<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Many considered Roko Ukic a steal for the Raptors when Toronto picked him 41st overall in last month's draft. Sportsnet.ca -- The Toronto Raptors 2005 second round pick, Roko Ukic, has signed a deal through 2009 with Tau Ceramica of the Spanish League, according to a report on a Croatian website. Scott Howard, the Raptors' Director of International Player Personnel, recently spent an extended period of time in Croatia trying to sign the 21-year old and recent reports suggested that a deal with Toronto was close. But it appears Ukic chose to sign a more lucrative four-year deal with Tau Ceramica after being offered a lesser contract, reflective of a second-round selection by the Raptors.</div> http://www.sportsnet.ca/nba/article.jsp?co...724_170419_3200
nooooooooooooo....... wow thats horrible news... wow im shocked... there goes all the dreams that this raptors board has been concocting about the upcomin season....
http://andpop.com/article.php?id=4586 http://www.jadransport.org/articles/1260.html http://www.24sec.net/article.asp?index=2205 Babcock got suckered again...
wow, this is pretty bad blow to the Raptors... Also quite immoral on Ukic's part... He enters the draft, and backs out after a team picks him... He deserves some penalty from the nba for something like this, but I wonder if it has ever happened before. Its unfortunate that everything seems to be about greed these days, and excessive amounts of money. It appears that he was trying to find the largest contract available, and 2nd contracts are small, while he got offered a large one from some rich Spanish team. I hope Ukic does well, and I hope he matures into a decent guy. If the Raptors still have his draft rights and can do something or other with him it would be great.
I guess we had it coming since we're actively pursuing their (the Spanish team's) current point guard. If we can't get our hands on Calderon, then we would be getting screwed over big time. This really really sucks...... I was looking forward to seeing him play here.
Calm down man, this is just the same thing as all the other articles claiming that the Raptors have signed him to a contract and then Ukic coming out to clarify that he was 'close' to signing a deal. I wouldn't believe anything until the moratorium is lifted off on the 28th.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dunksworth:</div><div class="quote_post">I guess we had it coming since we're actively pursuing their (the Spanish team's) current point guard. If we can't get our hands on Calderon, then we would be getting screwed over big time. This really really sucks...... I was looking forward to seeing him play here.</div> Agreed, if we land Calderon, then Roko leaving Toronto isn't much of a blow to the raptors. I definitly never seen this coming though because why would you enter the draft, get picked and then back out to play in Europe again?
People, calm the hell down. That sportsnet report stems from one Croatian article. One. And we had how many sources claiming that Ukic had signed with Toronto? At least 5. Jesus.. stop being so jumpy.
It's clarified, it's not just a rumour. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Toronto Star - The Toronto Raptors have been dealt a blow at point guard. Roko Ukic, the 6-5 Croatian point guard taken 41st by Toronto in last month's NBA draft, has reportedly agreed to terms on a four-year contract with Tau Ceramica of the Spanish league, leaving the Raptors to scurry after a suitable backup to Rafer Alston for the coming season. "We knew there was an offer out there, it wouldn't surprise me if he took it," Raptor general manager Rob Babcock said in a telephone interview last night. "It's not a bad thing overall, I would have liked to see him over here this year but we were prepared for this." </div> http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives..._sign_calderon/
Ok yea I read the articles from the Sun and the Star now, but I guess it isn't that of a bad thing. We can let Ukic develop overseas for a season or two and with Calderon as the backup to Alston, we can go after Omar Cook as the third PG.
i think thats probably the best thing for ukic, since he is going to be way underpaid from our roster. we still reserves his rights. he can also develop in europe at the mean time, and when he comes in, he can learn a bit more and contribute rightaway, without taking our roster space at the mean time. now we can focus on signing bonner and do a sign & trade for a pg since his value is so high right now. it'll probably never be this high, again.
Am i the only one who's tired of looking at the bright side of things? We've been doing that for years and years and where has it taken us? I think this is very disappointing for the raptors and that yes, people like ukic should have to pay some kind of penalty...this is just stupid.
I mean, what's the point in drafting him if he's going to run away? There should be some kinda penalty for it, because we could of addressed our needs and drafted someone who would STAY and accept our offer... *shakes head*
Wow I'm shocked. Who would turn down the NBA to play in Europe. In the NBA you make more money and are playing with the best in the world. It just doesn't make sense why he would waste such a good oppurtunity especially when he knows he will get playing time with the Raptors. I just can't believe this and I would be ticked right now if I were the Raptors front office.
Well it's not as bad as some of you guys are making it seem. With this, he gets to stay in Europe and develop. We still have his rights, so whenever we want to sign him and bring him to the NBA, which is very common. However, the headache with all of this, is that we'll have to go through a buy out process with his team, and he's getting paid quite a lot. Oh well, hopefully the signing with Calderon? can get through so he can backup Rafer for the start of the season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">Wow I'm shocked. Who would turn down the NBA to play in Europe. In the NBA you <u>make more money </u> and are playing with the best in the world. It just doesn't make sense why he would waste such a good oppurtunity especially when he knows he will get playing time with the Raptors. I just can't believe this and I would be ticked right now if I were the Raptors front office.</div> That's why he didn't come to the NBA, because he wasn't going to be making more money.
He isn't getting paid a whole lot. It's 2.5 million Euros over 3 seasons, which converts to roughly $3.1 million. Babcock anticipated this and I think that is why he decided to go after Calderon as a contingency plan.
