Why we need Korolev

[jerrywest]

from AJC - (by blogger - The Truth)

I’m wondering do we throw in Korolev, the 6′9″ Russian into the mix to consider. Maybe he competes against Mario for a roster spot. I like Mario’s hustle but we already have Mo Evans under contract who is a similar 6′5″ player.

The Russian has an interesting background. This kid was the 12th pick in 2005 draft and has been called a “bust” because he has not met expectation for his draft position. This is what the sport pundits said about him when he was drafted sourced at http://www.basketballnonsense.com:

2005 – Yaroslav Korolev (Moscow), No. 12 to Clippers.

This is a puzzling pick, considering the Clippers needed a help inside. They’ve passed through the likes of Sean May, David Lee, Danny Granger and Hakim Warrick.

Obviously, based on the initial scouting report, Korolev had some game or he would not have been selected the 12th pick in the first round. OK, so he turned out to be a bust. Maybe he wasn’t mature enough during that time and didn’t culturally make the transition properly into the US; maybe now he is mature and maybe now he is ready. Yes, the “maybe”, in this case, is a bit redundant and being called a “bust” doesn’t help when you’re trying to fight for a roster spot. But there is another player who was also called a “bust” because of his high draft selection for the same reason and we are celebrating him as a new member to the Hawks roster. His name is Joe Smith. This is what the same pundit said about him:

1995 – Joe Smith (Maryland), No. 1 to Golden State

The standards are always higher when you’re the top pick. Smith has managed some respectable numbers over his career (12 points, 7 boards per game), but considering he was drafted ahead of guys like Kevin Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, Jerry Stackhouse, Michael Finley and Antonio McDyess — and that he’s been a meaningful player on a good team only twice (’00 and ‘02 Wolves) — he has to be considered a bust.

Like our celebrated Joe Smith, we may have another diamond in our mist with Korolev if he can earn a roster spot.

At this point, deep into the rotation, we are really looking for guys to emulate core players at specific positions. Since we have a void at the backup SF position, I think a Korolev type of player is more needed then Mario since he is too similar to Mo Evan in body type. But to Mo Evans credit, he is a much better offense player then Mario.

So, if destiny can repeat itself, maybe Korolev could be on the same successful track as GI Joe. (There’s that “maybe” word again)

[ATLNY7]

I think Korolev would be a good fit here.

[TeagueForMVP]

what team couldnt use another shooter i mean comon now but he would be a nice player to add, but is he a good defender?

[DrReality]

I'll say it again . . . . this is a far cry from just a couple of years ago when we were scraping the bottom of the barrel just to have guys in uniforms. Now we are talking about guys with some talent at the end of the bench. Like the looks of that.

I like the upside on this kid. You never know. He may have needed a few years to mature.

Edited August 28, 2009 by DrReality

[jy23]

I'll say it again . . . . this is a far cry from just a couple of years ago when we were scraping the bottom of the barrel just to have guys in uniforms. Now we are talking about guys with some talent at the end of the bench. Like the looks of that.

I like the upside on this kid. You never know. He may have needed a few years to mature.

And that shot looks pretty smooth!!!!!!

[DrReality]

Anyone have any info on how he has done in the last couple of years?

[DrReality]

Draftexpress said this:

Best Case: Kukoc Meets Kirilenko/ Scottie Pippen

Worst Case: Jared Jeffries

Having Jared Jefferies come off the bench wouldn't be so bad.

[jerrywest]

Draftexpress said this:

Best Case: Kukoc Meets Kirilenko/ Scottie Pippen

Worst Case: Jared Jeffries

Having Jared Jefferies come off the bench wouldn't be so bad.

if this guy could play defense like Jefferies with a shooting motion like that, he would have been in the league long ago. I don't think those comparisons mean anything in this case. Can this guy handle like pippen/kukoc? is this guy versatile like kirilenko/pippen/kukoc? is this guy tough like kirilinko?

[Blunt91]

if this guy could play defense like Jefferies with a shooting motion like that, he would have been in the league long ago. I don't think those comparisons mean anything in this case. Can this guy handle like pippen/kukoc? is this guy versatile like kirilenko/pippen/kukoc? is this guy tough like kirilinko?

If invited to training camp, I could see him and Mario West battling for a spot on our roster. I know we can carry up to 15 guys but this year I don't see us carrying more than 14 players on the roster.

[jy23]

If invited to training camp, I could see him and Mario West battling for a spot on our roster. I know we can carry up to 15 guys but this year I don't see us carrying more than 14 players on the roster.

Yea I really don't think we would need both of them. Like you said carrying 14 players is quite enough this year! And since people have said that we offered mario a deal and he hasn't accepted yet I hope we sign Korolev, I mean does mario think he's going to get a better deal from another team or something, really?

[AHF]

if this guy could play defense like Jefferies with a shooting motion like that, he would have been in the league long ago. I don't think those comparisons mean anything in this case. Can this guy handle like pippen/kukoc? is this guy versatile like kirilenko/pippen/kukoc? is this guy tough like kirilinko?

That is exactly right. Keep the expectations in check here. Jeffries has been in the league since being drafted so Korolov is already below the worst case scenario from draft express. That doesn't mean he can't redeem himself, but the guy isn't anything like Pippen, Kukoc and AK-47.

[DrReality]

But anyone who takes this spot on the roster has to have a specific skill that benefits the team. West brings that with his defense. Don't know that K. does.

[Peoriabird]

But anyone who takes this spot on the roster has to have a specific skill that benefits the team. West brings that with his defense. Don't know that K. does.

West's defense is vastly overated.

[Blunt91]

West's defense is vastly overated.

Yeah his defense was better his 1st year with us as opposed to last season.

[sturt]

Been reading up on the guy this evening, and what I've found is that, next to Marvin, there was probably no one in the 2005 draft of whom it was said more often something like, "This guy isn't going to produce instant results, but in a few years, he could develop." Yet, he was released in the preseason going into just his 3rd NBA season. At age 22, it seems reasonable to think that he's worthy of serious consideration. Of course, I would be one to endorse him b/c I've been chattering about identifying someone with his skill set and his build for the last few weeks. I'd prefer someone who has actually cracked another team's rotation, but at this point in the off-season, Korolev would seem to be as good an idea as any.

Edited August 29, 2009 by sturt

[BigDirty]

Anyone have any info on how he has done in the last couple of years?

He played around 5 minutes per game the last two seasons for Dynamo Moscow.

[sturt]

from AJC - (by blogger - The Truth)

I’m wondering do we throw in Korolev, the 6′9″ Russian into the mix to consider. Maybe he competes against Mario for a roster spot. I like Mario’s hustle but we already have Mo Evans under contract who is a similar 6′5″ player.

Couple more thoughts... I'd re-think that word "need" in the header.

Secondly, Korolev would occupy a slot in the roster that, right now, is not filled--ie, an old-school forward, ie someone who can legitimately play either SF or PF.

And fwiw, I don't consider Mario and Mo to be all that similar, though they just happen to be about the same height. Further, Mo is actually in the nightly rotation; Mario is more of a defensive specialist that fills a niche that arises much less often. I'm happy to have both of them, w/o regard to Korolev's status.

[DrReality]

If we sign Collins doesn't look like there will be a lot of room for him.

[ATLNY7]

Maybe we should get Siler first.

[MaceCase]

Maybe we should get Siler first.

As of now it's a sort of an open competition to see who fills out the rest of our roster at training camp rather than just a question of who we sign first. That is, of course, unless some other viable veteran becomes available whom we're high on. I doubt Collins is that vet, he may battle it out with the rest of the camp invites because I don't see us offering him a guranteed contract unless Siler is not as far along as we'd hope.