28-year-old Vasilije Micic, the 2021 EuroLeague MVP whose draft rights are currently owned by the Thunder, is interested in joining the NBA if a trade is available, per Adrian Wojanarowski of ESPN (Twitter link).
Woj notes that, due to the team’s focus on rebuilding around a young roster, Oklahoma City might not make sense as a landing spot for the veteran guard. Micic was selected by the Sixers with the No. 52 pick in the 2014 draft. The Thunder acquired his draft rights during the 2020/21 season. Since 2018, Micic has played for Turkish club Anadolu Efes, winners of the past two EuroLeague titles.
During his 2021/22 EuroLeague stint with Anadolu Efes, Micic averaged 18.1 PPG, 4.7 APG, 2.3 RPG and 1.1 SPG across 28 contests. He posted shooting splits of .467/.349/.886.
The 6’5″ guard recently reiterated his enthusiasm for taking the leap across the pond.
“I’m still showing a desire to go to the NBA,” Micic told Achilleas Mavrodontis of Eurohoops. “I would like to try myself there, I would like to go there to see how is everything over there. Some things are not in my hands. I have some days left to make it happen, day by day. We will see. Otherwise, I will stay in Efes, but for now, it’s to go there.”
There’s more out of the Northwest Division:
- After trading All-Star center Rudy Gobert to the Timberwolves for a handful of veterans and present and future draft picks, the Jazz will look very different during the 2022/23 season. Trent Wood of the Deseret News unpacks what Utah can expect from new ex-Minnesota acquisitions Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro and rookie Walker Kessler. GM Justin Zanik praised 34-year-old veteran point guard Beverley. “Patrick Beverley, longtime NBA antagonist, brings great defensive fire and that intensity is needed with our team,” Zanik said. Beyond Kessler, it sounds as if the more veteran players could either be on-court contributors or be made available via trade.
- New Nuggets team president Calvin Booth is not taking his opportunity to win a title in Denver for granted, writes Harrison Wind of DNVR Sports. “I never thought I’d be, you know, the steward of a team of this caliber in my very first job,” Booth said.
- Details have emerged regarding the deal of new Trail Blazers second-round pick Jabari Walker. According to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link), Walker, the No. 57 selection in the 2022 draft, has inked a three-season contract worth $4.76MM, with only the 2022/23 season fully guaranteed. During the ’23/24 season, the deal is partially guaranteed for $400K, per JD Shaw of Hoops Rumors (Twitter link). Walker’s deal will be non-guaranteed under the last year of the contract in ’24/25. Although it’s a minimum-salary contract, Portland used the mid-level exception to give the rookie a third year.
Teams should not have the rights to a draftee indefinitely. Drafted in 2014, Micic does not belong on a young club. There should be rules on this appropriate for the ideals of a league in America, where owning people is illegal, whatever the norm overseas is. Contracts are for convenience to both parties. Sometimes, they make people work. Here, they make Micic not work.
Another CBA fiasco.
I agree. Thunder holding his career hostage. Draft rights for overseas guys should expire after 2 years. If you don’t bring them over or don’t have room, too bad. They are unrestricted.
Right now, a team only retains the exclusive right to sign a drafted player as long as it tenders him the required contract (it differs for 1st and 2nd rounders, the former are both entitled to, and limited by the RSC rules, the latter can agree to anything, but are entitled to 1 year NG contract). If the required contract is not offered, the player goes back into the draft pool the following year. If it is, and the player turns it down, the team’s exclusive survives another year (rinse and repeat).
How would you modify it?
Utah should be trying to trade Conley and Clarkson. Obviously, not knowing who comes back in those deals, but as their roster looks right now, they should probably try to sign 2 of Jeremy Lamb, Juan Hernangomez, Nik Stauskas, E’twan Moore, Abdel Nader, Tony Snell, TLC, Rodney Hood, Wayne Ellington, or other wing shooters currently available that I’m not thinking of, or possibly summer league guys that can do that
And they should also try to bring back Pascahll as a small ball 5 that can space the floor, and I like Trent Forrest as a defender at the aren’t spots, so he can potentially be depth for Beverley
Mitchell, shooter, Vanderbilt, Bogdanovic, Kessler
Beverley, Beasley, Rudy Gay, Whiteside/Azibuke/Paschall, shooter…NAW as depth for Beasley/if they only add 1 shooter maybe can start at the 2 or be a scoring guard off the bench. Bolmaro as a playmaking wing if they add enough shooting/in lineups with Pascahll at the 5, and shooters around him
Obviously that looks better if they get good pieces back for Conley/any assets they might get if someone takes Clarkson
Love to see the Bulls get Micic. AK loves Euro’s and Micic is a true PG where Dragic is more of a SG anyway. Then deal Coby White with Portlands Draft pick and get a PF. Team complete.
Idk, would that team beat the Bucks in first round?
Be a lot more likely than the team they have now.