Tag Archive for 'Primoz Brezec'

Herrmann and Brezec updates

Published by Matt Watson on June 17, 2008 in Former Pistons and Rumors. 29 Comments

From Ball in Europe last Friday:

Walter Herrmann, the current Detroit Piston confirmed to Greece’s Gazzetta newspaper that he has an offer from a Greek team. There are, of course, only two possibilities: Olympiakos and Panathinaikos.

Herrmann, who averaged 3.4 points and 1.6 rebounds per game in the Motor City, is the typical NBA player that can make a way more interesting stay in Europe than in the NBA. Serving only as a limited role player in the United States, Herrmann can firstly earn more money in Europe and secondly also play a far larger role in a very competitive championship, the Euroleague.

[…] The craziest rumor is, however, the possible return of Primoz Brezec to his home country of Slovenia. Apparently, a very rich entrepreneur wants to pay Brezec’ salary while he would play for Olimpija Ljubljana. How true this is, has yet to be verified but Brezec has already stated that he won’t stay in the NBA for less than USD 3 million (about EUR 1.5 million net), a salary that top European teams like Barcelona where he is rumored to go, can pay.

(Note: those two links were from Ball in Europe’s original post, though I swapped out the first one for Google’s Greek-to-English translation. Unfortunately, Google doesn’t have a Slovenian-to-English translation for the second link. My apologies to everyone sitting on the edge of their seat for the latest Brezec news — there must be hundreds dozens one or two of you.)

Update: DBB reader GD offers an interesting translation to part of the Brezec interview in the comments:

“I was really disappointed with Flip Saunders. I don’t know what he is so afraid of. As a coach he is absolutely afraid to make any risky moves. If he could have it his way he would play the whole season with five players only. He lacks authority and his players practically ignore him.”

Disclaimer: I don’t speak Slovenian so I can’t verify this, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is accurate, especially considering the way Brezec burned his bridges in Charlotte.

ReSignPrimoz

Published by Matt Watson on March 25, 2008 in Alley-Oops. 2 Comments

They really, really like Primoz Brezec in Toronto. (via TrueHoop)

Primoz smells good

Published by Matt Watson on March 10, 2008 in Alley-Oops and Former Pistons. 1 Comment

Sorry, but here’s another Primoz anecdote: Primoz Brezec, though, seems to have moved on from the tough loss rather quickly. His locker is next to Calderon’s, who is taking questions from a throng of media, and Primoz is busy apparently prepping himself for the remainder of the evening. I observe the tall Slovenian spray himself with cologne no less than 15 times – up and down both of his arms, on his chest, and even on the back of his neck – and I begin to feel sorry for the poor young woman who will have to endure that insanely strong scent tonight.

Primoz will bleep your mascot

Published by Matt Watson on March 5, 2008 in Alley-Oops and Former Pistons. 0 Comments

Primoz Brezec’s sideline antics continue: [A] spy sitting courtside tells me during one timeout the Magaic mascot, a not particularly fearsome looking dragon, was goofing around near the Raptor bench. Seems Primoz Brezec, for some reason known only to Primoz Brezec, took great umbrage at a stuffed animal having fun and slugged the thing. Then he tells him, ‘bleep you, I’ll bleep you up.’ (via Skeets)

Primoz Brezec wanted to stay

Published by Matt Watson on February 25, 2008 in Former Pistons. 16 Comments

Michael Grange of the Toronto Globe and Mail (who, incidentally, is becoming one of my favorite out-of-town beat writers to read) has a funny article about former Piston and new Raptors center Primoz Brezec:

Can Brezec play? We don’t know. Can he talk? Absolutely, and the Slovenian big man does it in almost perfect gangsta slang. Why does a Slovenian talk like a rapper? Fellow Slovenian Rasho Nesterovic speculates it might be because he broke into the NBA in Indiana.

“[Your English] depends on where you start in the NBA,” said Nesterovic. “I started in Minnesota, he started in Indiana. That’s a pretty tough organization to pick up English.”

So true; it’s funny to hear Brezec talk, he ends almost every sentence with a heavily accented “man.” Back to the article …

Q. How do you feel about the trade?

“To tell you the truth, at first I wasn’t that excited. I wanted to stay in Detroit and win a championship, I want to play there, I don’t want to sit on the bench. I was not so happy, Toronto’s got a lot of bigs. But now, talking to Bryan and Maurizio, I know I’m going to get a shot here. I just want an opportunity to play. In Detroit there was no playing time. I’m excited now. I know this is a great organization, Bryan is doing a great job, a lot of European guys. I know Sam, he was in Charlotte before I was there, I love it so far. I love the city, love the organization, they sell out every night. I want to be here. Hopefully I’m not going to be here for one year, hopefully I’m going to be here long term.”

Q. What went wrong in Detroit?

“What went wrong? I’d rather not say. Everyone knows the problem in Detroit, you know. Great players, great organization. I don’t have one bad word, one bad thing to say. Joe Dumars is the man. The first to the 15th guys make you feel like family. But no playing time, man. No playing time. I was just looking for a chance, and I didn’t get it. In a month-and-a-half, two months, all I got was garbage time. That’s not me man. I’ve been a starter in this league, I know I can play, so I’m not going to sit on the bench. I guarantee you that. I am not going to sit on the bench.”

I’m mildly amused at his desire to stay in Toronto “long term” — he said the exact same thing when he arrived in Detroit from Charlotte. Maybe he’s sincere, or maybe he’s just really worried about being a free agent this summer.

Raptors new big man has the gift of gab / Toronto Globe and Mail (via Garrett)

Appreciating Primoz

Published by Matt Watson on February 22, 2008 in Alley-Oops. 6 Comments

Recognizing Primoz Brezec’s place in Pistons history. Update: Some of my thoughts. (scroll down to halftime)

Pistons swap Primoz Brezec for Juan Dixon

Published by Matt Watson on February 21, 2008 in Transactions. 54 Comments

The Pistons didn’t completely sit on their hands at the deadline. From the DetNews:

They sent Primoz Brezec to Toronto for guard Juan Dixon.

Dixon, 29, averaged 4.3 points and 11.8 minutes in 36 games for the Raptors this season.

He was a first-round pick (17th overall) by Washington in 2002 out of Maryland. He has played for Washington, Portland and Toronto.

Both Brezec and Dixon have expiring deals, so this was purely about shifting assets. The move is slightly curious, though, considering the backcourt wasn’t considered a position of need for the Pistons, especially with Lindsey Hunter and Flip Murray not even active these days.

Dixon is probably upgrade over Murray, though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Murray was soon released. If that happens, the Pistons would have an extra roster spot to play with. Might we see yet another return of Ronald Dupree? Here’s my vote: sign D-League blog-star Rod Benson, just because.

Update: Here’s my extended take at HOOPSWORLD.

Update: From Krista Jahnke’s Freep blog:

With Brezec gone, the move also gives the Pistons a need for a fifth, insurance-type big man. After clearing Murray, the Pistons will move to fill their open roster spot by adding a veteran big man for the veteran’s minimum.

A likely candidate to take that job is Dale Davis, who is not playing but was on the Pistons roster in 2005-06 and 2006-07. Davis was recently seen hanging with his old teammates and chatting with Dumars after the team played in Atlanta on Feb. 12.

Brezec’s accessories

Published by Matt Watson on January 2, 2008 in Alley-Oops. 3 Comments

I’m curious, how long do you think it takes Primoz Brezec to get dressed for each game?

Nazr Mohammed (finally) traded

Published by Matt Watson on December 14, 2007 in Transactions. 61 Comments

I just saw it on ESPN, and after checking around it seems A. Sherrod Blakely is the first to print:

The Pistons are set to announce a trade with Charlotte that will send Nazr Mohammed to the Hornets, in exchange for Walter Hermann and Primoz Brezec. I’ll have more details later. The Pistons also requested waivers on Ronald Dupree.

Very interesting — Brezec is a capable C in a “takes up space” kind of way and Hermann is an awfully intriguing SF/PF.

Update: Above and beyond what Joe Dumars thinks of these two players, it’s hard not to think money wasn’t a factor: Nazr has three years left on his deal after this season; Hermann and Brezec, meanwhile, are free agents at the end of the season. Plus, the Pistons will shave money off their payroll this year: Nazr was scheduled to make $938,200 more than Hermann and Brezec combined this year.

Late update: I glazed right over the fact the little blurb above said Hornets, that’s kind of funny …