<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> The Jazz have reached agreement on a contract with center Kyrylo Fesenko and are expected to announce the signing of their second-round draft pick as early as today, sources said Monday. Fesenko will sign a three-year contract, and the Jazz will pay the $500,000 buyout to his Ukrainian team. Although Fesenko's development could take years, the Jazz have decided the best place for the 7-foot-1, 272-pound, 20-year-old is the NBA. What Fesenko's signing means for Rafael Araujo, the Jazz's No. 3 center last season, remains to be seen. The Jazz have talked about inviting Araujo to training camp on a non-guaranteed contract with a chance to make the team. But Araujo, an unrestricted free agent, is weighing his options, including the possibility of playing in Europe. The NBA career of the former No. 8 overall draft pick from Brigham Young could be on hold for now. "He's not opposed to [Europe] at all, frankly,'' agent Jim McDowell said. "The NBA hasn't been all that friendly to this guy since he showed up, when you get down to it." It is McDowell's belief that Araujo has been unfairly criticized for failing to live up to expectations when he has played sporadically throughout his three-year career. In fact, Araujo has played in the equivalent of just 33 full games. </div> <div align="center">Source: Salt Lake Tribune</div>
Given some actual play time, Araujo is probably a lot better than Collins........... but that's not saying much...... This Fesenko dude better be good. We haven't had a good true center for a while.
Rafael Araujo has been blackballed for some reason when I think that he is better than every team's third string pure center in the league. He is not the shot blocker or back to the basket threat that all GM's covet but he is physical, works extremely hard, and is still developing. If some team doesn't look to bring him at a minimum salary it is a shame. There are plenty worst centers who have gotten at least the mid level exception.
The kid's just weak mentally. He's got the body and the work ethic to be a solid 2nd/3rd string centre, but he just makes the dumbest mistakes when he's on the court and makes it hard for a coach to look to him consistently. I think it'd be better for him to play overseas for a while. He needs playing time to develop, more than anything, and I doubt he'll get that in the NBA anytime soon.
Hoffa was a pretty good player every few games he got in, but Fesenko has much more upside than people realize. There aren't many 7'1" big men that are coordinated, let alone athletic. He may have a bad off the court ethic, but he won't be able to go party much in Utah. Hoffa didn't get many minutes anyways, so Fesenko will be able to slip right into his role no problem. Also Fesenko can somewhat shoot, while Hoffa thinks he can shoot Okur should be able to help groom Fesenko into a good role player, so I think Fesenko will be in a good situation here. BTW, Hoffa got a camp invite today, so he's not completely gone
I've never heard of Fesenko, until I was reading a few days ago. Now I'm not a Jazz fan, but Araujo can't make the transition at all and has been given a chance already. So it'd be smart(er) to keep Fesenko.
Fesenko was taken by the Jazz in the latest draft, he is a legitimate seven footer from Ukraine, has a good wingspan and is athletic. That's always a good start. Not much is known about him, though I've read he can dunk well and is always looking to do it. He also likes to block shots to a fault. Low risk, potential high reward pick. If Araujo doesn't come back to the Jazz, I hope he can find a team where he'll get minutes. For everything you hear about players only playing for money and so forth, this season Araujo has worked hard throughout, turning up early to training and leaving late, and never complained. He's got the size, and is good enough to be on a roster.
