Sasha Watch 2022-2023

We will see what happens but if he wants to play in the NBA he might need to come over this year or lose the opportunity. I assume the Kings move on and sign someone else if he decides to stay
Agreed. At his age of 27 and the Kings current roster going into this off season, this would be the perfect year for him to make the jump. He has pretty much guaranteed playing time at the stretch 4.

However, If the Kings thinks he’s not coming over this summer, they could very well draft or sign another 4 this summer and that would cloud Sasha’s clear path to the NBA. It kinda feels like it’s now or never for Sasha.
 

pdxKingsFan

So Ordinary That It's Truly Quite Extraordinary
Staff member
The iron is as hot as it is likely to get for him. All depends on what his priorities are. I think a 3/18 deal that gives Bird and RFA rights but he can also leave if it's not working out while he is still in his early 30s to pursue the EL championship. Have to believe if he doesn't come Kings package his rights which have probably gone up exponentially over the last year. Or maybe it allows them to re-sign Barnes and then trade him in a year if a deal is imminent (that's the kind of shrewd, business first type deal that got us Domas and I don't know how many of those Monte can get away with without upsetting potential FAs, but could also be huge net win)
 
Agreed. At his age of 27 and the Kings current roster going into this off season, this would be the perfect year for him to make the jump. He has pretty much guaranteed playing time at the stretch 4.

However, If the Kings thinks he’s not coming over this summer, they could very well draft or sign another 4 this summer and that would cloud Sasha’s clear path to the NBA. It kinda feels like it’s now or never for Sasha.
Yeah if Sasha ever wants to come it's probably now or never. The NBA very quickly forgets and hitting 30'ish as a rookie is something most teams aren't looking for.
 
Heartbreaking lost for Sasha. With that being said, it’s now or never for Sasha.

1. He’s turning 28-years-old in August. He’s not getting younger and if he decides to wait out another year, he’ll be a 29 y/o rookie who’s never stepped on an NBA floor

2. The Kings have sent over just about every team official to Greece. They’ve invested a lot of time to show Sasha that they’re serious about him. If he doesn’t come over this season, I think they cut the relationship loose

3. Depending on which team the Kings trade his rights to, there’s a chance that he might not be able to get the same role and playing time as he would with the Kings. There’s uncertainty on his future because he’s not a free agent

Look at the way Teodosic’s career played out. He was a free agent, but teams kept trying to convince him to come over and he finally decided to at age 30, had a couple minor injuries, and was out of the league by age 32. He later admitted during interviews that he came to the NBA too late.

In his recent interview with RTS’s Slobodan Sarenac, he admitted that it might have been too late for him and shared his opinion on the ideal years to make the transition to the NBA, taking the Kings’ Bogdan Bogdanovic as a prime example: “I think it’s individual. In any case, not too late as I did. I think I came to the US too late. Years with which Bogdan came are ideal. Some 24, 25 when you already did something in Europe, when you’ve matured and arrived with self-confidence which is very important. I think those are the ideal years”, he said.

Nonetheless, Teodosic doesn’t regret anything. In fact, that was one of the reasons he decided on the NBA in the first place: “I didn’t want to end my career and regret later on, to feel sorry that I didn’t come and see how it is. How everything functions here, the way they worked and the way basketball is played. It is completely different than Europe, the way basketball is played. One great experience for me.”
Ball is in Sasha’s court. 1 year might not seem like a big deal, but I think it’d be the end for Sasha-Kings. There’s no guarantee he wins a ring next year. If he doesn’t, does this mean he stays for another year? Kings can’t go on operating with that kind of uncertainty when it seems like they’re counting on him to be an impact player if he comes over.
 
I don’t think Sasha’s rights would have trade value given the uncertainty. If he stays another year we would likely hold on to him and then trade the rights next year if he committed to coming over.

A three year trial run in the NBA seams like the best option for him. If he doesn’t like it he still has prime years back in Europe with a little more cash in his pocket.
 
I know the Euroleague title is a big deal to guys like Sasha - been dreaming of it since he was a kid. But - the chance to be the guy that get an NBA team over the hump to win a championship has got to be extremely enticing from a legacy perspective. Wouldn't you want that on your resume just as much? If so, NOW is the exact year to come over to do that, because we may win a championship next year even without him. At that point - he looks like he's coming over to piggyback on a winner - as opposed to being the guy that helped get them there.

Plus, as others have said, if he comes over now and it doesn't work out, he has prime years left to get it done in Europe.

In a way, not winning the Euro title may have motivated him even MORE to come over here and win a ring.
 
Maybe some guys familiar with Euroleague can speak on this more, but what's the shelf life of elite players? Is it similar to the NBA where the elite guys hang on till 35+? Or do they really start cycling through talents around 32?

Regardless, Vezenkov has shown he's one of the best EuroLeague has to offer. I'd be stunned if teams weren't chomping at the bit to get him if he came back around age 32.
 
Vezenkov, 27, registered a game-high 29 points to go with nine rebounds, four assists, and one block in the losing effort.

“We have to keep working,” he said signaling an effort for potential future success, “We know it’s tough.”
 

SLAB

Hall of Famer
There was lots of smoke, but after the L I’m leaning towards @PorchSurfin assessment. There’s unfinished business for Sasha now. And honestly, I’m cool not betting our future continued ascent on a 27 year old Euro who may or may not translate.

Just don’t panic and overpay Barnes to stay.
 
Vezenkov, 27, registered a game-high 29 points to go with nine rebounds, four assists, and one block in the losing effort.

“We have to keep working,” he said signaling an effort for potential future success, “We know it’s tough.”
That's kinda of typical teammate talk right after a tough season ending loss.

I don't think that gives any indication what he will decide in a month, after cooling off and assessing his career and situation with his family. Coming back doesn't guarentee him a Euro league championship, but leaving guarantees him more money and a possible fruitful NBA career.
 
That's kinda of typical teammate talk right after a tough season ending loss.

I don't think that gives any indication what he will decide in a month, after cooling off and assessing his career and situation with his family. Coming back doesn't guarentee him a Euro league championship, but leaving guarantees him more money and a possible fruitful NBA career.
it could mean something or nothing but it’s an odd thing to say for someone to say thaf had made up their mind to come over.

It would be nice if we had a firm answer in a couple of weeks so we can look elsewhere if necessary
 
Last edited:
it could mean something or nothing but it’s an odd thing to say for someone to say if they had made up their mind to come over.

It would be nice if we had a firm answer in a couple of weeks so we can look elsewhere if necessary
I think Monte will know well before free agency begins (June 30th) and most likely before the draft (June 22nd), if Sasha is coming over. It would be detrimental to Sasha's career not to let Monte know what he is doing by the time Monte heads to the NBA draft.
 
Yeah I dont think he's coming over after loosing the euroleague title again.
Saying no to millions of dollars may be tougher than some think. I get the pride thing but this is also the real world. His basketball career is half over maybe even past the halfway point. He’s old enough and wise enough at his age to realize an extra few million goes a long way to securing the rest of your life financially.
 
Saying no to millions of dollars may be tougher than some think. I get the pride thing but this is also the real world. His basketball career is half over maybe even past the halfway point. He’s old enough and wise enough at his age to realize an extra few million goes a long way to securing the rest of your life financially.
And your family - for generations. I hope he makes the smart decision.
 
Maybe some guys familiar with Euroleague can speak on this more, but what's the shelf life of elite players? Is it similar to the NBA where the elite guys hang on till 35+? Or do they really start cycling through talents around 32?

Regardless, Vezenkov has shown he's one of the best EuroLeague has to offer. I'd be stunned if teams weren't chomping at the bit to get him if he came back around age 32.
Real Madrid 3 key players role players are all 37 or above (Lull. Sergio Rod. Rudy Fernandaz). They were all elite at one point by Euro standards. Lots of guys who were stars can become role players (Bjelly went back this year sadly was injured at like 34 plus) and go well into their 30's
 

Capt. Factorial

trifolium contra tempestatem subrigere certum est
Staff member
Is there a window where we cannot sign him? Do we have to wait until a certain date?
I'm pretty sure we have to wait for the new NBA season to start (i.e. after the July moratorium). Obviously we can come to an agreement beforehand, and since he's not a free agent but we own his draft rights there aren't any "tampering" concerns there. But I do think that the actual signing would have to wait for the free agent period.
 
There was lots of smoke, but after the L I’m leaning towards @PorchSurfin assessment. There’s unfinished business for Sasha now. And honestly, I’m cool not betting our future continued ascent on a 27 year old Euro who may or may not translate.

Just don’t panic and overpay Barnes to stay.
Well, one thing that was reported before this season what he was looking at both role guarantees and wanted more than the BAE IIRC. The Kings aren't the same question mark of a franchise heading into next year but if Sasha is looking at making demands I don't think Brown is going to play that game. There's a reason Brown went over, in the end, this is probably going to be his call.
 
Well, one thing that was reported before this season what he was looking at both role guarantees and wanted more than the BAE IIRC. The Kings aren't the same question mark of a franchise heading into next year but if Sasha is looking at making demands I don't think Brown is going to play that game. There's a reason Brown went over, in the end, this is probably going to be his call.
I think both are very reasonable requests, but Sasha may respond differently once he learns about our culture - and he may appreciate it. He's guaranteed to get a fair shot. I do think he deserves more than the BAE, which I think is around 4 mil? That's less than a mid first round pick, which Sasha is clearly on a higher level than. Dude was MVP of the second best league in the world. 7-9M per year for two years is more the ballpark of what he's worth - and what I think we'll offer. But he's gotta play his way into the rotation.