbia-Mont, 2008) - MIN '10-16
Nenad Krstic (C, Serbia-Mont, 2002) - NJN/OKC '04-11
Toni Kukoc (PF, Croatia, 1990) - CHI/MIL '93-06
Luis Scola (PF, Argentina, 2002) - HOU/IND '07-17
Luis Scola (PF, Argentina, 2002) - HOU/IND '07-17
Sasha Danilovic (SG, Serbia-Mont, 1992) - MIA '95-97
Gordan Giricek (SG, Croatia, 1999) - ORL/UTA '02-08
Sarunas Marciulionis (SG, Lithuania, 1987) - GSW '89-97
Marko Jaric (PG, Serbia-Mont, 2000) - LAC/MIN '02-09
Role players:
Zan Tabak (C, Croatia, 1991) - HOU/TOR/IND '94-01
Zeljko Rebraca (C, Serbia-Mont, 1994) - DET/LAC '01-06
Peja Drobnjak (C, Serbia-Mont, 1997) - SEA/LAC '01-05
Primoz Brezec (C, Slovenia, 2000) - IND/CHA '01-10
Tiago Splitter (C, Brazil, 2007) - SAS/ATL '10-17
Omer Asik (C, Turkey, 2008) - HOU/NOR '10-18
Joffrey Lauvergne (C, France, 2013) - DEN/SAS '14-18
Tiago Splitter (C, Brazil, 2007) - SAS/ATL '10-17
Omer Asik (C, Turkey, 2008) - HOU/NOR '10-18
Joffrey Lauvergne (C, France, 2013) - DEN/SAS '14-18
Alexander Volkov (PF, Russia, 1986) - ATL '89-92
Donatas Motiejunas (PF, Lithuania, 2011) - HOU '12-17
Donatas Motiejunas (PF, Lithuania, 2011) - HOU '12-17
Carlos Delfino (SF, Argentina, 2003) - DET/MIL '04-13
Mickael Gelabale (SF, France, 2005) - SEA/MIN '06-13
Mickael Gelabale (SF, France, 2005) - SEA/MIN '06-13
Juan Carlos Navarro (SG, Spain, 2002) - MEM '07-08
Rudy Fernandez (SG, Spain, 2007) - POR '08-'12
Raul Lopez (PG, Spain, 2001) - UTA '03-05
Minimal return:
Dragan Tarlac (C,Serbia-Mont, 1995) - CHI '00-01
Efthimios Rentzias (C, Greece, 1996) - PHI '02-03
Wang Zhizhi (C, China, 1999) - DAL/LAC/MIA '00-05
David Andersen (C, Australia, 2002) - HOU/NOR '09-11
Mario Kasun (C, Croatia, 2002) - ORL '04-06
Andreas Glyniadakis (C, Greece, 2003) - SEA '06-07
Mile Ilic (C, Bosnia, 2005) - NJN '06-07
Oleksiy Pecherov (C, Ukraine, 2006) - WAS/MIN '07-10
Kosta Perovic (C, Croatia, 2006) - GSW '07-08
Cheikh Samb (C, Senegal, 2006) - DET/LAC '07-09
Semih Erden (C, Turkey, 2008) - BOS/CLE '10-12
Ognjen Kuzmic (C, Bosnia, 2012) - GSW '13-15
Tibor Pleiss (C, Germany, 2010) - UTA '15-16
Walter Tavares (C, Spain, 2014) - ATL '15-17
Lucas Nogueira (C, Brazil, 2013) - TOR '14-18
Ognjen Kuzmic (C, Bosnia, 2012) - GSW '13-15
Tibor Pleiss (C, Germany, 2010) - UTA '15-16
Walter Tavares (C, Spain, 2014) - ATL '15-17
Lucas Nogueira (C, Brazil, 2013) - TOR '14-18
Stefano Rusconi (PF, Italy, 1990) - PHO '95-96
Mirsad Turkcan (PF, Serbia-Mont, 1998) - MIL '99-00
Uros Slokar (PF, Slovenia, 2005) - TOR '06-07
Joel Freeland (PF, England, 2006) - POR '12-15
Furkan Aldemir (PF, Turkey, 2012) - PHI '14-15
Joel Freeland (PF, England, 2006) - POR '12-15
Furkan Aldemir (PF, Turkey, 2012) - PHI '14-15
Sergei Monia (SF, Russia, 2004) - POR '05-06
Christian Eyenga (SF, Congo, 2009) - CLE '10-12
Victor Claver (SF, Spain, 2009) - POR '12-15
Kostas Papanikolaou (SF, Greece, 2012) - HOU '14-16
Victor Claver (SF, Spain, 2009) - POR '12-15
Kostas Papanikolaou (SF, Greece, 2012) - HOU '14-16
Sun Yue (SG, China, 2007) - LAL '08-09
Nando De Colo (SG, France, 2009) - SAS '12-14
Nando De Colo (SG, France, 2009) - SAS '12-14
Igor Rakocevic (PG, Serbia-Mont, 2000) - MIN '02-03
Vassilis Spanoulis (PG, Greece, 2004) - HOU '06-07
Roko Ukic (PG, Croatia, 2005) - TOR '08-10
Over the past 10 years, many NBA teams have opted toward a fast-paced style of basketball with smaller lineups. Following this run-n-gun trend, the active draft-n-stash players below have offered more quickness and athleticism than the generation before them. However, since these are both common characteristics of college players in the US, there aren't that many active draft-n-stash players; particularly, there are very few active wing players and point guards.
Alas! Just when you thought draft-n-stashing was a fading strategy, NBA teams have started to target another unique international mold. In today's game of "small ball", bruising big men who run like gazelles are a rarity and they pose major matchup problems for opponents. There are indeed a plethora of strong & athletic big men overseas, since many young players gain physical maturity while playing against grown men on their national teams for years on end. Ah, and those European fundamentals are still a big plus too!
All-Star Caliber:
Marc Gasol (C, Spain, 2007) - MEM '08-present
Nikola Jokic (C, Serbia-Mont, 2014) - DEN '15-present
Starter-worthy:
Marcin Gortat (C, Poland, 2005) - PHO/WAS '08-present
Jonas Valanciunas (C, Lithuania, 2011) - TOR '12-present
Starter-worthy:
Marcin Gortat (C, Poland, 2005) - PHO/WAS '08-present
Jonas Valanciunas (C, Lithuania, 2011) - TOR '12-present
Ersan Ilyasova (PF, Turkey, 2005) - MIL/PHI '06-present
Serge Ibaka (PF, Congo, 2008) - OKC/TOR '09-present
Nikola Mirotic (PF, Serbia-Mont, 2011) - CHI/NOR '14-present
Dario Saric (PF, Croatia, 2014) - PHI '16-present
Bojan Bogdanovic (SF, Croatia, 2011) - BKN/IND '14-present
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG, Serbia-Mont, 2014) - SAC '17-present
Ricky Rubio (PG, Spain, 2009) - MIN/UTA '11-present
Role players:
Ian Mahinmi (C, France, 2005) - DAL/IND/WAS '07-present
Willy Hernangomez (C, Spain, 2015) NYK/CHA '16-present
Ante Zizic (C, Croatia, 2016) - CLE '17-present
Nemanja Bjelica (SF, Serbia-Mont, 2010) - MIN/SAC '15-present
Davis Bertans (SF, Latvia, 2011) - SAS '16-present
Cedi Osman (SF, Turkey, 2015) - CLE '17-present
Tomas Satoransky (SG, Czech Rep, 2012) - WAS '16-present
Raul Neto (PG, Brazil, 2013) - UTA '15-present
Minimal return:
Zhou Qi (C, China, 2016) - HOU '17-present
Guerschon Yabusele (PF, France, 2016) - BOS '17-present
Furkan Korkmaz (SG, Turkey, 2016) - PHI '17-present
Serge Ibaka (PF, Congo, 2008) - OKC/TOR '09-present
Nikola Mirotic (PF, Serbia-Mont, 2011) - CHI/NOR '14-present
Dario Saric (PF, Croatia, 2014) - PHI '16-present
Bojan Bogdanovic (SF, Croatia, 2011) - BKN/IND '14-present
Bogdan Bogdanovic (SG, Serbia-Mont, 2014) - SAC '17-present
Ricky Rubio (PG, Spain, 2009) - MIN/UTA '11-present
Role players:
Ian Mahinmi (C, France, 2005) - DAL/IND/WAS '07-present
Willy Hernangomez (C, Spain, 2015) NYK/CHA '16-present
Ante Zizic (C, Croatia, 2016) - CLE '17-present
Nemanja Bjelica (SF, Serbia-Mont, 2010) - MIN/SAC '15-present
Davis Bertans (SF, Latvia, 2011) - SAS '16-present
Cedi Osman (SF, Turkey, 2015) - CLE '17-present
Tomas Satoransky (SG, Czech Rep, 2012) - WAS '16-present
Raul Neto (PG, Brazil, 2013) - UTA '15-present
Minimal return:
Zhou Qi (C, China, 2016) - HOU '17-present
Guerschon Yabusele (PF, France, 2016) - BOS '17-present
Furkan Korkmaz (SG, Turkey, 2016) - PHI '17-present
Future
Here is a comprehensive list (sorted by team) of active international players whose rights are currently held by an NBA team, yet remain unsigned. Obviously, it's difficult to speculate on these mysterious players and the future. I've simply reviewed which players stand out from the pack with their accolades and consistency or growth.
I feel that the future playing style in the NBA will demand a mixed bag of players, as many teams will revert back to the half-court style (like Memphis, Indiana & San Antonio) while others stick with the run-n-gun. It would be wise for other teams to display such a proactive/aggressive style rather than conforming to "the norm".
One final observation about draft-n-stash international players: where are the point guards?! To date, only 3 such point guards have had mild success: Marko Jaric, Raul Lopez, and Ricky Rubio. Please note that although Rubio has freaky handle and passing, he still has the potential to flop due to injuries & horrible shooting. My theory: since point guards bridge the communication between coaches and other players, it's probably really difficult and intimidating to take on that role amidst a foreign culture & language. This factor makes the following international PGs (not draft-n-stash) even more impressive: Tony Parker, Jose Calderon, Goran Dragic and even Beno Udrih!
I feel that the future playing style in the NBA will demand a mixed bag of players, as many teams will revert back to the half-court style (like Memphis, Indiana & San Antonio) while others stick with the run-n-gun. It would be wise for other teams to display such a proactive/aggressive style rather than conforming to "the norm".
One final observation about draft-n-stash international players: where are the point guards?! To date, only 3 such point guards have had mild success: Marko Jaric, Raul Lopez, and Ricky Rubio. Please note that although Rubio has freaky handle and passing, he still has the potential to flop due to injuries & horrible shooting. My theory: since point guards bridge the communication between coaches and other players, it's probably really difficult and intimidating to take on that role amidst a foreign culture & language. This factor makes the following international PGs (not draft-n-stash) even more impressive: Tony Parker, Jose Calderon, Goran Dragic and even Beno Udrih!
Starter-worthy:
Ante Tomic (C, Croatia, 2008) - UTA
Anzejs Pasecniks (C, Latvia, 2017) - ORL
Henk Norel (PF, Netherlands, 2009) - MIN
Ante Tomic (C, Croatia, 2008) - UTA
Anzejs Pasecniks (C, Latvia, 2017) - ORL
Henk Norel (PF, Netherlands, 2009) - MIN
Alessandro Gentile (SF, Italy, 2014) - HOU
Rade Zagorac (SF, Serbia, 2016) - MEM
Rade Zagorac (SF, Serbia, 2016) - MEM
Renaldas Seibutis (SG, Lithuania, 2007) - DAL
Sergio Llull (PG, Spain, 2009) - HOU
Vasilije Micic (PG, Serbia-Mont, 2014) - PHI
Role players:
Sergiy Gladyr (SG, Ukraine, 2009) - ATL
Cenk Akyol (SG, Turkey, 2005) - ATL
S. Schortsanitis (PF, Greece, 2003) - ATL
Isaia Cordinier (SG, France, 2016) - ATL
Aleksandar Vezenkov (PF, Bulgaria, 2017) - BKN
T. Dragicevic (PF, Serbia-Mont, 2008) - CHI
V. Veremeenko (PF, Belarus, 2006) - CHI
Milan Macvan (PF, Croatia, 2011) - CLE
Petteri Koponen (PG, Finland, 2007) - DAL
Petr Cornelie (PF, France, 2016) - DEN
Vlatko Cancar (SF, Slovenia, 2017) - DEN
M. Todorovic (C, Serbia-Mont, 2013) - HOU
Brad Newley (SG, Australia, 2007) - HOU
Axel Hervelle (PF, Belgium, 2005) - HOU
Isaiah Hartenstein (PF, Germany, 2017) - HOU
David Michineau (PG, France, 2016) - LAC
Janis Timma (SF, Latvia, 2013) - MEM
B. Dubljevic (PF, Serbia-Mont, 2013) - MIN
Paulao Prestes (C, Brazil, 2010) - MIN
L. Mavrokefalidis (C, Greece, 2006) - MIN
Louis Labeyrie (PF, France, 2014) - NYK
Ognjen Jaramaz (PG, Serbia, 2017) - NYK
Alex Abrines (SG, Spain, 2013) - OKC
Georgios Printezis (PF, Greece, 2007) - OKC
Yotam Halperin (SG, Israel, 2006) - OKC
Szymon Szewczyk (PF, Poland, 2003) - OKC
Fran Vazquez (PF, Spain, 2005) - ORL
Jonah Bolden (PF, Australia, 2017) - PHI
Mathias Lessort (PF, France, 2017) - PHI
Daniel Diez (SF, Spain, 2015) - POR
Nedzad Sinanovic (C, Bosnia, 2003) - POR
Arturas Gudaitis (PF, Lithuania, 2015) - SAC
Nikola Milutinov (C, Serbia, 2015) - SAS
N. Dangubic (SG, Serbia-Mont, 2014) - SAS
Livio Jean-Charles (SF, France, 2013) - SAS
Adam Hanga (SF, Hungary, 2011) - SAS
Ryan Richards (C, England, 2010) - SAS
Erazem Lorbek (C, Slovenia, 2005) - SAS
R. Javtokas (C, Lithuania, 2001) - SAS
Emir Preldzic (SF, Turkey, 2009) - WAS
Minimal return:
Marcus Eriksson (SG, Sweden, 2015) - ATL
Dimitrios Agravanis (PF, Greece, 2015) - ATL
Alpha Kaba (PF, France, 2017) - ATL
Juan Vaulet (SF, Argentina, 2015) - BKN
Ilkan Karaman (SF, Turkey, 2012) - BKN
Ejike Ugboaja (SF, Nigeria, 2006) - CLE
Satnam Singh (C, India, 2015) - DAL
Nikola Radicevic (PG, Serbia, 2015) - DEN
Izzet Turkyilmaz (C, Turkey, 2012) - DEN
Yuyang Xue (C, China, 2003) - DEN
Stanko Barac (C, Croatia, 2007) - IND
Ater Majok (PF, Sudan, 2011) - LAL
Sergei Lishouk (C, Ukraine, 2004) - LAL
Wang Zhelin (C, China, 2016) - MEM
Ricky Sanchez (PF, Puerto Rico, 2005) - MIA
Albert Miralles (PF, Spain, 2004) - MIL
Tanguy Ngombo (SF, Congo, 2011) - MIN
Lior Eliyahu (SF, Israel, 2006) - MIN
Edin Bavcic (PF, Bosnia, 2006) - NOR
P. Morlende (PG, France, 2003) - OKC
M. Rakovic (PF, Serbia-Mont, 2007) - ORL
Luka Mitrovic (PF, Serbia, 2015) - SAC
Sergei Karaulov (C, Russia, 2004) - SAS
V. Sanikidze (SF, Rep. of Georgia, 2004) - SAS
Tomislav Zubcic (C, Croatia, 2012) - TOR
Cenk Akyol (SG, Turkey, 2005) - ATL
Isaia Cordinier (SG, France, 2016) - ATL
Aleksandar Vezenkov (PF, Bulgaria, 2017) - BKN
T. Dragicevic (PF, Serbia-Mont, 2008) - CHI
V. Veremeenko (PF, Belarus, 2006) - CHI
Milan Macvan (PF, Croatia, 2011) - CLE
Petteri Koponen (PG, Finland, 2007) - DAL
Petr Cornelie (PF, France, 2016) - DEN
Vlatko Cancar (SF, Slovenia, 2017) - DEN
M. Todorovic (C, Serbia-Mont, 2013) - HOU
Brad Newley (SG, Australia, 2007) - HOU
Axel Hervelle (PF, Belgium, 2005) - HOU
Isaiah Hartenstein (PF, Germany, 2017) - HOU
David Michineau (PG, France, 2016) - LAC
Janis Timma (SF, Latvia, 2013) - MEM
B. Dubljevic (PF, Serbia-Mont, 2013) - MIN
Paulao Prestes (C, Brazil, 2010) - MIN
L. Mavrokefalidis (C, Greece, 2006) - MIN
Louis Labeyrie (PF, France, 2014) - NYK
Ognjen Jaramaz (PG, Serbia, 2017) - NYK
Alex Abrines (SG, Spain, 2013) - OKC
Georgios Printezis (PF, Greece, 2007) - OKC
Yotam Halperin (SG, Israel, 2006) - OKC
Szymon Szewczyk (PF, Poland, 2003) - OKC
Fran Vazquez (PF, Spain, 2005) - ORL
Jonah Bolden (PF, Australia, 2017) - PHI
Mathias Lessort (PF, France, 2017) - PHI
Daniel Diez (SF, Spain, 2015) - POR
Nedzad Sinanovic (C, Bosnia, 2003) - POR
Arturas Gudaitis (PF, Lithuania, 2015) - SAC
 |
| Henk Norel - PF, Timberwolves |
N. Dangubic (SG, Serbia-Mont, 2014) - SAS
Livio Jean-Charles (SF, France, 2013) - SAS
Adam Hanga (SF, Hungary, 2011) - SAS
Ryan Richards (C, England, 2010) - SAS
Erazem Lorbek (C, Slovenia, 2005) - SAS
R. Javtokas (C, Lithuania, 2001) - SAS
Emir Preldzic (SF, Turkey, 2009) - WAS
Minimal return:
Marcus Eriksson (SG, Sweden, 2015) - ATL
Dimitrios Agravanis (PF, Greece, 2015) - ATL
Alpha Kaba (PF, France, 2017) - ATL
Juan Vaulet (SF, Argentina, 2015) - BKN
Ilkan Karaman (SF, Turkey, 2012) - BKN
Ejike Ugboaja (SF, Nigeria, 2006) - CLE
Satnam Singh (C, India, 2015) - DAL
Nikola Radicevic (PG, Serbia, 2015) - DEN
Izzet Turkyilmaz (C, Turkey, 2012) - DEN
Yuyang Xue (C, China, 2003) - DEN
Stanko Barac (C, Croatia, 2007) - IND
Ater Majok (PF, Sudan, 2011) - LAL
Sergei Lishouk (C, Ukraine, 2004) - LAL
Wang Zhelin (C, China, 2016) - MEM
Ricky Sanchez (PF, Puerto Rico, 2005) - MIA
 |
| Ante Tomic - C, Jazz |
Tanguy Ngombo (SF, Congo, 2011) - MIN
Lior Eliyahu (SF, Israel, 2006) - MIN
Edin Bavcic (PF, Bosnia, 2006) - NOR
P. Morlende (PG, France, 2003) - OKC
M. Rakovic (PF, Serbia-Mont, 2007) - ORL
Luka Mitrovic (PF, Serbia, 2015) - SAC
Sergei Karaulov (C, Russia, 2004) - SAS
V. Sanikidze (SF, Rep. of Georgia, 2004) - SAS
Tomislav Zubcic (C, Croatia, 2012) - TOR
