Former Sixers center Vincent Poirier has agreed to a multiyear contract with Real Madrid, writes Nicola Lupo of Sportando. The news was first reported by Jose Luis Sanchez (Twitter link).
Poirier, 27, played 10 games for Philadelphia after being acquired from the Thunder in a December trade. He saw just 3.9 minutes per game, averaging 0.8 points and 1.4 rebounds, before being traded to the Knicks at the deadline. New York waived him three days later.
The seven-footer was a star in Europe before signing with the Celtics in 2019. He led the EuroLeague in rebounding and was a second-team all-league selection during the 2018/19 season. Poirier won’t be able to join the EuroLeague until next season, Lupo adds, but he is eligible for Liga ACB.
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- NBA veteran Luis Scola will make a decision on retirement after his season ends with Varese in Italy, relays Alessandro Maggi of Sportando. Scola, who will turn 41 at the end of April, discussed his future with La Prealpina, an Italian newspaper. “I am happy here in Varese,” he said. “I will decide my future as soon as the season is over. My decision will be quick out of respect for the team and the club.” Scola indicated in November that he was planning to retire after the Olympics.
- Bucks guard Khris Middleton is about to become a minority owner of the Brisbane Bullets in the National Basketball League, tweets Marc Stein of The New York Times. Bulls forward Thaddeus Young is also part of the Australian team’s ownership (Twitter link), with former NBA guard Kevin Martin serving as majority owner. Several other players with NBA connections have stakes in NBL franchises, Stein adds (via Twitter). Rockets guards John Wall and Dante Exum are part owners of the South East Melbourne Phoenix, along with Zach Randolph, Al Harrington and Josh Childress. The New Zealand Breakers’ ownership is led by former Heat player Matt Walsh and includes Victor Oladipo and Shawn Marion.
- A strong performance in the NCAA tournament moves USC big man Evan Mobley up to second in the latest mock draft by Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated. Woo suggests that Mobley’s defensive impact should make him be considered a “1B” pick to Oklahoma State guard Cade Cunningham‘s “1A.” Woo adds that some teams may prefer Gonzaga guard Jalen Suggs with the top pick, depending on need.
Poirier has been written about more times now than hes actual games played.
Definitely. Although now that he’s signed overseas, we’ll likely never hear his name again
Is everyone really that high on this Mobley kid? I’m not seeing it. Seriously. Sure he’s agile and can run and is mobile, but wow I saw him get pushed around in college !! How’s he going to hold his own and position himself in the pros?
I haven’t been great with my assessments of the draft guys but really not seeing Evan Mobley as a rotation guy in the pros. I see Chris Boucher. Thoughts?
Dude you must not watch basketball much. Kid is electric on court, he can also step out and knock down outside shoots, and is a excellent rebounder. Being slim didn’t stop teams from drafting Anthony Davis or brandon ingram. This dude has springs for legs and is already a walking double double now. Usc mainly got to the elite eight off he and his brothers back.
Why do people say that on these sites to respond to some posts.., “you must not watch basketball.” That’s all I do LOL. Just because I don’t see what you see doesn’t mean I don’t watch basketball.
So you see it differently. I hope he has a long successful career. That’s great. I don’t see it. But I’ve been wrong about guys before. Really wrong. Maybe I’m really wrong about Mobley. That’s fine let’s see how it plays out. I appreciate your post and I’ll keep an eye on him as he develops.
Obviously more people agree with you than with me as he’s rated number two on the board. That means a lot of guys really like him. I’m just starting a discussion with what I see. Good stuff.
It’s not all about insane stat lines, he is 18 years old and impactful on both ends of the court. If you watch basketball and understand defensive assignments and rotations you see why he shines on the court. Only casuals that look at ppg and rebounds wont understand his value currently.
Like I said I’m from Los Angeles and watched usc basketball and ucla bruins during the year and there runs in the tournament. Mobley is a huge part of what made usc as good as they were, I see a lot of jaren jackson jr is mobley and maybe more if he can develop and hone is outside shooting.
Okay it sounds like some team will be lucky to have him.
I don’t watch enough games, but I feel that there are only 5 guys on this draft, by order
Cade
Suggs
Green
Kuminga
Mobley
Mobley is fine, Those Baylor guys don’t have much potential
I am thinking move Green ahead of Suggs
Tats you really do need to learn to get your point, argument across. Without being insulting, and demeaning. Disagreement does not mean War lol.
The problem with him isn’t as much questions about his skill as it is the high bar of being a big in the modern NBA and being a franchise player. Unless the player is as good with the right skills of guys like Embiid, Jokic, or Davis then it’s not really worth using a top pick on a big. Sure, guys like Gobert and Vucevic have been valuable, but if they are your top guy or you invest too much money in them it limits you.
Depends on who is drafting there. But I would bet he wont get out of the Top-5.
Mobley could drop to 4th or 5th.
Both Jalen’s and Cade should make up the top 3.
I don’t think he will fall out of the top 5 either. I just think that when teams compare him to the other 4 they are going to ask themselves he he could be the next Jokic, Davis, or Embiid. If it isn’t a yes I think they would pick one of the other 4.
The modern NBA ???? This shot just makes me laugh more than any other. I see it used a lot even by educated sports analysts. The CENTER position is never going away. Size is the Biggest asset, strength the NBA has. It’s why they all want a guard with size. Bron a wing with size. A big PG. Wiseman a real center. Where is Denver without Jocik. Look at Vucevic yr he is having. Embiid was a MVP from runner. The NBA like ALL sports has more talent now. It’s deeper in talent. Talent has to learn to win together, chemistry. It’s not an easy thing to create on a team. Hence great talent, good teams that never win a ring. You can’t teach size. A true big with talent is rare. Mobley is a 2way talent. Yes he’s thin and may look weak. But he’s 19 yrs old (215lbs), look at his brother 6’10” (235 LBs). He’s thicker and his Dad is thick. E Mobley will fill out. Personally I thought Wiseman was more talented coming out. But Mobley has gotten better praise overall by so called experts. Mobley is a true 2way Center that has star upside. Definitely a starter for a team. He will need to add girth and strength. 95% of men physically peak after 21. He is a top 3 pick to me. In this draft it will depend on who’s picking where. He’s going top 5 at worst. Top 10 to me has 7-8 serious talents.
link to ocregister.com
Clear you didn’t read anything I said.
Middleton keeps putting up 6-27 shooting nights he will be playing for Brisbane. Come on, Khris!
This is an example of Mobley’s biggest problem. Tjarks of the Ringer:
“Once again, it’s not that Mobley is a lock to be a generationally great player. It’s that his skill set is so rare that it puts him in those kinds of discussions. ”
Word alert: “discussion”. Sportstalk guys want someone to waste airtime on. He’s not even close to that level. He cannot shoot well from outside so why put him there; his assists are low. Big guys handling instead of guards is a danger.
I like how Mobley can yank his body around— make quick mini-slashes to openings for rebounds— bc he will get pushed out sometimes. I suspect he will be found to have unusually strong feet & ankles for his body shape, his saving grace… Frequently bigs disappoint in that area.
JJJ needs the big Euro Valenasis, so that is two spots taken. But the other reference is Derrick Coleman. I wish Mobley played for Mick Cronin ucla. USC was messy.
I think the threshold draft issue with Mobley is whether he’s seen as a one position or two position player. If he’s a pure 5, I wouldn’t be that excited about using a top 3 pick on him. I’d still (in a solemn state) take him if he’s the best talent/fit at the spot (and no attractive trade down was available). If he has a skill set that can play at both the 4 and 5 (not just in small ball), then I’d run the card up myself.