Does anyone remember Drazen Petrovic

[Randy]

My son was watching old 1992 Original Dream Team footage and all the sudden I see Petrovic starting to play against the Dream Team.  I loved watching this guy shoot the ball and he was definately taken before his time (car accident in his late 20's, I believe).  I think he was one of those guys that led the influx of talented fundamental (well at least on offense) European players to the NBA.  Toni Kukoc was on that team as well but Petrovic could flat shoot the ball.

[WayOutWest]

He was extemely talented but was a big dud until he went to Jersey where he got to show his talent. Too bad he was gone right after he broke out.

[jn]

Randy, if you haven't already seen it you should check out ESPN's 30 for 30 piece on Petrovic, Vlade Divac and the breakup of Yugoslavia.    Vlade narrates and Kukoc is in their as well.  Very talented group.  Dino Radja and Stojko Vrankovic and possibly one other player also made the NBA. 

[Randy]

Thanks for the tip, jn -- I haven't seen it -- I think I remember my son telling me about it but I didn't have time then and forgot about it -- I will check it out.

Hey, on a side note -- are you at all concerned about the comments made by Kevin Love recently?  I know the TWolves really got bit by the injury bug but some of the recent signings sure appear to be stretching just to appease him and I'm not sure they are the right signings that really make your team that much better.  I think they have a couple of young brilliant players but once they get beyond Rubio and Love, I think it goes down pretty quickly.  What are your thoughts about the TWolves roster -- do you think they have the talent to keep Love?

[jn]

I'm not terriby concerned about Love's comments.  Yet.    We'll see what happens with the Batum/Blazer situation.  Normally the Wolves signing someone like Batum is no big deal but this has included a surprising amount of soap opera.   If the situation gets too hinky and it in some way makes the Wolves front office look bad it could weaken Love's confidence.

[ziggy]

I'm not terriby concerned about Love's comments.  Yet.    We'll see what happens with the Batum/Blazer situation.  Normally the Wolves signing someone like Batum is no big deal but this has included a surprising amout of soap opera.   If the situation gets too hinky and it in some way makes the Wolves front office look bad it could weaking Love's confidence.

This entire Batum thing has been quite bizarre.  Batum's agent refused to negotiate with the Blazers.  He made a number of public comments about Batum not wanting to be in Portland, and then Batum refuted them almost immediately.  It seems like the Blazers took this thing personal, and that is not something you can do in this business.  Supposedly Minny offer Derrick Williams and 2 first round picks, 3 first round picks, and 2 first rounders and Kyle Korver, and Portland rejected them all.  I don't understand that.  Batum is a better player than Derrick Williams, but Williams will be paid about 45% of what Batum will be paid.  Olshey says we want to add assets, and keep our payroll flexible, and he is offered that in spades, and all he has to do is give up a solid but unspectacular player in Batum, and he doesn't do it.  At the same time, it seems to me that David Kahn was playing games through the Portland media, which just engendered a lot of distrust.

Bizarre all around.