Petteri Koponen to be bought out

[Fez Hammersticks]

Virtus Bologna combo guard Petteri Koponen released an interview to a Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, saying that Virtus Bologna may sell him at the end of the season.

'It's very likely, that Bologna will sell me next summer. Just suitable, because my contract expires with them in 2012.''

It's probable that Koponen will play in Europe instead of Portland or some other NBA-team.

''Two EL-teams have tried to buy me during this season.'' According to rumours the other team is Unicaja Malaga.

''My game is getting better and better, but I still haven't fully recovered from my injury.''

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[Boob-No-More]

"but I still haven't fully recovered from my injury."

Yikes! Another injured player. He should fit right in on this team. Too bad it sounds like he'll be going to a different Euro team and not the Blazers.

Oh well, I'd rather see the Blazers burn the roster spot on Freeland than Koponen. Camby is getting long in the tooth, and the Blazers could use Freeeland's size and athleticism.

BNM

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I haven't seen him play a whole lot, but t was obvious he had some decent PG skills. I suppose he could still be a potential NBA back up player.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

If he goes to Unicaja, it'll be like our Summer League team...

 

[GriLtCheeZ]

The thread title is confusing. He's not being "bought out" in the NBA sense. They're just talking about selling his contract to another team which is pretty common in Euro leagues.

 

[BBert]

So he's going to be sold. White slavery lives!

 

[BrianFromWA]

More from Blazersedge today:

Here's the latest dispatch from our long-time Finnish correspondent Hippo concering Finnish guard Petteri Koponen, who was taken by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2007 NBA Draft.

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Philadelphia 76ers 2007 first round draft pick and Finnish national team starting point guard Petteri Koponen, 23, whose rights are currently owned by Portland Trail Blazers, tells Blazers to let go of his rights, according to Finnish tabloid newspaper Ilta-Sanomat.

Koponen, 6-4", played with Blazers summer league team in Las Vegas in 2007 and 2008, but despite steady improvement, he didn't make it into an actual NBA roster. For the last three years, Koponen has been playing for Italian powerhouse Virtus Bologna while his NBA rights belong to the Blazers. In Ilta-Sanomat interview, Koponen states that he's unhappy with the situation.

- Other NBA clubs have been interested in me, but Blazers have all the cards in their hands. If Blazers don't want to let me go, I'm not sure what's going to happen with the other clubs (that have contacted me), states Koponen.

Koponen continues in the same interview:

- It feels like Portland only hangs on to me so that none of their rivals could recruit me. Occasionally I feel like I've being held hostage. I have talked to the Blazers about this with my agent. This is not right, because this is all about my dreams and my career.

The original interview can be read/Google Translated here.

Koponen still has one year left in his contract with Virtus Bologna, but he seems to be unhappy also in Bologna. The last time Virtus played in international competition was in 2008/09, when they participated in FIBA EuroChallenge, the 3rd highest European international competition. Reportedly Koponen would be willing to play next season with a Euroleague team.

In 2009/10, Koponen was one of the most improved players in Italian league before a stress fracture in his foot ended his season prematurely in April and sidelined him for six months. After Koponen's injury, Virtus Bologna slided from #2 regular season spot to #8 and lost in the first round of playoffs.

In 2010/11, Koponen spent the first half of the season rehabbing his foot while slowly getting back to basketball shape. Koponen showed occasional glimpses of excellence (three game-winning shots during the campaign and 36-point outburst against Cremona in Boxing Day 2010), but the team struggled mightily and suffered their 3rd straight 1st round exit in May 2011. Koponen averaged 12,1 points, 2,6 rebounds, 2,1 assists and 1,4 steals in 30,0 minutes a game (2pt 49,6%, 3pt 35,1%, 1p 86,0%).

Koponen and Finnish national basketball team are facing Portugal and Belgium in August in the FIBA Eurobasket additional qualifying round.

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Here's the most recent in-depth comments from Blazers Acting GM Chad Buchanan regarding Koponen, delivered back in January.

"Of the three guys we have playing over there, if there's one guy that would swim across the Atlantic to play for us, it's Petteri. He came over and played Summer League for us, loved Portland, had a great experience, and he's very hungry to come over here. He went from playing in Finland and now he's in Italy, and I think he wants to make that jump. For us, it's trying to figure out when would be the right time to take a look at bringing him over."

Well, since our PG situation is as solid as a rock, maybe never. We've got all the PGotFs we can handle.

 

[maxiep]

If he goes to Unicaja, it'll be like our Summer League team...

This. I love the idea that our Euros play together. If they come over at the same time, it will help not only with their basketball adjustment, but their cultural adjustment.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Other NBA clubs have been interested in me, but Blazers have all the cards in their hands. If Blazers don't want to let me go, I'm not sure what's going to happen with the other clubs (that have contacted me), states Koponen.

Isn't this tampering?


Man those Euros were complete wastes

 

[BrianFromWA]

There's a United Flight 9099 from Helsinki to PDX through MUN and IAD leaving at 6:55am tomorrow.

And I think Petteri's frustrated b/c he'd "swim across the Atlantic" to play for us and we're saying "no, thanks."

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why do we need him when we have Armon and Patty :rolls eyes:

 

[3RA1N1AC]

as soon as we bring him over he will be all smiles, he is just trying to get himself over here

 

[BBert]

Free Petteri!

Why do we need him when we have Armon and Patty :rolls eyes:

Honestly, just based on what I saw two years ago I'd rather give Koponen a shot.

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Well, if other NBA teams have expressed an interest in him, then he should tell those teams to make an offer to Portland; if they aren't willing to offer a 20 pick or higher in this year's draft, then they aren't very interested

 

[illmatic99]

I wish we still had Sergio. He's better than all these guys like Petteri, Patty, and Armon. We gave him up for grab the Pendy pick, I believe. Well, that could have been decent if we picked Blair, but we didn't.

 

[e_blazer]

If the Blazers don't think that he can beat out Patty Mills and Armon Johnson, then I'd say his chances of making it in the NBA are pretty slim. He can always take a year off from playing pro basketball and be a UFA after that.

 

[Minstrel]

I wish we still had Sergio. He's better than all these guys like Petteri, Patty, and Armon. We gave him up for grab the Pendy pick, I believe. Well, that could have been decent if we picked Blair, but we didn't.

Sergio only had two NBA-level skills...handling the ball and passing. Unfortunately, that was negated by his extremely high turnover rate. When you consider that he couldn't shoot, finish at the hoop or rebound, he wasn't really an NBA-level player. Dealing him for the Pendergraph pick was a good move, though selecting Pendergraph was a poor use of it.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Maybe the Blazers can trade his rights and actually get something useful out of him? I mean at this point it seems like they have no interest in bringing him over.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Well, bring him in and give him a shot. Hell, we have a 15 man roster.

 

[Draco]

I think another team can offer him a contract if we arn't willing to sign him to his rookie deal. That is why we had to sign Sergio back in the day, he wanted to play right away while we wanted to leave him in Europe for a year or two. If we didn't sign him we'd basically lose his rights. I believe thats how Travis Knight signed with the Lakers even though the Bulls drafted him.

I don't remember the exact specifics but there is some type of rule like this.

 

[Harry's Raincoat]

No, no such rule. We hold his rights and as long as he continues to be under contract in Europe - nothing changes. We'll probably bring him over in 2-3 years.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

1. The article says that this is a tabloid, so I'm not sure if I believe this is exactly what Koponen said.
2. He's in the same situation as Greg (although somehow I don't think we expect the same impact out of him) in that he hasn't been healthy long enough to evaluate him.
3. WHAT NBA teams? As posters above said, if they're REALLY interested, they can give us a call. Somehow I think "interested" means "we'll offer you a conditional 2015 second-rounder" at best.
4. Chill, Petteri - there's going to be a lockout.

 

[Natebishop3]

I think another team can offer him a contract if we arn't willing to sign him to his rookie deal. That is why we had to sign Sergio back in the day, he wanted to play right away while we wanted to leave him in Europe for a year or two. If we didn't sign him we'd basically lose his rights. I believe thats how Travis Knight signed with the Lakers even though the Bulls drafted him.

I don't remember the exact specifics but there is some type of rule like this.

I'm pretty sure it's something along the lines of a player can sit out a year and re-enter the draft.... or they can sit out a year and then anyone can offer them a deal. I can't remember which. Either way, he has to sit out of basketball for a year without pay.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I agree with the Euros. The rule needs to be changed. If a guy is a first round draft pick and he is slotted to make x amount of dollars for being drafted in that spot, AND he wants to play in the NBA.........sign him or lose his rights. If you don't think he can play, then don't fucking draft him in the first round. (or in this case trade for his rights)

On the flip side if you enter your name in the draft, and you are picked in the first round then I think you should be forced to sign that year. (Unless both party's agree to wait.) Don't enter the draft if you are not ready to come over. Either way the international draft rules need to be altered IMO.

 

[jlprk]

Koponen has been with Italian powerhouse Virtus Bologna 3 years and has 1 year left on his contract.

2008-09: The last time the team played in international competition, in FIBA EuroChallenge.

2009-10: Koponen was one of the most improved players in the Italian league before a foot stress fracture ended his season prematurely in April and sidelined him into the next season. Virtus Bologna then slid from #2 to #8 and lost in the 1st round of playoffs.

2010-11: Koponen missed the first half of the season rehabbing his foot, and was then alright but not great. The team suffered their 3rd straight 1st round exit in May 2011...Koponen and Finnish national basketball team face Portugal and Belgium in August 2011.

This is similar to Rudy missing the first half of 2009-10, then in the 2nd half of that season Nate making him an unhappy garbage time player, and then Rudy's back allowing him to contribute during meaningful parts of the game in 2010-11. In 2011-12, Koponen's foot will probably allow him to get happier, more significant minutes in Italy.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

1. The article says that this is a tabloid, so I'm not sure if I believe this is exactly what Koponen said.
2. He's in the same situation as Greg (although somehow I don't think we expect the same impact out of him) in that he hasn't been healthy long enough to evaluate him.
3. WHAT NBA teams? As posters above said, if they're REALLY interested, they can give us a call. Somehow I think "interested" means "we'll offer you a conditional 2015 second-rounder" at best.
4. Chill, Petteri - there's going to be a lockout.

Dallas was one team that was very interested in Petteri during his last stint in the Vegas Summer League. Maybe swap Petteri/2nd rounder for their #25 and take a flyer on Nikola Mirotic.

 

[Rhal]

Dallas was one team that was very interested in Petteri during his last stint in the Vegas Summer League. Maybe swap Petteri/2nd rounder for their #25 and take a flyer on Nikola Mirotic.

I vote we bring Petteri over and then Cannibalize his knees for Roy.

 

[jlprk]

If I ever need a transplant, I'll phone you after dinner, not before.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Dallas was one team that was very interested in Petteri during his last stint in the Vegas Summer League. Maybe swap Petteri/2nd rounder for their #25 and take a flyer on Nikola Mirotic.

Koponen and a 2nd round pick for Beaubois.
Koponen, Rudy, and a 2nd round pick for Barea.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Koponen and a 2nd round pick for Beaubois.
Koponen, Rudy, and a 2nd round pick for Barea.

Barea would drive Nate crazy.