Future of Serbian NT

[Serbian_Layup]

This and his ability to pass and read the game is what I like about him.

But generally I have huge doubts about him. FOA, eyes hurting short legs. His body is not BB player's body. I'm not sure he can be a good athlete at PROs with such short legs. Strong long legs prevail strong short legs in basketball. Specially that I think he lacks a degree of skill and sharpness to be true SG. His shot is not perfect. Now he overpowers opponents and he's more polished than other guys, but I will be looking closely how his PRO career will pan out cause I'm personally interested. He has swimmers body.

When I'm going through scouting reports (speaking in general), there are often concerns about short wingspan, size, length etc, but I have never really read concerns about short legs, especially for 198m PG like Topić. You don't shoot or block shots with short legs. He is not a SG, his position is PG, that's very clear. I'm not sure if he is just overpowering opponents or beating them with his talent and skill set plus size. In all 3 games he was finishing against bigger and taller players around the rim, especially against Real and Barca. He is selling fakes with his body combining with size and great coordination and touch around the rim. Plus he is so polished with either left or right hand so he keeps opponents guessing where is he going. We'll see next season when he will be playing in ABA league how he translates his slashing at real senior level. His shooting is fine, numbers throughout the season in all competitions that he has played are pretty great.

[Straight forward]

When I'm going through scouting reports (speaking in general), there are often concerns about short wingspan, size, length etc, but I have never really read concerns about short legs, especially for 198m PG like Topić. You don't shoot or block shots with short legs. He is not a SG, his position is PG, that's very clear. I'm not sure if he is just overpowering opponents or beating them with his talent and skill set plus size. In all 3 games he was finishing against bigger and taller players around the rim, especially against Real and Barca. He is selling fakes with his body combining with size and great coordination and touch around the rim. Plus he is so polished with either left or right hand so he keeps opponents guessing where is he going. We'll see next season when he will be playing in ABA league how he translates his slashing at real senior level. His shooting is fine, numbers throughout the season in all competitions that he has played are pretty great.

We'll have to wait and see. To me physically he looks awkward. Short legs (usually BB player's legs are obviously longer than torso and in his case it seems like 50/50 at best) and short arms (wingspan) makes him sort of strange BB player physically. Low gravity makes him very mobile, that's also true, so I'm eager to see how he'll do. However, at PROs he may struggle with athleticism, he doesn't seem slow at all, but at PROs playing against bigger player he may struggle to beat them. It's very interesting. On other hand K. Leonard seems to have long torso and not too long legs, but he has freakishly long hands. The fact is - 99% of best BB players have long legs and shorter torso, so that's for a reason, as well as Volleyball players and runners.

[Serbian_Layup]

It seems like Petrušev is heading to NBA. Apparently, 76ers want to sign him. I think esentially that he is Euroleague level player, but he might surprise there if the rumor is true.

Smailagić is going to be good, he is starting to play smart and focused for longer stretches. I think he is going to figure it out. He's already made big progress by the end of this season and one more under ŽOC is all he needs.

[Serbian_Layup]

Vukčević to the Wizards. Nice opportunity for him as it seems Wizards are in a complete rebuilding process. Givony reported that Vukčević wants to come immediately and it seems that circumstances around Wizards work in his favor and he might be in rotation from day one. He is probably playing in Summer league. He is not NBA ready, especially defensively, but he has a great opportunity to play and develop for organization that is not looking to win next couple of years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVo19Wt_XM0

Smiley looking good.

[Serbian_Layup]

https://twitter.com/ChaseHughesNBCS/status/1672095322544152576


https://twitter.com/DraftExpress/status/1668278377667518465

[Serbian_Layup]

It seems Zvezda will be entering new season with completely new roster. Like 80% of this roster is leaving, including Campazzo and Vildoza. This means the time is now for Zvezda to include Topić in their depth chart at point guard position. He is clearly way better than his generation and already dominated in KLS. It's natural to give him minutes in senior team starting from next season. Get him good minutes in ABA league and see if he can contribute at Euroleague level. If Zvezda misses out on him that would be like epic fail.

[Serbian_Layup]

It seems Topić will be offered a professional contract from Zvezda as soon as he turns 18 in August. And they are looking to give him a regular spot in rotation with serious developmental minutes. Nice move because they didn't have a talent like Topić in years.

[Serbian_Layup]

He's gonna be goood. Ball handling and attacking the basket with that size as he is starting to bulk up and with his passing game and touch around the rim, that's a great skill set. That's why Heat are so reluctant to include him in a deal for Lillard and that's probably why Blazers aren't dealing Lillard without getting a good young talent like Jović. Heat are desperate to get Lillard so I think Jović will end up in Blazers. Not as good developmental organization as the Heat but Jović will get good minutes from the start as they are going into rebuild. Still a very good situation for him.

https://twitter.com/NBA/status/1676022212720041984

[Serbian_Layup]

Jović continues to impress, especially in terms of his physical improvement. He has obviously bulked up and got a lot stronger. Going aggressively into contact, drawing fouls and finishing through contact. His shot is looking smooth, dribble, pass...great instincts, something you can't teach. He can do a lot of stuff on offense, and I think he will be at the very minimum a good rotation player at NBA level. But probably a starting level forward for a good team. Can't help but think that he would be a very valuable piece for NT right now, considering our woes at forward spots at the moment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhw6QJL-rgI

[Serbian_Layup]

Vukčević also showing off his talent in Summer league. I don't think he is NBA ready due to lack of strength and footwork on defense, but man, he is a complete player on offense. Long range, mid range, passing, dribbling...Such a smooth player. Euro-step in transition on that size is really something. NBA basketball, at least offensively, suits him perfectly. He has lots of space to do his stuff. Wizards may buyout his contract and get him a roster spot immediately.

So far, all of our players have been good to excellent in Summer league.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lts8rUGa5c

[Straight forward]

Vukčević also showing off his talent in Summer league. I don't think he is NBA ready due to lack of strength and footwork on defense, but man, he is a complete player on offense. Long range, mid range, passing, dribbling...Such a smooth player. Euro-step in transition on that size is really something. NBA basketball, at least offensively, suits him perfectly. He has lots of space to do his stuff. Wizards may buyout his contract and get him a roster spot immediately.

So far, all of our players have been good to excellent in Summer league.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Lts8rUGa5c

Not taking anything away from him he starts to move like a 7 footer too with added weight. I think he still will have to add even more later on in next 2 years. Will be versatile center with suspect D, as it seems. I'm much higher on Jovic from what I see.

[Serbian_Layup]

Not taking anything away from him he starts to move like a 7 footer too with added weight. I think he still will have to add even more later on in next 2 years. Will be versatile center with suspect D, as it seems. I'm much higher on Jovic from what I see.

That depends on how they are going to develop him. He has the built of a PF, not C. The problem is lack of footspeed to play as PF. Wizards will focus on improving his footspeed and then see where that takes him. He shouldn't add more weight before trying to speed up a little bit. He has to get stronger but that is a long process. His game is tailor made for NBA as a stretch 4 who can do lots of stuff on offense. One thing is for sure, going to NBA right now and working on all that stuff is better than warming the bench in Europe. Individual development program in NBA is something else compared to Europe. He might follow Jović's path as he doesn't seem to have lost his motor after gaining weight.

Jović can be a point forward level player, while Vukčević has tremendous shooting/finishing touch and a very nice passing instincts. Defense is where both must improve. But that's not very concerning for 20 y.o. right now.

[Straight forward]

That depends on how they are going to develop him. He has the built of a PF, not C. The problem is lack of footspeed to play as PF. Wizards will focus on improving his footspeed and then see where that takes him. He shouldn't add more weight before trying to speed up a little bit. He has to get stronger but that is a long process. His game is tailor made for NBA as a stretch 4 who can do lots of stuff on offense. One thing is for sure, going to NBA right now and working on all that stuff is better than warming the bench in Europe. Individual development program in NBA is something else compared to Europe. He might follow Jović's path as he doesn't seem to have lost his motor after gaining weight.

Jović can be a point forward level player, while Vukčević has tremendous shooting/finishing touch and a very nice passing instincts. Defense is where both must improve. But that's not very concerning for 20 y.o. right now.

Yeah, I agree, good perspective. But guts saying Vukcevic won't be able to play proper D at 4 in the NBA. Maybe he will be that good offensively that no-one will care and coaches will want him to be on the court, but if not it will force him to become even bigger to survive at 5 defensively. I would predict this situation more somehow. Even so he can be heck of stretch 5 with some great skill. I see him more as improved and more versatile version of Dragan Bender.

[Serbian_Layup]

https://twitter.com/Hoop_District/status/1678970656023810048

He's got long ways to go, but he is flashing some seriuos offense there. I think he is more skilled on offense than most give him credit for. And it's only going to show as he adjusts to this level of basketball.

[Serbian_Layup]

It looks like Petrušev will stay with 76ers. That might be good move, but I'm not convinced he belongs in the NBA.

If Wizards buyout Vukčević's contract we might have 7 players in NBA (well, 8 with Marjanović ). I think that's the most we've ever had in NBA.