Lakers going Greek?

[Gaddabout]

Just heard Lakers are going to offer their entire MLE (5 yr/$30 mil) to Theodoros Papaloukas, most famous for leading the Greeks past the U.S. team in the Olympics. He's 30, but considered to be the top PG in Europe.[SIZE=+1][/SIZE]

 

[elindholm]

That would be asinine. Maybe he'd pan out, but the list of middle-aged Euro stars who have flopped is much longer than the list of those who have succeeded.

 

[F-Dog]

Papaloukas is the one who can't shoot, right?

 

[sharkman]

That would be asinine. Maybe he'd pan out, but the list of middle-aged Euro stars who have flopped is much longer than the list of those who have succeeded.

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

He's a great point guard...he'd be a steal! Enough to put the Lakers over the top!

 

[elindholm]

Actually I'm visiting Greece in November, and thought I might try some papaloukas in a restaurant while over there.

 

[hcsilla]

Maybe he'd pan out, but the list of middle-aged Euro stars who have flopped is much longer than the list of those who have succeeded.

I agree, but I'm a bit afraid that Papaloukas may be the exception. He is not only the top european PG but also the best player in Europe, IMO.

 

[D-Dogg]

Yes...good move. He can shoot everything but the three ball. Outstanding passer (Magic, Nash, Kidd-like), good court leader and court vision. Pursued by several teams but the Lakers have an offer out there. Decent defender. 6'7" so Phil loves him already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUKLDjjwo9c

 

[Gaddabout]

Heh. Guess I wasn't breaking news after all ...

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp...y?coll=la-headlines-sports&ctrack=1&cset=true

The Lakers reportedly are going beyond U.S. borders in their search for a backcourt starter.

With Smush Parker out the door and Farmar having played only one NBA season, the Lakers have offered a multi-year contract to 30-year-old guard Theodoros Papaloukas, according to Eleftheros Tipos, a newspaper in Greece. The report said Papaloukas had confirmed the offer and was pondering it among a handful from NBA teams. Lakers officials declined to comment.

Papaloukas, a Greek native who is listed at 6 feet 7, was the Euroleague player of the year last season with CSKA Moscow, and is widely thought to be the best point guard in Europe.

He signed a three-year deal with CSKA Moscow in June 2006, a contract that could require a substantial buy-out price. The Lakers probably would have to use most or all of their mid-level exception — five years and about $30 million — to sign him. The mid-level exception is given to teams that are over the salary cap and can be divvied up to sign more than one free agent.

Papaloukas had 12 assists to lead Greece to an upset of the U.S. in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships. He had 10 points and nine assists for CSKA Moscow in a 94-75 exhibition victory over the Clippers last October, an effort that prompted Clippers forward Elton Brand to tell the Associated Press that he "definitely [had] flashbacks of Papaloukas," from the U.S. semifinal loss.

 

[elindholm]

Papaloukas had 12 assists to lead Greece to an upset of the U.S. in the semifinals of the 2006 world championships. He had 10 points and nine assists for CSKA Moscow in a 94-75 exhibition victory over the Clippers last October, an effort that prompted Clippers forward Elton Brand to tell the Associated Press that he "definitely [had] flashbacks of Papaloukas," from the U.S. semifinal loss.

Maybe Brand thinks "papaloukas" is ghetto slang for "bad acid trip."

 

[abomb]

Awesome, I'm sure Kobe is happy now!

 

[hafey]

He is what he is. A heady playmaker with long arms and height. He's a good fit in the triangle if the Lakers get a big guy to play it with more consistantly.

Like an older euro guard, it will be a matter if he can overcome the disparity in athleticism between European guards and NBA guards.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Yes...good move. He can shoot everything but the three ball. Outstanding passer (Magic, Nash, Kidd-like), good court leader and court vision. Pursued by several teams but the Lakers have an offer out there. Decent defender. 6'7" so Phil loves him already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUKLDjjwo9c

Looks better than Banks so what can we say.

 

[ozzfloyd]

Awesome, I'm sure Kobe is happy now!

But the question is...does this new guy give, or take it Greek?

 

[azirish]

But the question is...does this new guy give, or take it Greek?

I can't believe it took 13 posts before we got that kind of reference. We must be slipping.

 

[slinslin]

The full MLE, lol, Kobe must love this. The guy doesn't even start on his european team.

 

[Ciani]

The full MLE, lol, Kobe must love this. The guy doesn't even start on his european team.

But he plays by far the most minutes in his position, just like Ginobili on the Spurs. Maybe he doesnt worth the full MLE, but he is a very good player, no question about it.

 

[dodie53]

what's wrong with smush?
=)

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yes...good move. He can shoot everything but the three ball. Outstanding passer (Magic, Nash, Kidd-like), good court leader and court vision. Pursued by several teams but the Lakers have an offer out there. Decent defender. 6'7" so Phil loves him already.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUKLDjjwo9c

i bet Kobe would love adding some Euro who's never played in the NBA before. That would shut him right up!

 

[D-Dogg]

The full MLE, lol, Kobe must love this. The guy doesn't even start on his european team.

Yet he plays the most minutes on his team, and was the Euro league MVP.

He's not a big ego to come off the bench and dominate.

 

[D-Dogg]

what's wrong with smush?
=)

We already let that guy walk right after the season...

 

[abomb]

Papageorgio is the man.

 

[SunsTzu]

How many PG are the Lakers looking to add this year? Drafted 2 and now still planing to sign this one?

 

[D-Dogg]

i bet Kobe would love adding some Euro who's never played in the NBA before. That would shut him right up!

If you haven't been paying attention, the Lakers aren't trying to build a team around Kobe. I'm just happy about the few good moves they DO make.

 

[D-Dogg]

How many PG are the Lakers looking to add this year? Drafted 2 and now still planing to sign this one?

Drafted only one. But yes, they have Farmar and still trying to sign pappa georgio.

I don't know what they are doing...

 

[SunsTzu]

Drafted only one. But yes, they have Farmar and still trying to sign pappa georgio.

I don't know what they are doing...

Where do you expect to play Yue?