Sasha

Vujacic

X-rays revealed a slight fracture in his right hand after he was injured Monday in practice.

The 21-year-old was the No. 27 pick in last June’s draft. He shot 1-for-7 for six points in 26 minutes after Kobe left the Cleveland game. He averaged 14.4 points and 2.3 assists last season in Italy’s top pro league, and is best known to this point for his Italian conversations with Kobe.

There was some bad information floating around Twitter that Vujacic already had a four-year contract offer in hand from the Raptors, but that never made any sense for a variety of reasons. Thankfully, Colangelo quickly put that rumor to bed. Vujacic hopes to return to the NBA next season, but it’s hard to imagine any team willing to give him a four-year commitment. There is just no need to do that.

“My desire is to return to the NBA next season,” Vujacic said. He’s played professionally in Turkey this season, but he could draw some interest as a role player off the bench in the NBA.

In an interview with Hoopshype Vujacic said that he planned to stay the entire year. There’s still an outside shot he could show up in the NBA at some point this season, but as of now, don’t plan on drafting him this year.

It happened so quickly that it’s tough to call it a choke, but the linked video is quite entertaining. Vujacic is not expected back in the NBA this season, but that could still change at some point.

Vujacic will continue to play in Turkey, where Jordan Farmar will be his newest teammate. Vujacic may eventually come back to the NBA, but he seems to be very happy playing for Anadolu Efes at this time.

The Grizzlies just sent out three bench players in a trade with Cleveland on Tuesday morning, so this isn’t a huge surprise. What is surprising is the choice of players coming in. West famously ended his tenure in Dallas on a rocky note, while Walker hasn’t played in the league all season and Vujacic has been playing abroad.

Vujacic has been playing abroad in Turkey, and after re-signing with the team in August, it looks like he could be returning to the NBA. It’s been a while since we’ve seen his headband in action, and Vujacic would help to replace Wayne Ellington, who was sent packing to Cleveland.

Vujacic has been mentioned as a name the Grizzlies would target following their salary dump of a trade to Cleveland, but it doesn’t appear that bringing “The Machine” back to the NBA is a possibility just yet.