Suns interested in Papaloukas

[fordronken]

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=2902484&name=ford_chad&univLogin02=stateChanged

• The big international name here at the camp is not a 2007 NBA draft prospect. He's a 2007 free agent named Theo Papaloukas.

Papaloukas was the Euroleague MVP this year and was largely responsible for Greece's upset of Team USA in the 2006 World Championship in Japan.

Papaloukas, a 6-foot-7 point guard, is widely regarded by NBA scouts as the best basketball player currently not playing in the NBA. That could change soon.

Several sources here at the camp said he's mulling interest from a number of NBA teams, including the Miami Heat, the Detroit Pistons, the Atlanta Hawks, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Phoenix Suns, the San Antonio Spurs, the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers and the Toronto Raptors.

Scouts disagree on how much impact he would have on the league. While he's a dominant playmaker and defender in Europe, Papaloukas doesn't have great quickness and isn't a great shooter. Some scouts feel he'll be little more than a role player in the NBA -- much like former Euroleague MVP Sarunas Jasikevicius.

Others disagree. A number of teams looking for a veteran point guard to help shore up their backcourt think Papaloukas' experience, poise and team-first attitude mean he could make a big impact on their clubs the way Jorge Garbajosa did for the Raptors this season.

"He just knows how to play and he'll find a way to help his club," one NBA executive said here. "Remember, he was coming off the bench for CSKA this year. He's the best player in Europe and he comes off the bench. He'll do anything to help his club. I think he's going to be a lot better than people think."

From the sound of things, it's going to take a three-year, $12 million deal to pull Papaloukas away from CSKA.

 

[SunsTzu]

I'd love for the Suns to get him. Everytime I've seen him he's been a playmaking machine.

 

[azirish]

I can't believe he'd take the small amount of money the Suns can offer.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

A 6'7" PG would be the perfect compliment to Barbosa at SG. Hopefully the Suns are realizing that and not thinking "At 6'7" he could play forward!"

 

[azirish]

A 6'7" PG would be the perfect compliment to Barbosa at SG. Hopefully the Suns are realizing that and not thinking "At 6'7" he could play forward!"

Or center.

 

[Hugh D'Man]

We'll be outbid easily...

 

[elindholm]

Calling Jasikevicius a "role player in the NBA" is generous. He's a 12th man who can't get off the bench.

Still, every player is different.

 

[Dan H]

Calling Jasikevicius a "role player in the NBA" is generous. He's a 12th man who can't get off the bench.

Still, every player is different.

They're looking for more out of him now that Carlisle is gone. He's most effective at the point, and Carlisle kept trying to play him as a pick-and-roll 2 guard, which he's not.

 

[PetryJr]

They're looking for more out of him now that Carlisle is gone. He's most effective at the point, and Carlisle kept trying to play him as a pick-and-roll 2 guard, which he's not.

He isn't in Indiana anymore. He was traded to the Warriors.

 

[fordronken]

They're looking for more out of him now that Carlisle is gone. He's most effective at the point, and Carlisle kept trying to play him as a pick-and-roll 2 guard, which he's not.

He's on the Warriors now.

 

[Dan H]

He's on the Warriors now.

Shows how much attention I pay to the Pacers.

Wonder why they were talking about him on the radio here still then . . . hmm.

 

[Errntknght]

What happened with Carlisle? Sounds like he must have been fired or otherwise relieved of his head coaching duties...

Nevermind, I did a search and found the article sunsfn posted...

 

[thegrahamcrackr]

What happened with Carlisle? Sounds like he must have been fired or otherwise relieved of his head coaching duties...

Nevermind, I did a search and found the article sunsfn posted...

Not sure how old the article was that you found so I thought I would put an update in here.

There was a mutual seperation, and Rick was offered a VP job in the basketball office. He turned it down recently, and is now rumored to be 1 of 2 candidated for Seattle.

 

[hcsilla]

Papaloukas may be in fact the best player in Europe. He isn't fast but knows how to use his body for drawing fauls or creating easy lay-ups, Chris Paul could tell you one thing or two about Papaloukas.

He is a creative and matured playmaker, really a fantastic one. The article does have a point with comparing him to Jasikevicius but he is just a better player with higher basketball IQ so I think that he will be at least a valuable benchplayer in the NBA.

Of course, the Suns won't be able to sign him.

 

[dodie53]

then get Jasikevicius instead..
=)