OT: Joel Freeland mentioned in Euroleague MVP article

[andalusian]

http://basketball.realgm.com/article/211030/The_Euroleague_MVP_Race

9. Joel Freeland - Unicaja Malaga (1-2)

13.5 points (66 2PT), 6.3 rebounds in 25 minutes

Joel Freeland, still just 23, is the youngest player in our Top-10 and one of the leaders in efficiency as well. The 30th overall pick of 2007 NBA Draft by Portland has already proved he can play on the highest level in Europe and also gives a sign to the Portland Trail Blazers that the time to open the door to the NBA has come.

Freeland averages 13.5 points per game with a great shooting percentage in only his second season in the Euroleague. More intriguingly, Freeland spends an average 25 minutes on the floor, just ninth among MVP candidates, and there’s a question how much more productive he could be on the court if he would get more playing time.

However, we probably won’t see Freeland climbing up in our MVP rankings as his club, Unicaja, is not in the best situation at the moment. Despite last week’s win against Lietuvos Rytas, Unicaja stands at 1-2 and has slim chances to make it to the playoffs.

 

[hasoos]

That would be fucking sweet if something positive finally happened for the team.

 

[Blazinaway]

That would be fucking sweet if something positive finally happened for the team.

I believe he has a reasonable buyout option the next few yrs with this European contract. And isn't he now past the 3 year time frame so he can sign a better contract as opposed to the rookie scale?

 

[PapaG]

Joel Freeland was a wasted draft pick, no matter what he may do in the future. That debate has been settled by the experts.

 

[Blazinaway]

Joel Freeland was a wasted draft pick, no matter what he may do in the future. That debate has been settled by the experts.

experts? in this forum? lol

 

[PapaG]

I believe he has a reasonable buyout option the next few yrs with this European contract. And isn't he now past the 3 year time frame so he can sign a better contract as opposed to the rookie scale?

EDIT - because I didn't read the 3-year part of your post. You're absolutely accurate.

 

[PapaG]

experts? in this forum? lol

I hope you caught my sarcasm.

Anyhow, if Freeland can bang a bit and rebound, I say bring him over.

 

[Ed O]

A lockout is going to hurt him less than it will a guy under contract with an NBA team... unless he literally gets hurt, of course.

Glad to see he's still alive and kicking. I know that not all of us are eager to give up on a 23 year-old big man

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

God knows if he's capable of playing at a high level in the NBA, but if he wants to come over and they can work out a reasonable conract amount, a guy who is 23, 6'11" and not a complete stiff beats what we're sending out there alongside LMA on most nights.

Bring him over.

 

[VanillaGorilla]

Love to have him. Send the boat.

 

[Blazinaway]

A lockout is going to hurt him less than it will a guy under contract with an NBA team... unless he literally gets hurt, of course.

Glad to see he's still alive and kicking. I know that not all of us are eager to give up on a 23 year-old big man

Ed O.

crazy to give up on a guy who started playin Bball very late and has improved significantly every single year, could be an excellent prospect as a backup PF/C

 

[craigehlo]

I find is difficult to believe he would be any worse than Babbit. That's damning with faint praise, but we should look to bring him over.

 

[maxiep]

Here's the equation that's important to me: Freeland > Marks.

 

[Blazinaway]

Here's the equation that's important to me: Freeland > Marks.

likely > Pendegraph and the current Joel version as well

 

[Boob-No-More]

Here's the equation that's important to me: Freeland > Marks.

Agreed. We won't know what the new CBA will look like when the dust settles, but under the current CBA, Freeland would be worth a significant chunck of the MLE, and if he has any desire at all to play in the NBA, that should be enough to lure him away from Europe.

The dude is only 23, long, athletic and rapidly improving. Bring him over as soon as possible. He could ease in as a back-up to LaMarcus and eventual replacement for Joel.

BNM

 

[Boob-No-More]

likely > Pendegraph and the current Joel version as well

Beat me to it. You must type faster than I do.

BNM

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Athletic, 23 y/o, 6'11" 255 lbs., dare I say: COTF?

Seriously, Michael Born compared him to Shavlik Randolph a few summers ago.

 

[STOMP]

I believe he has a reasonable buyout option the next few yrs with this European contract. And isn't he now past the 3 year time frame so he can sign a better contract as opposed to the rookie scale?

the three year timeframe is what I recall being the hangup from his end of things... that and the need of PT for him to develop.

I've never seen him play but reports have been promising enough that I'll be crossing my fingers that he proves good enough to contribute to the club next year.

STOMP

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Joel Freeland - British (Kevin) Love!

He's that good!

 

[Blazinaway]

Athletic, 23 y/o, 6'11" 255 lbs., dare I say: COTF?

Seriously, Michael Born compared him to Shavlik Randolph a few summers ago.

and two summers ago he was playin in a lower level league and now is a perhaps top 10 player in the highest Euro league? - people do improve and he obviously has a LOT

 

[Blazinaway]

Joel Freeland - British (Kevin) Love!

He's that good!

so he makes the all-star team over LMA?

 

[SlyPokerDog]

so he makes the all-star team over LMA?

Both conferences, Eastern and Western.

 

[Blazinaway]

Both conferences, Eastern and Western.

LOL, well he is a Brit