Rokas Giedraitis: Of course I want to play in the NBA. I want to try to be there. A couple of years ago I had said that I can fit well in some NBA teams. But, in basketball, there’s hard work and some part of luck. I think time will show. I have a lot of job to do right now, so I don’t think about the NBA now. Every kid who plays basketball wants to try out for the NBA.
NBA Rumor: Rokas Giedraitis to the NBA?
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Have there been any NBA teams that have shown interest in you? It was reported that a couple of teams were considering you as an option on a two-way contract. Rokas Giedraitis: I don’t know. When I got this two-way contract offer, I was thinking that it’s unbelievable because it’s from NBA teams, but at the time, I was 26 and was thinking that it was better to play some more basketball in Europe.
Donatas Urbonas: Rokas Giedraitis rejected few NBA Summer League invitations. Last year few teams considered him on a two-way contract and now he is under the NBA radar, sources confirmed. Giedraitis is still under the contract with ALBA and will make his Euroleague debut next season.
You’ll be 27 this summer. Players like Dairis Bertans made the jump during this season… Are you open to trying to make it to the NBA? Rokas Giedraitis: I am right now focused on finishing the season as well as possible and hopefully win the BBL title. But yes, I am definitely open to it. Last summer there was some interest from some NBA teams in me and it’s obviously a dream of mine to one day play there.
You signed a three-year deal with Alba Berlin last summer. Are the contract terms still the same as when you signed? Rokas Giedraitis: Yes. I signed a three-year contract in the summer of 2018 and I have an opt-out clause if I get an NBA offer.
Rokas Giedraitis: There were concrete talks last season with one NBA team and I know from my agents that there are teams that are showing interest this season. If the right opportunity comes by, I would definitely be open to it.
January 26, 2021 | 2:01 am EST Update
Nets hoping for Andre Drummond buyout?
Meanwhile, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer reported on a podcast with Andrew Yang, the former presidential candidate, that the Nets have their eyes on Drummond who’s playing on an expiring $28.7 million contract. ”People around the league say the Nets are hoping that Andre Drummond, the Cavs center, gets bought out. That’s what people say they’re hoping for but that’s unlikely because Cleveland is still in it,” referring to the playoff hunt.
John Wall: 'They thought I was done'
“I just wish I would have known up front and not have to beat around the bush to figure things out. That’s just my motivation there. They thought I was done. Basically, that’s how I feel. This is my opportunity to show them that I’m not done. But the most important thing for me is get the win. I don’t care how many numbers I have, it’s about getting the win. That’s the most important thing because if I get 40 and then we lose, the trade don’t look as bad from their aspect because they beat us that one game they did play us. So, my ultimate goal is to try to get a win for my team tomorrow.”
Well, that’s going to be hard to imagine once you hear his extended thoughts on playing the Wizards on Tuesday, which he shared with NBC Sports Washington’s Chris Miller. Now with the Rockets, Wall admitted facing the Wizards is personal after how his exit was handled, and that he is out for revenge. “Just seeing everybody that’s over there, a lot of people that’s on that side that probably didn’t believe I could come back to be the person I am. And probably some people that had a little say so into me being traded,” Wall told Miller. “I feel like it was a whole process and it wasn’t just something that happened overnight. I think this was in the works. That’s my motivation. Who wouldn’t want to beat the team that traded them and felt like I was done?”
“Most importantly, all I really wanted from the start of all of it was just to be told the truth. That’s the most important thing and what made it so hard for me to understand what was going on because I wasn’t told the truth. I understand it’s a business and things go on and people move on and you get traded, organizations in different ways. When I heard the rumors, I called and asked are these true or are these something not to worry about? From that day forward, all I heard was ‘no, those rumors aren’t true, don’t worry about it.’ In all reality, it was true,” Wall said.
“Outside of James [Harden] not showing up to training camp and not wanting to be here, everything else was amazing,” Wall told NBC Sports Washington’s Chris Miller. “The most important thing is we couldn’t control what he wanted to do and at the same time as an organization, you’ve gotta understand they wanna handle it the way they wanna handle it.”
“He’s always happy. I’ve never seen LeBron mad — he’s always happy,” Davis told CBS Sports. “But on the flipside, he’s so determined and hard-working for basketball. So it’s a balance, and you’ve got to find a balance.”
