Former Magic Pick Vazquez Signs With Winterthur FC Barcelona

[Jing]

Winterthur FC Barcelona continued its flurry of new signings on Wednesday afternoon when the club announced the addition of center Fran Vazquez (23, 210) for the next four seasons. Vazquez arrives from Akasvayu Girona where last season he averaged 8.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. Vazquez started his career in Unicaja where he made his debut in 2001. After two seasons there he went on loan to Gran Canaria where he exploded in his game and was quickly recovered by Unicaja. He played in the 2004-05 Euroleague when he averaged 8.4 points and 4.4 rebounds per game. After an outstanding season in which Vazquez helped Unicaja take the Spanish King's Cup title, he was drafted by the Orlando Magic of the NBA with number 11, but he surprised everyone when he said he wanted to stay in Spain and sign with Akasvayu. The operation between the two clubs also involves center Marc Gasol, who will go to Girona on loan for one season.
http://www.euroleague.net/noticia.jsp?t ... =27&id=598

The Magic must be killing themselves. But if after like 4 years he decides to come over, he'll probably have immensely improved his skills, and be an instant impact. Question is will he ever decide to truely come over to the NBA. A Howard-Vazquez combo would have been something

[Rip32]

If i were the Magic I would force him to come to the US. If he put his name in the Draft, wantiing, to play in the NBA he should come play where the real competition is, not Spain. Whats the point of being a lottery pick if your never gonna come over and play? I still think Darko and Dwight are a better combo then Vasquez and Dwight would be.

[CERVANTES]

Fran es un imbécil, no tiene remedio.

He's just scared of leaving his mom's house. With his tallent he should be playing some minutes for the Magic instead for Barça.

[Amphatoast]

4yrs in the NBA would improve his skills more than 4 yrs in europe. Sucks for the Magic, but they do have there front court future set with Darko/Howard. Maybe Vazquez can turn out to be a 6th man and a spark off the bench sort of what Giniolbi was for the Spurs when he first came over.

[Abctest123]

Can someone explain to me his game and the hype surrounding this guy? I've never seen the guy play, but 8ppg and 4rpg doesnt exactly seem like something spectacular. Is it the fact he has a lot of potential or something?

[Nick]

It doesn't say anything about football anywhere, but i'm wondering, FC Barcelona - that's soccer isn't it?

[Jing]

It doesn't say anything about football anywhere, but i'm wondering, FC Barcelona - that's soccer isn't it?

yeah. there are FC Barcelona and Real Madrid for both futball and basketball. they even share similar uniforms as well.

[Axel]

What a prick, I hope he injures himself.

[[Q]]

Darko>Vasquez will ever be so Magic didn't lose out. They got Darko for nothing anyways

[cklitsie]

He's just scared of leaving his mom's house.

I heard his girl was holding him back, but anyway same kinda story.. fool.

[Pera]

Excuse after excuse.What is this guy thinking if he doesn't want to play in the NBA,then why did he get in the draft.He has the chance,but doesn't want to take it .There are many guys that want to be in his place,but they don't get the chance.Damn they should check his IQ.

[-Young Buck-]

Are you guys sure the Magic even want him yet? Maybe they want him to stay over there. Then they can still have a 15 man roster and him overseas. Just a thought.

[Joe']

I think he's just afraid of playing in a league like the NBA, which is the best in the world.
Maybe it will be good for him (self-confidence, experience, etc) to play a few years or so for Barça.

[CERVANTES]

I'm sure he would be a solid inside player in the NBA, the problem is he's affraid of being there. I dunnoh whyh.

[Matt]

first off lets look at the contract he signed.....it's pretty big and long term and it has a big buy out clause. Sounds like someone didn't intend to come over soon.

Besides, 2yrs probably would have done him just fine.

[maes]

Are you guys sure the Magic even want him yet? Maybe they want him to stay over there. Then they can still have a 15 man roster and him overseas. Just a thought.

They did want him. They were so pissed when he refused to honor his draft pick that they asked Stern for some kind of compensation for their blown draft pick. Guys Orlando could have drafted instead of too-scared-to-NBA-Vasquez:
- McCants
- Antoine Wright
- Granger
- Gerald Green
- Nate Robinson
- Luther Head
- Francisco Garcia

[[L3]1101]

and Joey Graham...

[BOSS]

He's just scared of leaving his mom's house.

I heard his girl was holding him back, but anyway same kinda story.. fool.

That's what I heard too last year when he was drafted by the Magic.

[Indy]

I'm so happy Orlando didn't pick Granger. Man would that be a devastating young frontline with Granger/Darko/Howard.

Thank you Orlando, LA, the other LA, Toronto, man, I'm still in shock Danny slipped.

[Silas]

Well I'm pretty sure Vasquez can hit 3's, so maybe they'll just have a huge frontline of Howard, Darko, and Franz... but then again with Ariza, Redick, Nelson, Hill, Arroyo, and Dooling, I doubt they'll do that.

[Matt]

wouldn't it be cool if Magic buy out Hill and he signs with Detroit

[Silas]

that'd be a huge buyout, he makes around 15mil a year. They'd never do that, he comes off the books after this season I think, and he may be productive you never know. Nobody thought he'd be as good as he was in 04-05.