Sasha Watch 2022-2023
- Thread starter Tetsujin
- Start date
Pretty sure I could take care of my family on a paltry $60 million over the next 4 
Yes, definitely, but if his camp believes he's worth $94/4 years, there is a giant gap between what I believe the Kings should offer and what he wants.... if that's the case, I would use the money on a younger guy with some upside that address our need for better defense and length at the PF like Naz Reed for a much lower price tag. And we can do it without feeling guilty
For those wondering, Sasha's team is currently in the Euroleague playoffs. These playoffs consist of just 8 teams that play in a best of 5 series. His team is in the 1st round and they're up 2-1 against Bogdan's old team. I haven't had a chance to watch any of these games but the highlights look really entertaining. Their latest game went down to the wire and Sasha had some big buckets late in the 4th.
In this 10-minute game highlight, you'll see plenty of possessions with Sasha (#14 white jersey):
In this 10-minute game highlight, you'll see plenty of possessions with Sasha (#14 white jersey):
Since Sean Cunningham said someone within the organization told him that they are 90% committed to signing him this off-season, I have gone on a bit of a journey looking him up. From a small sample size, he seems perfect for what we need. And at 6'9" he can shoot over a lot of people. He's definitely no defensive anchor but seems to hold his own well enough in Euroleague. At 27 years old, I'd think what we see is what we got.
I'm intrigued. It seems like he had won almost everything he can ever win in Euroleague. Is there a reason why he didn't choose to come over all these years?
I'm intrigued. It seems like he had won almost everything he can ever win in Euroleague. Is there a reason why he didn't choose to come over all these years?
That shot's WET.
And it looks like that was a super fun game.
I saw a nice shot creation move from Sasha, and honestly, it's not like Harrison is good on defense or anything (in my opinion) so we probably gain on offense with Sasha while not losing so much on defense.
Still definitely definitely need more front court defenders though, that's a huge priority
If not Jerami Grant, perhaps Precious Achiuwa?
He's not a FA as far as I know but could be a cheaper to get option than a Jerami Grant?
And I believe he plays for the Nigerian team so coach Brown would be familiar with him
And it looks like that was a super fun game.
I saw a nice shot creation move from Sasha, and honestly, it's not like Harrison is good on defense or anything (in my opinion) so we probably gain on offense with Sasha while not losing so much on defense.
Still definitely definitely need more front court defenders though, that's a huge priority
If not Jerami Grant, perhaps Precious Achiuwa?
He's not a FA as far as I know but could be a cheaper to get option than a Jerami Grant?
And I believe he plays for the Nigerian team so coach Brown would be familiar with him
According to Serbian news Sasha is coming over to the NBA this upcoming season
https://sportal.blic.rs/kosarka/evr...arski-kosarkas-zeli-u-nba/2023050410021213119 (google translate?). Title is "Best player of Olimpiacous, Bulgerian player wants to go to the NBA"
It say's the Kings will pay half of his buyout clause and he will pay the other half.
https://sportal.blic.rs/kosarka/evr...arski-kosarkas-zeli-u-nba/2023050410021213119 (google translate?). Title is "Best player of Olimpiacous, Bulgerian player wants to go to the NBA"
It say's the Kings will pay half of his buyout clause and he will pay the other half.
If HB is not returning, we need a replacement, and I wouldn't be surprised if Sasha is more impactful.
We absolutely need interior defense and rebounding, but that is going to be tough to fix. I like Naz Reid as a semi-realstic option. We also have the draft and Queta, who I hope gets an opportunity next year.
We absolutely need interior defense and rebounding, but that is going to be tough to fix. I like Naz Reid as a semi-realstic option. We also have the draft and Queta, who I hope gets an opportunity next year.
What Barnes brings is the ability to put the ball on the floor and finish in the paint obviously hes very inconsistent with it but hes one of the only non guards on the roster who can do it. Naz fills that role and hes younger but like I've stated previously if Barnes takes a team friendly deal and wants to be part of the team beyond his playing career I'm down with that too.
So Sasha actually hasn’t won everything in Euroleague yet.
European basketball is a bit different than the NBA. For Sasha’s team, they play in a domestic league called the Greek League. However, their team also participates in the Euroleague that consists of the best 18 teams in all of Europe. Sasha has been very accomplished in the Greek League, but it wasn’t until last year that he truly broke out and won MIP, MVP, and a championship in Greece.
After winning all of those awards last year, he was set to negotiate and come sit with the team during the Summer League, but he changed course last minute and didn’t come. My speculation is that the Kings could not offer him a fair contract. After we signed and traded for all of our current players, we had our hands tied with the salary cap and could not offer him anything more than the BAE which was 2 years $8.4million?
That would’ve only been $4.2mpy, and after taxes, it’s probably only would’ve been around $2million?
He’s currently making $1million after taxes in Greek… and I don’t think a $1million pay raise was worth the jump for him.
A year later, he’s gotten even better and will be looking at the MLE value.
Bogdan under similar circumstances received a 3 year $27million contract years ago. If Sasha has a good agent, then that would be the starting point for negotiations.
European basketball is a bit different than the NBA. For Sasha’s team, they play in a domestic league called the Greek League. However, their team also participates in the Euroleague that consists of the best 18 teams in all of Europe. Sasha has been very accomplished in the Greek League, but it wasn’t until last year that he truly broke out and won MIP, MVP, and a championship in Greece.
After winning all of those awards last year, he was set to negotiate and come sit with the team during the Summer League, but he changed course last minute and didn’t come. My speculation is that the Kings could not offer him a fair contract. After we signed and traded for all of our current players, we had our hands tied with the salary cap and could not offer him anything more than the BAE which was 2 years $8.4million?
That would’ve only been $4.2mpy, and after taxes, it’s probably only would’ve been around $2million?
He’s currently making $1million after taxes in Greek… and I don’t think a $1million pay raise was worth the jump for him.
A year later, he’s gotten even better and will be looking at the MLE value.
Bogdan under similar circumstances received a 3 year $27million contract years ago. If Sasha has a good agent, then that would be the starting point for negotiations.
His defense would fit right in with the Kings…. At least he’ll be a better rebounder than Barnes.
His mid-season contract extension looks more like him trying to do Olympiacos one last favor and secure them a buyout before he leaves for the NBA.
I still think role and PT will be very important for him. He’s playing the very best basketball of his career.
His mid-season contract extension looks more like him trying to do Olympiacos one last favor and secure them a buyout before he leaves for the NBA.
I still think role and PT will be very important for him. He’s playing the very best basketball of his career.
I'm not saying everything he does is going to translate and he doesn't have potential flaws, but does feels like he's relatively high floor in that he has at least on elite skillset in his shooting. When you take the unknown factor into account, and that he'll be likely a relatively modest salary for a guy presumably in his prime years, he COULD be a homerun signing.
I must be conflating with the NFL draft.
It really doesn't make sense not to reset draft order based upon playoff results.
Theoretically, a play-in team could finish with the 15th pick -- one pick outside the lottery -- run the table and win the title and still keep that draft position. That makes no sense to me.
Nor does the Warriors, LAL, Knicks, Suns, Heat drafting ahead of our KINGS all while advancing further in the postseason this year.
It really doesn't make sense not to reset draft order based upon playoff results.
Theoretically, a play-in team could finish with the 15th pick -- one pick outside the lottery -- run the table and win the title and still keep that draft position. That makes no sense to me.
Nor does the Warriors, LAL, Knicks, Suns, Heat drafting ahead of our KINGS all while advancing further in the postseason this year.
In 36 games this season, Sasha has averaged 17.7 points on 65% from 2 and 39.9% from three (188 attempts).
Then we have this to consider:
We all know the NBA has taken steps to increase scoring over the past 20 years (and more). Eliminating hand-checking and implementing the defensive 3-second rule are a few big ones that come to mind.
It's no wonder these former European players believe the ruleset (not the talent) makes it easier in the NBA now than in the Euroleague. I'm sure that wasn't the case in the 80's and 90's. But it is now.
So with that in mind and seeing how the 3 players mentioned above have taken off offensively, it's not a stretch to believe that Sasha Vezenkov's offensive game could see a significant spike as well.
The numbers he's posting in the Euro league are already pretty impressive as it is.
Then we have this to consider:
We all know the NBA has taken steps to increase scoring over the past 20 years (and more). Eliminating hand-checking and implementing the defensive 3-second rule are a few big ones that come to mind.
It's no wonder these former European players believe the ruleset (not the talent) makes it easier in the NBA now than in the Euroleague. I'm sure that wasn't the case in the 80's and 90's. But it is now.
So with that in mind and seeing how the 3 players mentioned above have taken off offensively, it's not a stretch to believe that Sasha Vezenkov's offensive game could see a significant spike as well.
The numbers he's posting in the Euro league are already pretty impressive as it is.
