Vassilis

Spanoulis

Panathinaikos is Vassilis Spanoulis’ former team and there’s still some question whether he’ll be a Rocket or not come next season. Houston’s first pre-season game is in New Orleans against the Hornets on October 9.

Spanoulis was a big time player in Europe, but he was frustrated by his lack of PT as a Rocket. Novak, considered one of the best pure shooters in the draft last year, also never got much of a chance to show what he could do. Both of these players have the chance to be sleepers next season.

Spanoulis has been miserable since coming to North America, believing he was capable of contributing much more to the Rockets, but spending most of his time riding the pine. Houston dealt him to San Antonio last week, but the Spurs can save $4 million in salary and luxury tax by allowing Spanoulis to walk. Spanoulis is determined to play in Greece next season.

“I am happy that I went there last year,” he said. “I don’t regret anything. It was a great experience for me. It was a childhood dream to play in the NBA, I was lucky to live it.” Spanoulis could have been a solid NBA player in the right situation, but he fell out of favor in Houston and never got to show what he could do. His deal with Panathinaikos is expected to receive approval by Monday or Tuesday.

It was only a matter of time, as Spanoulis has made it clear he has no interest in playing in the NBA. He’s in Greece and was not planning on coming to the states to play even after he was traded to San Antonio from Houston in the deal that sent the rights to Luis Scola to the Rockets. Spanoulis isn’t likely to ever return to the NBA and we’re guessing he had to forfeit the $1.9 million he was due to receive this season.

The 24-year-old Spanoulis didn’t want to return to the Rockets after averaging 2.7 points and 0.9 assists in 31 games for the club last year. Maybe he’ll find a more favorable situation in San Antonio. He has two years remaining on his contract, and he can’t return to Europe without gaining his release.

Spanoulis, who originally signed a three-year contract with the Rockets, has two years remaining on his deal. On Tuesday, Rockets GM Daryl Morey insisted the team wanted him back and would not grant him a release. “He told them 10 times ‘I am not coming back,’” his agent Miodrag Raznatovic said. “In the beginning it was between him and Jeff Van Gundy. Now it is not. He didn’t adjust to the American way of living. I do not understand how they cannot understand. It’s something serious,” Raznatovic continued. We thought he had a chance at developing into a decent NBA fantasy option one day, but it sounds like that may never happen. “My hope is to play for one team in my country,” Spanoulis said.

The finances of Dragic’s buyout from Tau Ceramica were completed and the league gave clearance for the Suns to sign Dragic to the previously negotiated four-year contract. He’ll participate in voluntary workouts starting Tuesday, but will still need to return home to Slovenia once his work visa is approved. A lot of pressure is being put on Dragic to back up Steve Nash, and he’ll hopefully live up to the hype, unlike Sarunas Jasikevicius and Vassilis Spanoulis.

He’s a second-round pick for the Rockets and should be viewed as one. While his chances are good to make the team, he’ll struggle to find a place in the rotation. His stock rose dramatically with his stellar performance against the U.S. in the world championships and he’s hoping to become the first Greek citizen to play in the NBA.

Spanoulis is a member of the Greek Olympic team and the 6-3 combo guard is training with the Greek team for the World Championships, thus will not be in Houston until September. The Rockets acquired his rights in a draft-day trade in 2004 and it’s conceivable he could end up battling Luther Head for the starting shooting guard job for the Rockets. We’ll know more once training camp starts.