<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Even though Lithuanian great Arvydas Sabonis, the owner of Zalgiris, has asked the young giant to wait and spend another year in Europe, Andriuskevicius is going to follow his own intuition. "I recently sent the letter in which I make myself eligible for the next NBA draft," said Andriuskevicius. "Arvydas Sabonis has advised me to wait, but I want to try, I am even ready to spend one season on the bench, training to improve and get more strength, in order to play against the best the following season. "I know that many people have said that I will be chosen quite high up but I haven't set myself any objectives. "I haven't decided if I will go straight away to the United States, I will have to evaluate certain things before deciding.</div> Source
Good news report Shape. When I was in europe for a while I had the chance to study some footage of his gameplay, he seems like a good kid. He even knows what he needs to work on and isn't cocky about it either.
The hype is premature on this guy,while he's tall and mobile,there is still no news he has yet had a single game where he showed more than a couple of highlights. A team holding a top 5 pick wants to at least come up with a decent player,I'd think. Around slot 8-9-10 taking a chance on a tall project may seem more sensible. Even so, getting picked #9 means huge money if you're a 19 yr old Lithuanian,so from his angle,why not?
I think he could have used another more year, to develop but there is a lot of teams in the lottery that can use centers, and like Shape said in another thread that you can't teach 7'3". He has a chance of going as early as #2 to the Bobcats or as late as #9 to the Knicks. Seven foot three, 19 years old, and drawing comparisons to "Big Z", why not take a chance on him.
Wait!! he definetly shoulda waited one more year to declare. It would have helped his position tremendously in what figures to be a watered down draft next year with the imposing age-limit. No high schoolers or freshman jumping would really help him draftwise. Plus he isnt developed enough to impact just yet
If Andriuskevicius had stayed another year, and continued to improve his game and body, his stock would've risen even higher. Scouts don't have much expectations for an immediate impact in the NBA from him, and whoever drafts him will know that they are taking a project on. It could defintely pay off, given his height and all, but the results should take some seasons. Having another year to become a better player before he entered the NBA wouldn't have hurt, and teams would like how they could expect some more production from him immediately.
