<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Fran Vazquez is like a ghost this time of year, still haunting instead of helping, circling to create interest but still unwilling -- or unable -- to be anything more than hope on a distant horizon. The Orlando Magic still can see him. They just can't touch him. Not yet anyway. Vazquez has been the symbol of past failed drafts for the Magic. They used the No. 11 pick in 2005 to select him -- only to discover that he wasn't mentally ready to come, leaving them more than a little embarrassed. Yet he has begun to flourish in Spain, as a highly paid, 6-foot-11, 230-pound center/forward, playing for the high-profile FC Barcelona basketball team and now seriously rethinking his decision to rebuff the Magic two years ago. He has two years remaining on his latest contract in Europe, one year with a prohibitive buyout clause that would make his appearance in Orlando this fall still highly unlikely. But at the same time, he talks often -- to teammates, friends and associates -- of still playing in the NBA. The Magic will retain his draft rights for as long as they desire. "When this one [contract] finishes, I will like to see if I can play there [Orlando],'' Vazquez wrote in an exchange of e-mails with the Sentinel last week. "Sure, I will like to play in the NBA one day. I am a more mature player, and I have improved in some areas of my game. I know I can still improve a lot, but I am working on that every day.'' "The timing for Fran [to come this summer] could not be any better. The fit now would be perfect,'' Magic General Manager Otis Smith said. "But to pull it off now, you'd have to be Houdini. I will say it's closer to happening than it was a year ago. It's something we're still working at.'' Vazquez and FC Barcelona played Game 3 of the ACB League (Spanish) Finals on Friday night, capping their spring/summer season. Through the fall and winter, they played in the Euroleague, where they reached the semifinal round in the playoffs. This season in the ACB League, Vazquez averaged 7.4 points and 4.2 rebounds in 17.4 minutes while shooting 55 percent. His Euroleague statistics were similar. He is expected to be part of the Spanish national team later this summer that plays in the Olympic Qualifying Tournament. The Magic have received inquiries recently from other NBA teams about the possibility of trading his rights, but the offers haven't been good enough yet. "His skill level never was in doubt,'' Smith said. "We've always thought he could play here. He's just now come to the comfort level where he knows it can work. We never wrote him off.'' When they picked him, his father recently had died. His mother was a domestic worker. Vazquez was from a small village far from the big-city lights of the NBA. New York, where he spent 2005 draft night, scared him. Even the next day when he came to Central Florida, Orlando intimidated him. He seemed genuinely apologetic about his decision to stay in Spain. He may have turned down a three-year guaranteed NBA rookie contract worth almost $6 million, but he signed an even bigger contract in Spain. The Magic have continued to watch him play the past two years with three different teams, making sure to visit him regularly, letting him know their interest has remained strong. "I know [the] Orlando [Magic] have been monitoring my progress, and I keep in touch with them,'' he said in an e-mail. "They have traveled to watch me play, and we talk after those games. I will like to see if I can play there.''</div> Source: Orlando Sentinel
If he does come over, even when his contract runs out in Spain in 2 years, he will still only be 26 years old and entering his prime. You wouldn't really be able to find many teams with the caliber of Dwight/Darko/Fran as your 3 headed monster in bigs.
Yeah, that would be an insane big man core. I wonder how Magic fans would react if he were to come over. I'm almost 100% positive he would be booed at first.
<div class="quote_poster">GatorsowntheNCAA Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">If he does come over, even when his contract runs out in Spain in 2 years, he will still only be 26 years old and entering his prime. You wouldn't really be able to find many teams with the caliber of Dwight/Darko/Fran as your 3 headed monster in bigs.</div> That's placing a lot of faith in FC Barcelona. Who knows how they developed him? I remember he was always seen as sort of an NBA-ready talent, but who knows if he's realized his potential the way he would have in the NBA? He's averaging rougly seven points and three boards at the moment, while starting. What's that going to translate to in the NBA?
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">That's placing a lot of faith in FC Barcelona. Who knows how they developed him? I remember he was always seen as sort of an NBA-ready talent, but who knows if he's realized his potential the way he would have in the NBA? He's averaging rougly seven points and three boards at the moment, while starting. What's that going to translate to in the NBA?</div> I dont know who he is playing with on the team, but the 7 points and 4 boards in 17 minutes is so-so. I dont know if he is their top post player or not. But with the Magic(if he ever plays) he has Dwight and Darko to take some pressure off. Im not saying he will be good im just saying
7 and 3 off the bench in the NBA wouldn't be too bad. Guys like Pau Gasol only avg something like 9 and 3 or 4 off the bench(not saying he's in Pau's league), just a comparison. Of course we don't know how he will be if he even makes it over to the NBA, but you gotta admit if he comes in 2 years a trio of Dwight(23), Darko(24), and Fran(26) all lotto pick bigs is intriguing as hell.
I wouldn't mind him actually. Doesn't he have a shoot also?? He would be a solid option off the bench and a decent backup.
If he comes back, trade his ass. I'm sorry but all Magic fans won't be forgiving as some of us posters. IF Fran was to have one bad game, everyone would hate him and threaten him to go back to Spain. Seriously if we get him, trade him away Otis.
I think the recent signings of Anthony Parker, Jorge Garbajosa, Walter Herrman, Fabricio Oberto, Andres Nocioni, etc. have shown that European players don't have to do all their development in the NBA to be serviceable and effective players. I mean, the lost time may prevent him from becoming a star in the league but he could very easily be a solid post player off the bench. From the Barcelona games I saw this year, he looked like a strong fundamental defender who played well within the offense. He still has great size and physical attributes as well. He seemed to have a short leash though and I've heard he never really fit in with the team, so that might be why he wants to give the NBA another go.
