HoopsHype.com Rumors

Center Ante Tomic has reportedly signed a three-year contract with FC Barcelona. The 7-foot-2, 220-pound Croatian big man was drafted No. 44 overall by the Jazz in 2008, but never played a game for Utah. A message left for Jazz General Manager Kevin O'Connor on Thursday was not immediately returned. Sulia

Utah Jazz, Draft, Ante Tomic, FC Barcelona, Spain 

Paco Rabadan: (Jazz draftee) Ante Tomic will sign with CSKA Moscow next week. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Draft, Ante Tomic, CSKA Moscow 

Anadolu Efes wants Ante Tomic. Encestando

Ante Tomic, Turkey, Anadolu Efes 

David Locke: Kevin O'Connor on Ante Tomic "He needs to explode over there. he makes a lot of money over there " Twitter

Ante Tomic, Kevin O'Connor, Transactions, Utah Jaz 

Brian T. Smith: Jazz don't plan to see Tomic in Europe. Asked for update about Tomic, Corbin said he wasn't sure how he figured into Utah's plans. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Real Madrid, Ante Tomic 

I would be very surprised if (Ante Tomic) ended up playing in the NBA. And judging by what his agent told me, so would he. He could probably play in the NBA and be a decent backup, because he can really score, but he's not very tough and will struggle with everything that has to do with defense and rebounding. I think he's probably better suited physically and mentally for Europe and he'll be paid more over there anyway. HoopsWorld

Utah Jazz, Real Madrid, Ante Tomic 

Lucas Saez-Bravo: Ante Tomic is close to re-signing with Real Madrid. Twitter

Utah Jazz, Real Madrid, Ante Tomic 

How's the NBA thing right now? Ante Tomic: Nothing's going on. I don't think about it. I'm focused on playing with Real Madrid and winning titles with the team. But there were a lot of NBA scouts during the last Spanish King's Cup... Tomic: Yes, I know there were some who came to see me, but I'm committed to the Jazz and I will play with them when I go to the NBA. La Gaceta

Utah Jazz, Real Madrid, Ante Tomic 

Jazz director of player personnel Walt Perrin on signing Ante Tomic next season: "It's too early to say. That's why I came to take a look. It's depends on what he wants to do and our financial situation. It's a little early to make a decision now." TuBasket.com

Utah Jazz, Real Madrid, Ante Tomic 

O'Connor said 23-year-old Croatian center Ante Tomic will play for Real Madrid this season, and will not take the court for the Jazz. The 7-foot-1, 240-pound Tomic was selected by Utah with the No. 44 overall pick during the second round of the 2008 NBA Draft. Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Jazz, Real Madrid, Ante Tomic 

Jerry Zgoda: Background #TImberwolves-Jazz talks: Doubt Utah will give him, but Rambis paid special attention to prospect C Ante Tomic on Europe trip Twitter

Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz, Free Agency, Ante Tomic 

But after playing with center Ante Tomic this past season in Spain, Utah Valley State product and former BYU star Travis Hansen - recovering himself from recent back surgery - has no doubt that the Jazz's 2008 second-round draft choice can play in the NBA. "Ante Tomic is nice," Hansen, with extra emphasis on 'nice', said during an appearance Sunday night on KSL-TV Ch. 5's "SportsBeat" show. "I really like him, man. "He's 7-(foot)-1, 7-2. He's a little bit skinny, but he's a lot like (Los Angeles Lakers All-Star) Pau Gasol. He can move. He's got great lateral quickness. He's got a great touch. He can shoot the 15-footer - you know, right, left, back-to-the-basket. He's phenomenal." KSL.com

Utah Jazz, Ante Tomic 

But the wait will be well worth it, suggested Hansen, a Mountain View High product who played 41 NBA games for the Atlanta Hawks during the 2003-04 season and since has spent his career in Spain and Russia. "Yes, he can help them," Hansen told KSL's Tom Kirkland. "I mean, he's got to gain a little bit of weight. And it's tough in Europe, because they're not big on lifting weights; they're huge on being quick. "But give him one, maybe two more years there (in Madrid), and they (the Jazz) are gonna have to pay him some money to come over here. I mean, he's a player." KSL.com

Utah Jazz, Ante Tomic