Ante

Tomic

It appeared he might finally be coming to the NBA this season, but it’s not going to happen.

While Tomic is under contract with FC Barcelona, the 28-year-old said he still thinks about playing in the NBA. “Neither yes nor no,” Tomic said when asked about the NBA. “It is difficult to summarize. Sometimes I see myself there and sometimes not. I have still time to think about it. " A follower of the NBA is not recognized, “if anything, in the playoffs.” The Utah Jazz hold Tomic’s rights, but he shouldn’t be on any fantasy radars unless we hear something more concrete.

Utah reportedly hoped to pay his buyout and bring Tomic to the NBA next season, but the talented center opted to stay in Europe. He’ll be 31 years old at the end of the three-year deal and it’s becoming increasingly likely that we won’t see him in an NBA uniform. It’s a setback for the Jazz but they can still sleep soundly with Rudy Gobert and Derrick Favors manning the frontcourt.

This will be a story to watch during the offseason, but there will be no fantasy implications for this year.

The Utah Jazz hold NBA rights to the 28-year-old, but this move would seem to put his NBA future in doubt as he’ll be in his 30s when the contract expires. It’s unlikely that Tomic was owned in any dynasty fantasy leagues, but he can safely be dropped in any leagues where he might have been rostered.

There are no plans for either Tomic or Tadija Dragicevic (another 2008 draft pick playing in Europe) to join the Jazz next season.

The deal was agreed to verbally between the two teams on Tuesday night, according to the source, with the trade to become official on Wednesday. The Blazers could use the pick to take Croatian big man Ante Tomic, who they have reportedly coveted for years.

Tomic is expected to return to Croatia for the next few years, but when (or if) his body fills out he could be a force in the NBA. A skilled big man 7'2", the Jazz couldn’t go wrong selecting Tomic this late in the draft.

The 23-year-old Croatian is 7'2" and has been compared to Pau Gasol, and could have been quite useful with Mehmet Okur facing a long rehab from Achilles surgery.

Tomic is no lock to make the trip to Utah. With the lockout looming and his NBA skills in doubt, he may choose to stay in Europe for another year.