Skita article on Realgm

coloradosun

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Posts
1,393
Reaction score
0
http://www.suns.realgm.com/articles/78/20060201/reunion_in_phoenix_may_result_in_a_m.i.p._in_06_07/


g
Good article about Skita being in the wrong situations to succeed. In Denver his coaches were Jeff Bzdelik and Micheal Cooper. He played in 81 games as a rookie but once Melo was drafted he was destined for the pine. Karl was brought in one month before he was traded to GS. In GS he was acquired right around the time Baron Davis was acquired, so Montgomery's system was be retooled to fit Davis' game.

Not sure why he signed with Minnesota but it became our advantage once they made the Wally for Ricky deal. I think he will come out of his shell next season.

Sorry can't get the link to work.
 
Last edited:

jbeecham

ASFN Addict
Joined
Sep 12, 2002
Posts
6,250
Reaction score
583
Location
Phoenix, AZ
The link didn't work for me so here's the article:

Reunion In Phoenix May Result In A M.I.P. In 06-07
J.T. Magee - 1st February, 2006 5:08 PM


“With the fifth pick overall, the Denver Nuggets select… Nikoloz Tskishvilli.”

Who?

That’s what everyone asked, and people are still asking. When the media and fans associate a European bust, they come up with “Skita.” It may be fair, since he has basically done nothing in his career, but with a reunion with his former coach, he just may become the ’06-’07 Most improved Player.

It may be way too early to say something like that, but if there is one place where he can turn his career around, it is Phoenix. Head Coach Mike D’Antoni was a former player in Italy. In fact, Kobe Bryant wears the number 8 because that was D’Antoni’s number in Italy, when Bryant lived there with his dad. D’Antoni would become the eventual Head Coach of Benetton Treviso, the same team that signed a young Georgian to a long-term deal early on in his career. D’Antoni knew what he was capable of and convinced a friend of his, at the time, a former assistant for the Denver Nuggets , to draft him because he could become a Dirk Nowitzki with better ball handling. Not even looking at a single second of game tape, the Nuggets went ahead and drafted him.

That’s where the downfall began. Tskitishvilli was thrust into a very terrible Nuggets team and they expected him to become the player he was capable of being. He needed a lot more time that what they gave him. They gave him too many minutes. Too many for a kid still trying to learn a completely different style of basketball, let alone another language. Being put into a rough situation is hard for any young player, but for a kid whose game was never fully polished coming in, in was impossible to succeed.

The Nuggets righted the ship when they brought in Kiki Vandeweghe as their General Manager. He landed Carmelo Anthony. Not much to say there, except for he plays the same position as Skita. From there, Skita would ride the pine until his contract expired. He went to Minnesota and never received any playing time. Hence the deal that sent him to the only place in the NBA where he will have a chance to become the player he was supposed to be.

Tskitishvilli possesses a lot of skills that players his size lack. He can handle the rock. He’s one the few players that can create with the ball, whether it be for himself or others. Phoenix and the amount of space that will be available for him will only make the transition earlier for him. It also doesn’t hurt that your former Head Coach is now the Head Coach for the team you get traded to.

This may all read as if Skita is a decent player, but to be considered the Most Improved Player after he gets traded for a second rounder? A very low second rounder? Well, this kid has a lot of talent that no one has seen. The Timberwolves staff has seen it in practice everyday. He was in the wrong situation at the wrong time. The trade cleared up a roster spot so the Wolves could get Ricky Davis, but Skita landed on a team where he can average 10, 4 and 4. In about 10-15 minutes. The kid has that much talent; it just hasn’t been seen yet because of a lot of bad situations. There are a few other reasons that factor into why he’s going to be the M.I.P.

One, is it’s a great story for the media to eat up. Like Boris Diaw, who came out of nowhere to become a stud for the Suns, Skita can be the next guy that can do the same. The numbers or minutes won’t be there, but who wouldn’t eat up a former bust reviving his career for his former Italian coach after being traded for a second round pick who may not even make the Wolves roster? And the second reason?

Contract year. If he remains with the team through August, his contract becomes guaranteed. It’s a very low salary and if he shows enough in practice, as well as the Summer League, which he will, he’ll get a spot on a team that is too deep for its own good but in a good way. They have the offensive talent, now especially with Skita, to make the opposing team’s defensive scheme a nightmare. He will show people that he can still play in limited minutes. His career averages will most likely double because of the minutes he’s going to receive. But a player always plays for his future in a contract year. Next year is the year for Skita.

It all adds up to the Suns, once again, getting the better of their trading partners. Minnesota may look at it as trading Skita and the likes for Ricky Davis and co., but the Suns saw it as an opportunity to snatch up a young talent for very cheap. A former Lottery pick for the price of a second rounder? If everything goes accordingly, Skita will show why he was a Lottery pick. And then some.
 
OP
OP
C

coloradosun

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Posts
1,393
Reaction score
0
Thanks.

How did you get that article transposed like that.
 
OP
OP
C

coloradosun

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Posts
1,393
Reaction score
0
fordronken said:
So, did D'Antoni indirectly lead to the Suns being able to draft Stoudemire? Now that's a Coach of the Year!

I think he did send up some bluffs to the Nuggets in regards to Skita and it helped Amare fall into their hands. No better way to diss the team that fired you by getting Amare and Skita and put them into his system.
 

Arizona's Finest

Your My Favorite Mistake
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Posts
9,709
Reaction score
1
fordronken said:
So, did D'Antoni indirectly lead to the Suns being able to draft Stoudemire? Now that's a Coach of the Year!

:biglaugh:

It was all part of the master plan....

Hopefully Denver doesn't try to repay the favor by sending KMart to dispense "advice" to Amare on how to handle things after the microfractrure surgery.....
 

Chaplin

Better off silent
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
46,439
Reaction score
16,966
Location
Round Rock, TX
D'Antoni joined the staff in June 2002, the same month that we drafted Amare. I wonder if he even had enough time to throw smokescreens up to Denver. I seriously doubt it.
 

Arizona's Finest

Your My Favorite Mistake
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Posts
9,709
Reaction score
1
Chaplin said:
D'Antoni joined the staff in June 2002, the same month that we drafted Amare. I wonder if he even had enough time to throw smokescreens up to Denver. I seriously doubt it.

i think ford was being facitious....it is well known that the Suns might have even drafted Skita over Amare if they had had the chance. They liked him that much
 

jibikao

Registered User
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Posts
3,390
Reaction score
0
This Skita guy sounds very good. I mean he is playing for the former coach who should understand him well.

I am excited for him now!

I haven't seen him playing yet but he sounds like a Dirk-like player. Being 7 feet tall and able to create his own shots, which we need! We need more players that can create his own shots.

Is he Dirk like? Better defense? I hope? lol
 

Chaplin

Better off silent
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
46,439
Reaction score
16,966
Location
Round Rock, TX
Arizona's Finest said:
i think ford was being facitious....it is well known that the Suns might have even drafted Skita over Amare if they had had the chance. They liked him that much

I was responding more to colorado.
 

elindholm

edited for content
Joined
Sep 14, 2002
Posts
27,521
Reaction score
9,760
Location
L.A. area
I love how each sportswriter, upon first learning that Bryant wears #8 in D'Antoni's honor, just has to find a way to work it into his next story, no matter how far-fetched and irrelevant the connection is.
 

jbeecham

ASFN Addict
Joined
Sep 12, 2002
Posts
6,250
Reaction score
583
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Chaplin said:
D'Antoni joined the staff in June 2002, the same month that we drafted Amare. I wonder if he even had enough time to throw smokescreens up to Denver. I seriously doubt it.

The Suns decision to draft Amare if he was available was probably already decided before D'Antoni joined the team. It's possible he was in negotiations with the Suns and they asked him to contact Denver to get a feel for who they were going to use their 2 1st round picks on.
 

jbeecham

ASFN Addict
Joined
Sep 12, 2002
Posts
6,250
Reaction score
583
Location
Phoenix, AZ
jibikao said:
This Skita guy sounds very good. I mean he is playing for the former coach who should understand him well.

I am excited for him now!

I haven't seen him playing yet but he sounds like a Dirk-like player. Being 7 feet tall and able to create his own shots, which we need! We need more players that can create his own shots.

Is he Dirk like? Better defense? I hope? lol

I don't think he's anywhere near the level of Dirk except maybe on the defensive level (and his height). He is supposed to have the tools and potential to be a good ball handler and outside shooter, but he hasn't shown those skills on an NBA level yet. Defensively, I haven't heard anything on his abilities, which usually means he isn't very good.
 

boisesuns

Standing Tall And Traded
Joined
Sep 22, 2002
Posts
4,076
Reaction score
336
Location
Boise, ID
If Skita can come in and play some effective mins, and when Brian Grant comes back, our Big man rotation will be pretty solid.
 

Chaz

observationist
Joined
Mar 11, 2003
Posts
11,327
Reaction score
7
Location
Wandering the Universe
Arizona's Finest said:
i think ford was being facitious....it is well known that the Suns might have even drafted Skita over Amare if they had had the chance. They liked him that much


BC said on Gambo and Ash last week that Amare was their guy all the way. They would not have taken Skita ahead of Amare.


Of course then what else is he going to say after the fact? lol
 
OP
OP
C

coloradosun

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Posts
1,393
Reaction score
0
Chaplin said:
I was responding more to colorado.

It could have been offered by a third party, who knows if D'A had contact with the Nuggets after his departure but if someone on the Nuggets staff was getting the lowdown it may have affected their decision to draft Skita.

The Nuggets could have had Nene and Amare and possibly Melo if their draft position was the same. That may have happened with Bzdelik as the coach.
 
OP
OP
C

coloradosun

Hall of Famer
Joined
Jun 3, 2004
Posts
1,393
Reaction score
0
SirChaz said:
BC said on Gambo and Ash last week that Amare was their guy all the way. They would not have taken Skita ahead of Amare.


Of course then what else is he going to say after the fact? lol

They were trying to move up but the disinformation worked because Amare did fall.

The Nuggets may have wanted to out smart their old coach by taking the player he may have wanted for his new team.
 

Arizona's Finest

Your My Favorite Mistake
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Posts
9,709
Reaction score
1
SirChaz said:
BC said on Gambo and Ash last week that Amare was their guy all the way. They would not have taken Skita ahead of Amare.


Of course then what else is he going to say after the fact? lol

Seriously....can you imagine if they had said "Oh man we wanted Skita all along. Too bad he was picked and we had to settle for the high school kid"

Turns out it worked out in the end anyway.....
 

Chaplin

Better off silent
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
46,439
Reaction score
16,966
Location
Round Rock, TX
Arizona's Finest said:
Seriously....can you imagine if they had said "Oh man we wanted Skita all along. Too bad he was picked and we had to settle for the high school kid"

Turns out it worked out in the end anyway.....

Yeah, now we have both... Funny how things work out in the end.
 

F-Dog

lurker
Joined
Aug 27, 2003
Posts
3,637
Reaction score
0
Location
Tucson
jbeecham said:
The Suns decision to draft Amare if he was available was probably already decided before D'Antoni joined the team. It's possible he was in negotiations with the Suns and they asked him to contact Denver to get a feel for who they were going to use their 2 1st round picks on.

This reminds me of a post from a Nugget board:

Guys think about it.
Place: Italy, a dark steamy room, early spring 2002:

"Skita, I think you should go get paid in the NBA right now." says D'Antoni
"You do?" says Skita
"Yes. However, I want you to play at 20% of your capability. Play badly, ruin your stock, and then I will obtain another head-coaching position in the NBA and trade for you. We will go on to win at least 10 championships together." says DAn
"I will do as you wish" says Skita

:lol:
 

Arizona's Finest

Your My Favorite Mistake
Joined
Jun 11, 2005
Posts
9,709
Reaction score
1
Chaplin said:
Yeah, now we have both... Funny how things work out in the end.

Besides the disaster that is Amare's knee ( i remember the night i read it on the board i was drunk and i started to tear up. It was after UA had lost to Illinois and i realized the Cardianls season was already up in smoke and i kept thikning "Why me?". I went to bed that night thinking it was a bad dream) everything else has been coming up roses....even when a move is questionable it seems to work out unbeliveably for us (see; Diaw, Boris)

This is not a product of luck....Great management by Sarver and BC. I actually think JC taking on more of a consulting role was a large factor as well, as he seemed to make descions of the heart all to often. It gained us the reputation as a first class franchise, but now Sarver is taking that rep and molding it with a smart economic model that will ensure our success for years.

Suns I dont know what i would do with out you. Thank You Thank You for being one team that I can actually crow about. Everything else has been a hopeless circle of misery......
 

Chaz

observationist
Joined
Mar 11, 2003
Posts
11,327
Reaction score
7
Location
Wandering the Universe
Arizona's Finest said:
Seriously....can you imagine if they had said "Oh man we wanted Skita all along. Too bad he was picked and we had to settle for the high school kid"

Turns out it worked out in the end anyway.....



Based on an interview with JC soon after that draft I think they were sold on Amare 100% after his workout for them.
JC compared his desire and work ethic to Kobe, another HS player they tried to get in the draft.


Skita was very young and skilled but ultimately he is a perimeter player not a force in the paint like Stoudemire.
 

Chaplin

Better off silent
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
46,439
Reaction score
16,966
Location
Round Rock, TX
Arizona's Finest said:
Besides the disaster that is Amare's knee ( i remember the night i read it on the board i was drunk and i started to tear up. It was after UA had lost to Illinois and i realized the Cardianls season was already up in smoke and i kept thikning "Why me?". I went to bed that night thinking it was a bad dream) everything else has been coming up roses....even when a move is questionable it seems to work out unbeliveably for us (see; Diaw, Boris)

This is not a product of luck....Great management by Sarver and BC. I actually think JC taking on more of a consulting role was a large factor as well, as he seemed to make descions of the heart all to often. It gained us the reputation as a first class franchise, but now Sarver is taking that rep and molding it with a smart economic model that will ensure our success for years.

Suns I dont know what i would do with out you. Thank You Thank You for being one team that I can actually crow about. Everything else has been a hopeless circle of misery......

Now, it's time for that one last hurdle. A championship. Once Amare comes back, the sky is the limit. Sure, we could use another big man (right now, I disagree with most on this board that we need another backup PG), but if Amare is healthy, I firmly believe that the Suns are the best team in the Western Conference. Dallas and San Antonio are a very close 2nd.
 

fordronken

Registered User
Joined
Oct 17, 2002
Posts
3,806
Reaction score
0
Location
Los Angeles area
I think D'Antoni may have said something to an assitant coach on the Nuggets before he signed with Phoenix. So that's just convenient and fun. Of course on the other hand, D'Antoni's the guy who told Poppovich to draft Ginobilli.

As for who the Suns really wanted to draft, Jerry Colangelo has said that the Amare pick was one of the only two times he ever went above everybody else and made a decision for the franchise no matter what people thought. The first was to pick the name Suns(instead of a stupid name like "Diamondbacks" or something). The second was after Amare's workout. Amare did a crazy ridiculous dunk on somebody and Colangelo said something along the lines of "That's our guy. No question."
 

Chaplin

Better off silent
Joined
May 13, 2002
Posts
46,439
Reaction score
16,966
Location
Round Rock, TX
fordronken said:
I think D'Antoni may have said something to an assitant coach on the Nuggets before he signed with Phoenix. So that's just convenient and fun. Of course on the other hand, D'Antoni's the guy who told Poppovich to draft Ginobilli.

As for who the Suns really wanted to draft, Jerry Colangelo has said that the Amare pick was one of the only two times he ever went above everybody else and made a decision for the franchise no matter what people thought. The first was to pick the name Suns(instead of a stupid name like "Diamondbacks" or something). The second was after Amare's workout. Amare did a crazy ridiculous dunk on somebody and Colangelo said something along the lines of "That's our guy. No question."

Maybe if JC would have done that more often, we wouldn't have been stuck with Malcolm Mackey and Mario Bennett.
 

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
555,063
Posts
5,423,919
Members
6,329
Latest member
cardinals2025
Top