[RickyRubio9Participant]

Juan Carlos Navarro should be in the NBA.
It’s a Crime he isn’t. Everytime I watch a Euro League game…He simply amazes me with his Somewhat-Quick Relelase and Long Range. His passing is pretty good as well. He did pretty good his one year in the NBA. Too bad at the time Memphis had a Stupid Coach…

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

He definitely could be, but he is in Europe for the money. There is no doubt that if JC Navarro wanted to, he would be contributing on some teams roster right now. The problem of course is that he most likely would not get the minutes or maybe the role he would want. His game is not similar to Rudy’s, other than that they are both exciting yet fundamentally sound basketball players with excellent floaters, but his role on a team would be very similar. While I think Rudy is the better of the two as far as long term prospects go, Navarro was I believe more statistically successful, and his decision to return to Europe was more his own than the Grizzlies. As a Trail Blazers fan, and as someone who knows the talent of Rudy Fernandez, I am very afraid of him being lured away due to more of a role and more money in Europe.

While the NBA ultimately gives players more money on the whole, players like La Bomba Navarro and Rudy Fernandez are probably just as concerned about playing as much as possible and than the potential of earing 8 figure contracts, which more than likely they may never have the chance to do. Especially with the fact that Rudy is locked down to a fixed rookie contract, one where he could easily be making 3-4 times more if he were in Spain. I am guessing that the reason Navarro went back was along those lines, and that Memphis, and probably almost any other team was not willing to give him a 5 million deal, much less risk that much money on ultimately an undersized SG. Navarro’s game is perfect for Europe, but in the NBA, he is kind of a tweener, similar to Sarunas Jasikevicius. It would be great to see what he could do in the NBA, but Europe should continue to take a lot of players like him who could potentially be stars or solid role players in the NBA (Navarro, Childress, Kleiza, etc.), but are superstars in the Euroleague.

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

He definitely could be, but he is in Europe for the money. There is no doubt that if JC Navarro wanted to, he would be contributing on some teams roster right now. The problem of course is that he most likely would not get the minutes or maybe the role he would want. His game is not similar to Rudy’s, other than that they are both exciting yet fundamentally sound basketball players with excellent floaters, but his role on a team would be very similar. While I think Rudy is the better of the two as far as long term prospects go, Navarro was I believe more statistically successful, and his decision to return to Europe was more his own than the Grizzlies. As a Trail Blazers fan, and as someone who knows the talent of Rudy Fernandez, I am very afraid of him being lured away due to more of a role and more money in Europe.

While the NBA ultimately gives players more money on the whole, players like La Bomba Navarro and Rudy Fernandez are probably just as concerned about playing as much as possible and than the potential of earing 8 figure contracts, which more than likely they may never have the chance to do. Especially with the fact that Rudy is locked down to a fixed rookie contract, one where he could easily be making 3-4 times more if he were in Spain. I am guessing that the reason Navarro went back was along those lines, and that Memphis, and probably almost any other team was not willing to give him a 5 million deal, much less risk that much money on ultimately an undersized SG. Navarro’s game is perfect for Europe, but in the NBA, he is kind of a tweener, similar to Sarunas Jasikevicius. It would be great to see what he could do in the NBA, but Europe should continue to take a lot of players like him who could potentially be stars or solid role players in the NBA (Navarro, Childress, Kleiza, etc.), but are superstars in the Euroleague.

[khaled_a_dParticipant]

He will be remembered as one of Barcelona best players ever
I would escape playing in the NBA myself for that unless I am gonna be a HOF

[khaled_a_dParticipant]

He will be remembered as one of Barcelona best players ever
I would escape playing in the NBA myself for that unless I am gonna be a HOF

[rtbtParticipant]

I think there is a small bias against European players in the NBA. When Greek guard Vassilis Spanoulis, who scored something like 25 points against the U.S. Olympic team, went to New Orleans, he never played. It wasn’t as if New Orleans was competing for the NBA championship, they had a very mediocre team and there was nothing to lose by giving him a shot. However, Byron Scott left him glued to the bench the entire season.

Rudy Fernandez plays in Portland but I’m convinced he’s on the wrong team. His game isn’t suited to the way Portland plays and he doesn’t get nearly enough minutes a guy with his talent merits. When Sergio Rodriguez played for Portland, as soon as he made a mistake, he was taken out. When Rodriguez advised Coach McMillan he didn’t take out his starters when they made 1 or 2 mistakes, McMillan agreed but never changed the way in which he treated Rodriguez.

McMillan and Byron Scott are very good coaches but I think there is a small bias in favor of athletic players versus European guys who play a different, more team oriented style.

And yes I know there are some Europeans who play a lot and don’t have a negative experience. That proves every coach doesn’t have a bias.

Anyway the point is very simple, guys want an opportunity to play regularly. After they saw what happened to Spanoulis, and a couple of other guys who never played, many players are afraid of having the same negative experience. I think that’s far more important than the money.

[rtbtParticipant]

I think there is a small bias against European players in the NBA. When Greek guard Vassilis Spanoulis, who scored something like 25 points against the U.S. Olympic team, went to New Orleans, he never played. It wasn’t as if New Orleans was competing for the NBA championship, they had a very mediocre team and there was nothing to lose by giving him a shot. However, Byron Scott left him glued to the bench the entire season.

Rudy Fernandez plays in Portland but I’m convinced he’s on the wrong team. His game isn’t suited to the way Portland plays and he doesn’t get nearly enough minutes a guy with his talent merits. When Sergio Rodriguez played for Portland, as soon as he made a mistake, he was taken out. When Rodriguez advised Coach McMillan he didn’t take out his starters when they made 1 or 2 mistakes, McMillan agreed but never changed the way in which he treated Rodriguez.

McMillan and Byron Scott are very good coaches but I think there is a small bias in favor of athletic players versus European guys who play a different, more team oriented style.

And yes I know there are some Europeans who play a lot and don’t have a negative experience. That proves every coach doesn’t have a bias.

Anyway the point is very simple, guys want an opportunity to play regularly. After they saw what happened to Spanoulis, and a couple of other guys who never played, many players are afraid of having the same negative experience. I think that’s far more important than the money.

[Da1potParticipant]

Navarro was smart because he realized he was not considered a part of the Grizzlies “young core,” and therefore expendable and not a part of their future. Plus, he can be a star in Europe and make more money. BTW, why did Washington even trade Navarro in the first place? He could have been a pretty valuable player in Washington…

[Da1potParticipant]

Navarro was smart because he realized he was not considered a part of the Grizzlies “young core,” and therefore expendable and not a part of their future. Plus, he can be a star in Europe and make more money. BTW, why did Washington even trade Navarro in the first place? He could have been a pretty valuable player in Washington…

[rtbtParticipant]

Da1pot, as you can imagine, Washington Wizard management hasn’t exactly been the brightest in the league. At the time, there was some minor controversy in DC because they were high on a young guy who really couldn’t play while some people lobbied for Navarro. The young player was DeShawn Stevenson.

For whatever reason, the GM preferred Stevenson over Navarro.

[rtbtParticipant]

Da1pot, as you can imagine, Washington Wizard management hasn’t exactly been the brightest in the league. At the time, there was some minor controversy in DC because they were high on a young guy who really couldn’t play while some people lobbied for Navarro. The young player was DeShawn Stevenson.

For whatever reason, the GM preferred Stevenson over Navarro.

[JNixonParticipant]

I think it’s because Washington had a combo guard who was an All-Star in Gilbert Arenas, and they didn’t have very many defenders on that team. I think they went defense for offense, which seems like the reason they picked Stevenson over him. Also, Stevenson was believed to still have some potential to fall back on about 5 years back.

[JNixonParticipant]

I think it’s because Washington had a combo guard who was an All-Star in Gilbert Arenas, and they didn’t have very many defenders on that team. I think they went defense for offense, which seems like the reason they picked Stevenson over him. Also, Stevenson was believed to still have some potential to fall back on about 5 years back.

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