Crvena Zvezda 2017/2018

[CoachZ2]

According to Sportando, Colton Iverson is close. I think it's an OK signing, since most of the bigs flourish in our system. He is quite athletic for his size and can play the PnR. To be honest, if he comes at a good price, it's not a bad deal. Anyway, we are probably going to field an insanely young team. This is how it looks as of now.

PG Nikola Radicevic (23)
SG Ognjen Dobric (22), Branko Lazic (28), Petar Rakicevic (22)
SF Nemanja Dangubic (24), Marko Keselj (28), Stefan Lazarevic (20)
PF Stefan Jankovic (23), Borisa Simanic (19), Dejan Davidovac (22)
C Colton Iverson (28), Nikola Jovanovic (23), Milko Bjelica (33)

 

[AmonRA2]

very good team..

















for fiba eurochalange

 

[CoachZ2]

very good team..

for fiba eurochalange

Love your enthusiasm as always Of course the team will be weaker than what we were used to in the past years but it's a rebuild and I am always excited to see kids ball out. It will be enough to take care of the ABA, KLS etc and in the Euroleague there will be no pressure. I always like us as underdogs.

The key will be the starting PG who comes. Should be a guy that can play for others and be a good mentor.

 

[AmonRA2]

Love your enthusiasm as always Of course the team will be weaker than what we were used to in the past years but it's a rebuild and I am always excited to see kids ball out. It will be enough to take care of the ABA, KLS etc and in the Euroleague there will be no pressure. I always like us as underdogs.

The key will be the starting PG who comes. Should be a guy that can play for others and be a good mentor.

if Radonjic was stayed, instead he is kicked from covic, then I will have some hope, even with last year roster from FMP..
but now, we are like some mediocret teams from Italy, France which every year brings 6-7 new players change coaches, and hope that that will be year when everyone will make good chemistry..
but the thing is that we have like half smaller budget then that mediocre teams from Italy, France etc..

 

[CoachZ2]

if Radonjic was stayed, instead he is kicked from covic, then I will have some hope, even with last year roster from FMP..
but now, we are like some mediocret teams from Italy, France which every year brings 6-7 new players change coaches, and hope that that will be year when everyone will make good chemistry..
but the thing is that we have like half smaller budget then that mediocre teams from Italy, France etc..

In reality our budget cannot be 500k smaller than last year. Last year our total budget was 4.5mil including player salaries, coaches, admin, travel etc. We can't go below 4mil, since then we will not fulfill the EL requirements which require a minimum budget of 4mil euros to compete in EL. So I think that the budget will not be that much lower. We are saving a looooot of money on players, but there should be still money for a good PG.

Regarding Alimpijevic, it's a huge risk I agree. Again, you never know some people rise from the tough environment and he seems like a supremely confident guy (which has a lot to learn of course). The good thing is that most of the staff Radonjic worked with will stay. Position coaches, assistants, video crew/scouting etc...

 

[ZalgirisFanForLife2]

As Zalgiris fan I am exited to see how your youngsters will do. I see that Coach is very optimistic. For me it is weird, because I would not be so exited, because that would mean bad performance in EL, and that is the most important. Yeah, it's extra if the performance is good and bigger part of the team in NT players, but if I could pick- to loss most of the EL games, but grow NT players or win and be competitive in EL and take only one of the best NT players and only one or two really talented youngsters, I would choose the second one. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I think Zalgiris roster will be much better, than yours, especially after Kavaliauskas will move to Rytas and we get Gudaitis or DMo.

 

[CoachZ2]

As Zalgiris fan I am exited to see how your youngsters will do. I see that Coach is very optimistic. For me it is weird, because I would not be so exited, because that would mean bad performance in EL, and that is the most important. Yeah, it's extra if the performance is good and bigger part of the team in NT players, but if I could pick- to loss most of the EL games, but grow NT players or win and be competitive in EL and take only one of the best NT players and only one or two really talented youngsters, I would choose the second one. Maybe I'm too optimistic, but I think Zalgiris roster will be much better, than yours, especially after Kavaliauskas will move to Rytas and we get Gudaitis or DMo.

I am optimistic to see the kids play, not about the result. I don't think we have a chance to repeat the success of the last year, since we have lost more than half of the roster of a team that had a market value that was MUCH, MUCH higher than our budget. Zvezda's goal will always be to win ABA League first and domestic championship and then give their best in EL. Unlike Zalgiris which has A License we have to make sure we win the regional ABA League if we want even to play in EL. So that is always top priority. In regards to that we should have a team to take care of that and Cedevita in particular as the main opponent. In Euroleague the key is to play the kids and grow them. All of our kids are on long-term contracts and even new signings, so they have to play, practice and develop and expect from this team to become much much better as time goes on.

Lastly, most of the teams have better rosters "on paper" than Zvezda but actual performance and reality usually shows a different story. We have been put in the bottom of EL last two years in terms of roster and expectations, often ridiculed that we will wing 4-5 games out of 30 and stuff like that. This team will not have high EL ambitions but the way it goes I have a feeling we will still win 10 games and keep most of the games close and interesting. For this young team and being their first year together, that is a good success. It's actually nothing about NT, it's about giving a long term perspective to Zvezda's roster. That you have a new core for the following 4-5 years. That is how you build good teams and with some additions you can achieve something.

 

[CoachZ2]

Let's throw some names around for PG spot. It's a wishlist, let's see if some could be available.

Julyan Stone is a big PG that has a very, very good all around game. Good creator, defender, rebounder. He is not a pure shooter but can do a good job as a spot-up shooter from the distance. He is very smart, high IQ and in many ways reminds me of Stefan Jovic. He is also mature, 28 and has Euro experience. Also, he would come on a good price.

 

[CoachZ2]

Askia Booker is a 6'2'' PG that played at Colorado and lately in NBA-DL. He is a great, great defender that puts so much pressure on the ball and passing lanes. He is a good but not great shooter with bad shot selection sometimes. He is on the other hand excellent creator and PnR guy, cleans the boards beside his size etc.

 

[CoachZ2]

I was extremely surprised that Briante Weber has been released yesterday by the Hornets. He signed a 2 year non-guaranteed contract with the Hornets but was waived yesterday before Aug 1 deadline (his contract would become guaranteed after that). He has been for me the best PG prospect in the D-League and he even had good games in NBA when he was called up. He is a fantastic defender, in Europe he would be a nightmare for most of the PGs. He is extremely athletic, excellent vision and fantastic teammate. He is an OK shooter but not elite. Much more important he can run different types of offense and his defensive effort and creation would be an asset to any team.

I doubt he would come cheap, especially after that 2-year deal with Hornets. Let's say I dare to dream Some previous guys from the wishlist have signed, so why not I really loved watching him at VCU especially.

 

[mojo132]

Boys Welcome to Zvezda!

Stefan Jankovic and Nikola Jovanovic both here on a 3 year contract!!! Both are PF/C players that can shoot from anywhere on the floor and especially Jankovic can do wonders with the ball in his hands for such a big guy. Porzingis Lite! Jovanovic is from Zvezda's youth system where he passed all the team selections and now he is back to start his pro career here. Melli-type of a player. So happy!

Coach Z - please tell me what you see in Stefan Jankovic. I have followed him on and off since he was playing AAU youth ball for CIA Bounce in Canada. I have never really been that impressed with him. Yes his pretty tall and a solid shooter for that size, but that is about it. He put up solid stats at Hawaii, but that is a sub-par program in a weak NCAA conference. I certainly never thought he would have a shot at the NBA when he declared for the draft. He was pretty bad in the D-League last year and did nothing at all in this years NBA Summer league. If you can't put up decent stats in those loose leagues, is he really going to contribute much in the EuroLeague? He really isn't that young either -not much of a rebounder or defender and his shooting is not elite.

He looked good for a year in Hawaii when he was their go-to guy on offence, but that is the only period I was ever really impressed and the level of competition was fairly low. He was also a 5th year senior at the time.

I do understand he was hurt somewhat in the Miami Heat camp last summer and it might have carried on a bit in the D-League. But I believe it was merely a sprained ankle and should not have impacted him for long. At least the Heat saw enough in him to invite him to camp.

You really thought he was NBA material? I have always been skeptical. You may have watched him more than me. I mean, I don't think his terrible and maybe he can become a really good player - at his size he sure has potential (he has a really nice high release on his shot). I just don't think he is very good now - not starting PF at the Euroleague level. I really thought he'd start on a lower level team to prove himself. A guy like Prezemk Karnowski (POL) out of Gonzaga has to start with Adorra of the ACB. Karnowski has a much, much stronger resume than a guy like Jankovic.

Maybe don't get your hopes too high and pencil him into a reserve role to start.

 

[CoachZ2]

Coach Z - please tell me what you see in Stefan Jankovic. I have followed him on and off since he was playing AAU youth ball for CIA Bounce in Canada. I have never really been that impressed with him. Yes his pretty tall and a solid shooter for that size, but that is about it. He put up solid stats at Hawaii, but that is a sub-par program in a weak NCAA conference. I certainly never thought he would have a shot at the NBA when he declared for the draft. He was pretty bad in the D-League last year and did nothing at all in this years NBA Summer league. If you can't put up decent stats in those loose leagues, is he really going to contribute much in the EuroLeague? He really isn't that young either -not much of a rebounder or defender and his shooting is not elite.

He looked good for a year in Hawaii when he was their go-to guy on offence, but that is the only period I was ever really impressed and the level of competition was fairly low.

I do understand he was hurt somewhat in the Miami Heat camp last summer and it might have carried on a bit in the D-League. But I believe it was merely a sprained ankle and should not have impacted him for long. At least the Heat saw enough in him to invite him to camp.

You really thought he was NBA material? You may have watched him more than me. I mean, I don't think his terrible and maybe he can become a really good player - at his size he sure has potential (he has a really nice high release on his shot). I just don't think he is very good now - not starting PF at the Euroleague level. I really thought he'd start on a lower level team to prove himself.

Maybe don't get your hopes too high and pencil him into a reserve role to start.

You made a mistake regarding my comments. Jovanovic I thought would stick on a team somewhere. He is the kid from USC. He has a good skills for NBA big and can stretch. Also he is a good defender. He was very unexpected.

Regarding Stefan Jankovic, I wrote some time back he will not make it in NBA since he doesn't give a great effort on defense to be able to have a Porzingis-type role. Because in terms of player profile he is very, very close to Porzingis except for the rim protection/defense. Of course skillwise on a much lower level. I have watched him in NCAA and saw his skills that should transfer at any level. He can put the ball on the floor very well and attack face up, this automatically will give him an advantage against other bigs in Europe defending him, plus he has a jumper of that dribble. He can stretch (he is not an elite shooter but wide open he will down the 3s with a good rate). He moves extremely well for his size and with a rim protector playing next to him he should be fine.

Of course I don't expect him to explode right away or anything like that. This is why I liked both him and Jankovic with 3 years contracts. They need to play a lot, that is key to their development.

 

[Branid2]

In reality our budget cannot be 500k smaller than last year. Last year our total budget was 4.5mil including player salaries, coaches, admin, travel etc. We can't go below 4mil, since then we will not fulfill the EL requirements which require a minimum budget of 4mil euros to compete in EL. So I think that the budget will not be that much lower. We are saving a looooot of money on players, but there should be still money for a good PG.

Regarding Alimpijevic, it's a huge risk I agree. Again, you never know some people rise from the tough environment and he seems like a supremely confident guy (which has a lot to learn of course). The good thing is that most of the staff Radonjic worked with will stay. Position coaches, assistants, video crew/scouting etc...

Hey CoachZ, its rather impressive how all Red Star's centers have excelled in skill, performance and team contribution in last couple of years (6-7 or so), in other words during the Radonjic's tenure... however, i always thought the biggest recognition for such inprovement ahould go to coach Borko Radovic, am i wrong? Is he going to stay in our coaching team? If not, do you think such further improvements in center line will continue (sustain)?
Cheers

 

[Obina2]

Radicevic signs official.

Now we have good base. With 4 good foreigners we are competitive again. I have doubts with Alimpijevic...

 

[unnamed2]

Radicevic signs official.

Now we have good base. With 4 good foreigners we are competitive again. I have doubts with Alimpijevic...

Radicevic sort of reminds me of Jaka Blazic with the way he plays, he seems less athletic but he has some room to improve.

 

[CoachZ2]

Welcome Nikola! 3-year contract and a chance to play for a EL squad, showcase his talent and improve as the years go by.

 

[unnamed2]

We should try to sign some of those NBA players under ban, like OJ Mayo or Ty Lawson(just hide the needles and drugs)

 

[CoachZ2]

We should try to sign some of those NBA players under ban, like OJ Mayo or Ty Lawson(just hide the needles and drugs)

Please no OJ Mayo Ty Lawson will get on a roster somewhere for sure, at least for a veteran's minimum.

Good idea though We can rehab them in FMP and plug them into Zvezda when they are ready.

 

[Gudura2]

Market in Belgrade cafe and tavern management system gets more crazy day by day....
Acoording to those rumours new target of Zvezda is Tyrece Rice

 

[unnamed2]

Please no OJ Mayo Ty Lawson will get on a roster somewhere for sure, at least for a veteran's minimum.

Good idea though We can rehab them in FMP and plug them into Zvezda when they are ready.

Why not OJ Mayo? He's the kind of foreign combo guard people talk about