<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Orlando Magic signed free- agent guard Keyon Dooling, as expected, Wednesday. What they found in Spain was a little unexpected. Magic Co-assistant General Manager Dave Twardzik met Wednesday morning with first-round draft pick Fran Vazquez, who apologized for the embarrassment he caused the team and reiterated his long-range goal of playing in the NBA. It just won't happen this season.</div> Full Article A few notes: <ul> [*]Vazquez is not coming this season but is expected to play at one point for the Magic [*]According to our GMs the main reason is a cultural thing [*]Vazquez's father died six months ago [*]He is expected to marry his girlfriend soon, who according to one media outlet was a major influence in his decision [*]According to another, his agent was the main force behind that decision, he got a higher percentage when Vazquez stays in Spain. [*]Our GMs believe there is a buyout in his current contract, mind you, they don't know for sure. [*]Because Fran isn't coming, Orlando is expected to add another frontcourt player in the offseason. [/list]
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting FlaBoy:</div><div class="quote_post">Thanks Coranor! His agent is the one to blame?</div> That's what I'm hearing all over now, at least he is supposed to have played a big part in this. The agent gets now about 10% of the contract and as it looks, Fran doesn't have to pay his agent like he would have to when he were to come to the NBA, in Europe the team pays the agent. In addition, the agent would've only got 4.5% of the contract and this he would've had to share with his US partner. At draftexpress, there is another interesting but long article which illustrates it very good: http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=1064 In short: Fran earns more money, plays less games while staying in his home country where he knows the language and culture and his agent gets more money as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">The Magic got Twardzicked, BAD. Hopefully Fran can over next season, and if not, hopefully the next.</div> This entire situation is the reason the word Twardzicked was invented. Anyways, I'm glad to here he will play for us at some point in time. That is good news since a lot of us were wondering if he would ever come over to the NBA. It's also not fair to Fran that a lot of this was his agents fault because he is the one who has to take the heat and get criticized. Hopefully he ends up coming over after one or two seasons and improves our team.
Is just me or does anyone feel like Fran is BS?ing us again. In the article he said he hopes to come over in the future when he is ready, and the organization said they think he ahs a buy out clause. Why would he not have waited to meet with our management before signing a contract since he did intend on coming over in the future. It would have saved us/him trouble since we would not have to have bought out his contract. Why would he not have signed a one-year deal overseas instead of a four-year deal if he wanted to me over? I just find this story fishy.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Swish15:</div><div class="quote_post">This entire situation is the reason the word Twardzicked was invented.</div> It was a blessing in diguise all along...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Best Kept Secret:</div><div class="quote_post">Is just me or does anyone feel like Fran is BS?ing us again. In the article he said he hopes to come over in the future when he is ready, and the organization said they think he ahs a buy out clause. Why would he not have waited to meet with our management before signing a contract since he did intend on coming over in the future. It would have saved us/him trouble since we would not have to have bought out his contract. Why would he not have signed a one-year deal overseas instead of a four-year deal if he wanted to me over? I just find this story fishy.</div> Yeah that seems true. He didn't even give our general managers a chance before he signed that contract. If he isn't ready to play in the NBA now, I don't see why he would be in a few years when he is even more popular overseas and when he making just as much money over there. I also agree that if he planned on jumping to the NBA, he would have signed a short term deal. It sounds like Fran has all he needs overseas and is pretty comfortable in Spain. I'm not saying he won't come over but it isn't looking great for the Magic.
