Slavko Vranes update

[madape]

The vultures are circling (where are the Mavericks)




The Blazers worked out 7-foot-5 center Slavko Vranes on Thursday and are deciding whether to offer him a contract Monday, the first day teams can sign players to 10-day contracts. Vranes recently was cut by the New York Knicks. The 20-year-old Serb, who weighs 260 pounds, appeared only in exhibition games this season.

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/ore...5361312870.xml

Those bastards already have enough centers. How can we let them add another project big man when we are so desperate for interior defensive help.

[madape]

Utah works out Vranes, but instead signs Paul Grant

O'Connor said Grant was not a second choice to 7-foot-5 second-round draft choice Slavko Vranes, waived by the New York Knicks on Christmas Eve. Vranes worked out for the Jazz on Tuesday and Wednesday, but O'Connor said Vranes was in town Monday night — before the Jazz knew Handlogten had a torn ACL. Utah was looking at Vranes' potential, and Handlogten's injury likely hurt him with the Jazz, who decided Vranes wasn't ready to fill an immediate active role.

http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,575040862,00.html

[madape]

Marc Cornstein, agent for 7-foot-4 center Slavko Vranes, said he'll talk to Vandeweghe soon about the possibility of Vranes having a two-day workout with the Nuggets. Vandeweghe said the Nuggets might look at Vranes, who was waived last week by New York. After players are allowed to sign 10-day contracts Monday, it's possible the Nuggets might sign Vranes primarily to evaluate him in practice.

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/nu...545579,00.html

[MavKikiNYC]

Thanks for the updates, Ape.

I'm not laboring under the delusion that Vranes will be a world-beater, or even a short-term answer, but gosh, I'd like to see if anyone can do anything with him, preferrably the Mavericks. Can he be less effective than.......uhm... an empty 15th roster spot?

The vultures may be circling, but the Mavs are over with the crows, still boasting (mainly to themselves at this point) about the "deals" they pulled off with GS and Boston this summer. Interesting, though, that three of the Mavericks closest competitors are on-the-ball enough to at least work him out.

Vranes is definitely a project, way, way too much of a project for Isiah, who always seems to be blinded by the light; probably too much of a project for Nellie and noted big-man development specialist Paul Mokeski as well.

That 15th roster spot is starting to talk really loud. Anybody know anything? Sabonis? $$$?

[MavsFanFinley]

The Mavs won't go with another project. And certainly not a center as long as Nelson is here.

They're too busy looking for someone to help right now. CBA and waivers is where they're looking.

Thanks for the update Ape.

[EricaLubarsky]

Height is one of his major positives ... It's not every day a decently coordinated 7-foot-6 player comes along ...- from NBAdraft.net

The Blazers worked out 7-foot-5 center Slavko Vranes on Thursday and are deciding whether to offer him a contract Monday- from the Oregonian

Marc Cornstein, agent for 7-foot-4 center Slavko Vranes, said he'll talk to Vandeweghe soon about the possibility of Vranes having a two-day workout with the Nuggets. - from Rockymountainnews.com

The incredible shrinking Center

[bernardos70]

By the end of the season he'll stand as tall as boykins at this rate. I'm all for giving this guy a workout and stash him away on our 15th spot. If we ever need a spot we can let go of steffanson, his contract says he can be cut at any time, whenever the mavs want.

[Drbio]

I hope he signs with Denver!!!

[Big Boy Laroux]

man, we need him! and if we sign him, i don't want him to play. i just want him to sit on the bench in his huge, tent-like suits.

[SaltwaterChaffy]

Vranes has signed a 10 day deal with Portland.

[Max Power]

Slavko Vranes' 10-day contract with Portland expires today, which means the Blazers have one more practice to evaluate the 7-foot-5 center, then must decide whether to sign him to a second 10-day contract before Thursday's game against Phoenix. . . .

http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/or...5068175220.xml

[Jamisonite]

dallas should cut mamadu and sign vranes

[SaltwaterChaffy]

Why? So we could have another guy who Nellie doesn't play?

[Jamisonite]

our problem is we are thinking too much about the now...sign vranes to a minimum deal for this season and the next and see what u can do with em

[Big_Dog]

Originally posted by: bernardos70
By the end of the season he'll stand as tall as boykins at this rate. I'm all for giving this guy a workout and stash him away on our 15th spot. If we ever need a spot we can let go of steffanson, his contract says he can be cut at any time, whenever the mavs want.

no, you´re wrong, his contract became guaranteed dec 15th

[madape]

The Portland Trail Blazers have decided not to offer Center Slavko Vranes a second 10-day contract. The 7-foot-5, 260-pound Vranes was signed to a 10-day contract by the Blazers on January 5th.

http://www.nba.com/blazers/news/Blaz...-96139-41.html

[dirno2000]

This Vranes fascination is puzzling. FYI, Manute Bol, George Meaurson(sp) and Chuck Nevitt were once young and over 7’5 also.

[Chicago JK]

Vranes will probably never be a player, but I was interested in bringing him in as a long term prospect. He isn't going to help this year and he won't help next year either. He has very limited basketball skills. Although he is a blank slate. If he is willing to work hard he would be an interesting pet project for one of our 100 assistant coaches.

[MavKikiNYC]

Originally posted by: dirno2000
This Vranes fascination is puzzling. FYI, Manute Bol, George Meaurson(sp) and Chuck Nevitt were once young and over 7’5 also.

Like the Mavericks couldn't use a shot-blocker of Bol's ability right now?


And legend has it that he once attacked a lion with a spear--how many NBA enforcers can boast that on their resumé?

[madape]

I'd rather stash a 7'5" mobile shotblocking freak on the IR than a 6'3" Icelandish club-kid or a hobbled NBA has-been.

[Big Boy Laroux]

man, everytime they show seffanson on the bench, i'm like "why'd we sign this guy again?" i think walton said it in a recent game. the panned over to howard and najera on the sideline and commented on them. steffanson was between them. walton says, "who's that between them? are they sitting in the stands?" [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif[/img]

vranes actually does look pretty mobile, especially for 7'5". i'd cut mamadou and see about vranes.

and as for bol, that dude could can the 3. nellie would love to have maunte in his prime right now.

[dirno2000]

Originally posted by: madape
I'd rather stash a 7'5" mobile shotblocking freak on the IR than a 6'3" Icelandish club-kid or a hobbled NBA has-been.

I'll go with that, but ideally give me an underdeveloped player in the 6'8 to 6'10 range who can run and jump out of the gym. He may turn into Ben Wallace or Chris Anderson. I would have kept Josh Powell over Steph.

[madape]

Josh Powell can run and jump out of the gym? Are we thinking of the same Josh Powell?

[dirno2000]

The Josh Powell that we took to camp.

Standing 6-9 with an impressive vertical leap, Powell is indeed a stunning athlete. But 6-9 athletes in the NBA these days are a dime a dozen.

"Josh needs to work on his skills, that's why having two more years at NC State and having coach Sendek continue to work on his ability would have put him in that first round," Corchiani said. "Unless you're a lottery pick and a team is going to invest in your future, your opportunity to improve is much better in college."

[Drbio]

Originally posted by: Big_Dog

no, you´re wrong, his contract became guaranteed dec 15th

Only for the remainder of this season.

[Dirkenstien]

Originally posted by: Jamisonite
dallas should cut mamadu and sign vranes

I agree ...vranes looked pretty athletic when i watched him. Ofcourse I havent even seen Mamadou play yet

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: madape
I'd rather stash a 7'5" mobile shotblocking freak on the IR than a 6'3" Icelandish club-kid or a hobbled NBA has-been.

No kidding - the Mavs need a project big man and Vranes is the definition of project big man.

[rakesh.s]

no projects unless nellie will play him at the center for serious minutes

this team wants to win and win now...not 3,4 or 5 years from now

[Max Power]

Originally posted by: rakesh.s
no projects unless nellie will play him at the center for serious minutes

this team wants to win and win now...not 3,4 or 5 years from now

If you don't build for the future then you don't have a future.

[Rod1975]

Originally posted by: dirno2000
This Vranes fascination is puzzling. FYI, Manute Bol, George Meaurson(sp) and Chuck Nevitt were once young and over 7’5 also.

Gheorghe Muresan was actually a pretty good player for the Bullets(Won most improved player in 96 while averaging 14.5 pts, 9.6 rbs,and 2.3 blocks.) but injuries cut his career short. It is well documented that he used to give Shaq fits down low.

Could Slavko be the next coming of "Ghitza"?

[Bayliss]

Vranes was cut by the Blazers. I say cut the Icelander and sign Vranes. He at least has size and good shotblocking instincts. He just needs to develop an NBA body and the nuances of the NBA. And we can give him that time until he is ready.

[MavKikiNYC]

Originally posted by: Max Power

If you don't build for the future then you don't have a future.

Yeah, and how can you consider Steffanson anything but a project? I'd rather have another foot's worth of project, thanks.

[Quetzalcoatl]

Originally posted by: Bayliss
Vranes was cut by the Blazers. I say cut the Icelander and sign Vranes. He at least has size and good shotblocking instincts. He just needs to develop an NBA body and the nuances of the NBA. And we can give him that time until he is ready.

Completely agree.