Ante Zizic Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Atlantic Notes: Rose, Zizic, Bradley, Iguodala

June 27th, 2017 at 5:44pm CST by Joshua Fischman

The Knicks have legitimate interest in re-signing Derrick Rose, reports Ian Begley of ESPN. At 28 years old, Rose will be a free agent for the first time in his career in the coming days. The report also states that the Knicks are not interested in paying large salaries for any free agents, so that may play a role in whether Rose re-signs with the team. The Knicks are also keen on ensuring Rose’s health, as the point guard’s career has been riddled with injuries both major and minor.

Here’s what else you need to know from the Atlantic division:

The Celtics‘ 2016 draft pick, Ante Zizic, arrived in Boston and will begin practicing with the team this week, reports Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe. Zizic was drafted 23rd overall and played the 2016/17 season in the EuroLeague with the Turkish club, Darussafaka Dogus, where he was coached by David Blatt. “I took him downtown last night a little bit,” Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge said. “He’s just doing things like getting workouts in, getting medical stuff, physicals done, all that type of stuff. He’s ready for summer league.”
Despite being named in several blockbuster trade rumors, Avery Bradley remains unfazed, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSN New England. “I try not to worry about it too much because it’s out of my control at the end of the day,” Bradley said, adding, “It’s part of the business, man. You just got to accept and understand that your name is going to be thrown in trade talk. You can get traded at any time. You just have to be prepared and focus on just being the best player that you can be.”
As passed along earlier, the 76ers are one of the seven teams from which Andre Iguodala is drawing interest. Iguodala spent the first eight seasons of his career in Philadelphia.

Celtics Rumors: Tatum, Jackson, Porzingis, Brown

June 23rd, 2017 at 12:15pm CST by Luke Adams

Following the completion of the Celtics’ trade with the Sixers earlier this week, C’s president Danny Ainge suggested that the player the team drafted at No. 3 would likely be the same player the club would’ve taken at No. 1. Ainge reiterated that point on Thursday night, telling reporters that he felt the draft was “very even” at the top, and would’ve selected Jayson Tatum with the first overall pick (Twitter link).

Josh Jackson was the other prospect considered to be in play for that No. 3 pick, and Ainge admitted that he was upset when the former Kansas forward cancelled his workout with the Celtics. As Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com details, Ainge, Brad Stevens, and Mike Zarren flew out to Sacramento, only to find out that Jackson wouldn’t be working out. Ainge indicated that there may have been something to the idea that Jackson didn’t want to be drafted by Boston.

“Agents and players have all sorts of motivations to get to certain places, as we’ve seen in the past,” Ainge said, per Forsberg. “Remember last year, Kris Dunn didn’t want to come here; we didn’t hold it against him. We felt like we were just taking the player that we wanted [last year]. And I think the same thing this time. I don’t think we were trying to penalize Josh too much, but we didn’t get to see him or talk to him face-to-face.”

Here’s more on the Celtics:

Asked about the Kristaps Porzingis rumors that swirled around the Celtics this week, Ainge said that he felt they were “a little blown out of proportion” (Twitter link via Forsberg).
Ainge suggested there could be “some truth” to the idea that teams ask for more from the Celtics in trades due to the team’s stockpile of assets (link via Scott Souza of The MetroWest Daily News). “People around the league know the things that we have and they are asking for some of our prime real estate,” Ainge said. “Over the last few trading periods it’s been a little bit of a hurdle. But the bottom line is we have to do the trades that we believe in.”
One player Ainge generally isn’t interested in discussing in trade talks is Jaylen Brown. The team president said on CSNNE that Boston gets the urge to “hang up” when Brown’s name comes up in negotiations (Twitter link via Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe).
It’s possible that neither of the Celtics’ draft-and-stash prospects will be on the team’s Summer League roster. Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe tweets that Guerschon Yabusele won’t play due to foot surgery, while Ainge said that Ante Zizic has visa issues, raising doubts about his status (Twitter link via Jay King of MassLive.com).

Ante Zizic In Celtics’ Plans For Next Season

March 14th, 2017 at 11:59am CST by Arthur Hill

The Celtics plan to add 2016 draft pick Ante Zizic to their roster next season, according to Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.

Zizic, the 23rd player selected, is currently playing for Darussafaka Dogus in Turkey. His performance so far has convinced Boston’s front office that he is ready for the NBA.

“July 1 just has to roll over on the calendar, and we’ll sign him,” said Celtics director of player personnel Austin Ainge. “He wants to be here, and we want him here.”

Zizic has only played 11 games, but is putting up 9.7 points and 7.1 rebounds in just 23 minutes per night. At 6’10”, he can help fill the void in the paint that has plagued Boston this season.

“He just turned 20 in January, and he punishes grown men physically,” Ainge added. “He hits hard and he’s a physical presence out there. As much as I loved Ante and believed in him, I was surprised how much success he had this early in Euroleague.”

Zizic had hoped to join the Celtics right away and was disappointed to learn that the organization wanted him to spend a year overseas. He is working to improve his midrange jump shot and sees himself as both a power forward and a center when he comes to Boston.

The young center is learning the NBA game from David Blatt, who coached the Cavaliers for the first half of last season before being dismissed. In a question-and-answer session with Himmelsbach, Blatt said Zizic is benefiting from his time in the Euroleague.

“Without a doubt, in my mind, the Celtics made a tremendous 23rd pick in the draft,” said Blatt, who compares Zizic to Oklahoma City center Steven Adams. “This guy, at that number is in my mind just a great pick, a great pick. And I do know a little bit about the NBA, so I can tell you that with confidence.”

Celtics’ Stashed 2016 Draftees Drawing Interest

February 1st, 2017 at 11:38am CST by Luke Adams

Most Celtics-related trade speculation focuses on players on their current roster, or their collection of future draft picks, but the team has another group of assets that is drawing trade interest around the NBA, reports Sean Deveney of The Sporting News. According to Deveney, potential trade partners are keeping a close eye on the Celtics’ 2016 draft-and-stash players, including Ante Zizic and Guerschon Yabusele.

“They did a nice job of getting guys they could develop, and if you know you can’t get the big picks they have this year or next year, [then] the players they took last year, that is where you can get a lot of value,” one NBA general manager told Deveney.

Zizic, in particular, has attracted attention from teams and scouts around the league. After starting the season with Cibona Zagreb in Croatia, the 20-year-old made the move to Darussafaka, David Blatt‘s team in Turkey. It was a step up in competition for Zizic, who was selected 23rd overall in the 2016 draft, and he has responded well so far. In fact, the GM who spoke to Deveney believes Zizic would be a lottery pick if he were draft-eligible in 2017, even though this year’s draft class is viewed as deeper than 2016’s.

As for Yabusele, the 16th overall pick in 2016 has played second fiddle to Jimmer Fredette on the Shanghai Sharks this season, as Fredette has averaged a CBA-best 37.0 PPG. However, Yabusele has been a key piece for the CBA’s top team, averaging 21.1 PPG and 9.4 RPG in 31 contests.

“He is built sort of like Jae Crowder, he is big up top and is a physical player,” an international scout said of the French forward. “But he has more offensive potential. He is already a pretty good shooter from the perimeter, and he is athletic, but he needs to get smoother with his game. He is not going to back anyone down, even at his size, so he needs to work on his ballhandling. But he can rebound and he can score, he will be a very solid NBA player.”

In addition to their two first-round draft-and-stash prospects, the Celtics selected Abdel Nader in the second round of last year’s draft and had him sign an NBADL contract, stashing him in the D-League. Nader isn’t receiving the same sort of trade interest as Boston’s first-round selections, but he has arguably been the D-League’s best rookie so far this season, averaging 22.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 3.6 APG.

The Celtics, already stacked with young players and future picks, are unlikely to overload their roster next season with more first-year players, so Zizic and Yabusele will be worth keeping an eye on as this month’s trade deadline nears.

Atlantic Notes: Simmons, Zizic, Vasquez

January 18th, 2017 at 6:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

Sixers coach Brett Brown quashed speculation that rookie Ben Simmons might play his first game January 27th, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia’s contest against the Rockets on that date was recently added to ESPN’s national television schedule. A picture of Simmons appeared on Instagram not long after, leading many to believe it was more than a coincidence. But Brown said today that Simmons, who hasn’t played since suffering a fractured bone in his right foot in October, definitely won’t be ready by then. “I am a social hermit,” Brown said when a reporter asked about the possibility. “I have no idea what you are talking about. But I do know there is no chance that he will play then.”

There’s more news from the Atlantic Division:

It’s still not definite that Simmons will be able to return this season, tweets Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders. An unidentified source told Scotto, “Everyone needs to hold their horses and hope he plays at all.”
Celtics draft-and-stash prospect Ante Zizic is ready to try the NBA next season, relays Bugra Uzar of Eurohoops. The 6’11” center is playing for Darussafaka Dogus in Istanbul after being taken with the 23rd pick in the 2016 draft. Zizic is getting an education in the NBA game from former Cavaliers coach David Blatt, who now runs Darussafaka. “I want to prepare for the NBA,” Zizic said. “Because this summer I’m going to the NBA for sure. I think that the best preparation for the NBA is playing at the highest possible level. And EuroLeague provides that.”
Signing Greivis Vasquez was the first mistake by new Nets GM Sean Marks, writes John Schuhmann of NBA.com. Brooklyn gave the 30-year-old point guard a guaranteed $4,347,826 for one season even though he wasn’t completely healed from ankle surgery. Vasquez played just three games for the Nets before being waived November 9th.

Celtics Notes: G. Green, Zizic, T. Allen

December 28th, 2016 at 10:18am CST by Luke Adams

Gerald Green has racked up nine DNPs in December, but he got the opportunity to play on Tuesday night against the Grizzlies and responded with 19 points, his best mark since signing a one-year contract with the Celtics this past summer. It’s not clear if Green will be a permanent part of Boston’s rotation going forward, but the veteran swingman “has a clear value” to the club, writes Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com.

“The one thing I’ve really been impressed with with Gerald, through the ups and downs of injuries and not playing, he’s very consistent in his support of his team,” Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said on Tuesday. “Not only there and quiet in the locker room, but also loud on the bench, active on the bench, and I knew that coming in. I had watched that pretty close in Miami last year, and things tend to work out when you’ve got that kind of spirit about you.”

Here’s more from out of Boston:

Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald also examined Green’s big night, writing that the player who showed up last night was the one the Celtics were hoping for when they signed him in the offseason.
In a conversation with Sas Ozmo of SportKlub.rs (translation via Sportando), agent Misko Raznatovic said that Ante Zizic‘s recent move to Darussafaka Dogus won’t prevent the draft-and-stash prospect from potentially joining the Celtics in 2017. “If it were [an obstacle], the transfer wouldn’t have happened,” Raznatovic said. “Zizic will be dominant in the NBA and I want him to go there as soon as possible.”
Stevens was also asked about Zizic’s development, telling Forsberg that the team’s 2016 first-rounder has a “high motor” and is “tough” (Twitter link). “We’re excited about him being a part of our future,” said the Celtics’ head coach.
With the Grizzlies in town on Tuesday, Tony Allen spoke to Gary Washburn of The Boston Globe (Twitter link) about the Celtics’ decision not to re-sign him back in 2010, when the team was reluctant to offer a third guaranteed year.

Ante Zizic Makes Jump To Euroleague

December 26th, 2016 at 5:15pm CST by Austin Kent

Ante Zizic, Boston’s 23rd overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft, is said to be changing teams overseas. EuroHoops.net reports via Hrvoje Sliskovic that the draft-and-stash big man is notably joining Euroleague club Darussafaka in Turkey after years with KK Cibona in Croatia.

The move will pair Zizic with former NBA coach David Blatt – a native of Boston – and will give the 19-year-old an opportunity to develop against new competition. In 24 games with KK Cibona so far this season, Zizic has averaged 18.1 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. Zizic’s stellar play in 2016/17 comes on the heels of his being named the Adriatic League’s top prospect just last year.

The six-month contract, as reported by David Pick over Twitter, will give the Celtics an opportunity to see how their young big man holds up against Euroleague caliber talent. According to Trevor Magnotti of Fansided’s The Step Back, Zizic profiles as a high-energy role player that thrives on the glass and in the pick-and-roll.

Atlantic Notes: Embiid, Covington, Lin, Celtics

November 24th, 2016 at 8:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

Sixers center Joel Embiid and Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons have bonded on social media because of their history with injuries, writes Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly. Embiid, who is playing for the first time in three seasons and remains on a minutes limit, has commented on several of Parsons’ posts. Parsons, who spent the offseason rehabbing from microfracture surgery, can sympathize with the rookie’s plight. “Him coming off surgery and me coming off surgery, he asked me a lot of questions about the recovery,” Parsons said. “He’s an awesome listener. … A lot of guys kind of get complacent, get used to being hurt, don’t work as hard. But he takes his rehab very, very seriously and he takes care of his body. He does all the right things and you see it paying off now with the success he’s hard early this season.”

There’s more from the Atlantic Division:

Robert Covington has found ways to contribute even as he suffers through a long shooting slump, writes Robert Cooney of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Sixers fans are starting to turn against the fourth-year small forward, who is shooting just 29% from the floor and 27% from 3-point range, but coach Brett Brown recognizes his value in other areas. “Somebody had given me a stat, I believe was produced by ESPN, and they had him as the third-ranked small forward in the NBA as far as his defensive efficiency rating,” Brown said. “He really has improved his defense.” The Sixers have a $1,087,745 team option on Covington for next season.
The Nets have nosedived since Jeremy Lin‘s injury, notes Brian Lewis of The New York Post. After a 2-3 start, Brooklyn has just two victories since Lin went down with a strained hamstring in early November. The Nets’ offensive and defensive ratings are both significantly worse without Lin. “Offensively it’s just the challenges with different lineups and different stuff just getting on the same page,’’ coach Kenny Atkinson said. “But we’ve done it before with different lineups, so [we have to] focus in on our execution, making sure that we’re doing all the little things, in the right spots and making the right pass and making the right play.” There is still no timetable for Lin to return.
A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE checks in on four players whose draft rights are owned by the Celtics. Abdel Nader is with the team’s D-League affiliate in Maine, while Marcus Thornton, Guerschon Yabusele and Ante Zizic are all overseas.

Atlantic Notes: Rose, Brown, Marks, Celtics

November 13th, 2016 at 7:21pm CST by Arthur Hill

There are indications that Knicks point guard Derrick Rose is getting frustrated with his new team, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. Rose, who was acquired from the Bulls in an offseason trade, had promised to wait 20 games to judge the team, but a 3-6 record and a dreadful defense are testing his patience. “Losing hurts, period,” Rose said. “I’ve never been a loser in my life. We got to figure ways out, we’re getting closer. We’re getting a lot closer, but the effort we have, we got to have that effort throughout the entire game.”

There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:

Sixers coach Brett Brown should be safe for the rest of the season, says Alex Kennedy of Basketball Insiders. In a video interview, Kennedy said Brown won’t have to be overly concerned about wins and losses until the first year that all the young players are healthy and the front office believes the team has a shot at the playoffs.
Nets GM Sean Marks deserves an A-plus for changing the culture in Brooklyn, according to NetsDaily. The web site grades every significant move that Marks has made since taking over the position in February. The conclusion is that Marks has the organization headed in the right direction and it might be much more attractive to free agents next summer.
Both draft-and-stash players that the Celtics picked up in this year’s draft are off to good starts overseas, writes A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE. Sixteenth pick Guerschon Yabusele is averaging 16.0 points and 9.4 rebounds for the unbeaten Shanghai Sharks, while 23rd pick Ante Zizic leads the Adriatic Basketball Association in scoring with 23 points per game and rebounding at 9.0. The Celtics wanted both players to spend a year overseas before being re-evaluated in the offseason.

Atlantic Notes: Paul, Zizic, Knicks, Sixers

October 5th, 2016 at 4:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Shooting guard Brandon Paul, whom the Sixers signed to a partially guaranteed deal in July, led the team with 15 points in their preseason victory over Boston and has a legitimate shot to make the regular season roster, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“He was instant offense,” Sixers coach Brett Brown said of Paul’s performance. “You know, he got a bounce, and he had a mentality to come in and make plays. And didn’t have much second-guesses going on … I thought his energy and his bounce stood out. I think defensively, too.”

The 25-year-old played for the Sixers’ Summer League team this offseason, where he averaged 10.7 points and 1.7 steals in 19.6 minutes per game. Here’s more from around the Atlantic:

After writing about Guerschon Yabusele earlier this week, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe shifts his focus to the Celtics‘ other draft-and-stash prospect from the first round of the 2016 draft. As Himmelsbach writes, 23rd overall pick Ante Zizic was initially frustrated with Boston’s decision, since he wanted to join the team immediately, but he has adjusted to continuing his career in Croatia, and texts with director of player personnel Austin Ainge nearly every day. “Just to make sure that he knows that he’s in our plans and is a big part of our future,” Ainge said, “and that we’re monitoring his development.”
The Knicks may be without two of their high-profile additions from the summer for the immediate future, Marc Berman of The New York Post notes. Point guard Derrick Rose heads to Los Angeles to join the $21.5MM civil trial for an alleged sexual assault – which began with jury selection Tuesday – and has indicated he’s unsure when he’ll return to the team, acknowledging that he likely will miss practices on Thursday and Friday, per Berman. Meanwhile, center Joakim Noah is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury that he suffered on Saturday during the team’s final practice of training camp, Berman adds.
Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo is taking an “organic” approach to building Philadelphia’s roster, according to Marcus Hayes of The Philadelphia Daily News, who suggests the team will let its frontcourt rotation develop based on which players are healthy and which players produce.

Eddie Scarito contributed to this post.