Where Are They Now, 2009: Part 52
March 9th, 2009
– Lucas Tischer was recently waived by his Israeli team, Altshuler Saham Galil Gilboa, presumably for poor performance. Tischer averaged a stonking 3.6 points, 2.3 fouls and 2.1 rebounds in the Israeli league
– Anthony Tolliver bounced back and forth between the NBA and the D-League this season, first going to camp with the Spurs, then making the team, firing up a load of threes, missing them, being assigned to the Austin Toros, being recalled, being waived, being acquired by the Iowa Energy, getting a 10-day contract from the Hornets, not playing a game for them, and then returning to the Energy. However, he’s since given up, and left the Energy to sign with Galatasaray. Tolliver put up 12 points and 8 rebounds on his Galatasaray debut, averaged 12.4 points and 8.5 rebounds with the Energy, averaged 17.8 points and 7.8 rebounds for the Toros, and 2.7 points and 2.2 rebounds for the Spurs.
– Marko Tomas is still with Real Madrid, where he’s been on and off now for about four years. Tomas averages 7.3 points and 2.1 rebounds in the EuroLeague, alongside 5.5 points and 1.1 rebounds in the Spanish league.
– Jazz draft pick Ante Tomic is with KK Zagreb, where he’s been now for six years. Tomic averages 14.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists in the EuroChallenge, alongside 15.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists in the Adriatic League. Perhaps worryingly, though, this 7’1 player has 26 total blocks in 30 combined games. It’s not a Sundov, but it’s not great either.
– Ali Traore is averaging 12.5 points and 5.2 rebounds in the EuroCup, and 12.7 points and 6.3 rebounds in the powerhouse French league, for ASVEL Villeurbanne. And my decision to add him to this website was probably a tad overzealous.
– Robert Traylor is still trying to rebuild a career that fell apart on him. After injuries, heart problems and legal trouble ruined his NBA career back in 2005, Traylor has had to start all over again. 20 months out of the game followed, and Traylor only reappeared on the scene in March 2007, when he played the final six games of the Spanish LEB Silver (the third division) season with Gestiberica Vigo. Traylor then spent two seasons in the Puerto Rican league (which, you’ll remember, starts when most other leagues are finishing), and averaged a double-double with almost three blocks both times. Traylor then persuaded the Cavaliers to give him a spot in this year’s Vegas Summer League, where he averaged 5.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 3.0 fouls per game, not a getting a roster spot for his efforts. Since then, Traylor has moved to Turkey, where he is playing for Kepez Bld Antalya, and actually playing really well. Tractor averages 14.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.8 blocks per game, and not only was he voted a Turkish league All-Star; he won the MVP award for the game, too.
– Cezary Trybanski’s season has gone far less well. He hasn’t played or signed anywhere all year, after leading the Greek second division in blocks last season.
– Jake Tsakalidis is also currently unsigned after spending last year with Olympiacos. Not sure why.
– Question: is Nikoloz Tskitishvili good yet? Answer: not exactly, but at least he found his role. Skita averages 8.3 points and 4.3 rebounds for Fuenlabrada Madrid in the Spanish league, being used primarily (and secondarily) as a spot-up shooter. Skita has shot 61 three-pointers on the year to only 10 free throws, but he is hitting them at 46% (the three-pointers, not the free throws).
– P.J. Tucker is averaging 19.7 points and 6.4 rebounds for BC Donetsk in the Ukraine, in only 12 games. Tucker missed three months of the season through injury, and has averaged only 15 ppg since his return. Although saying “only” 15 ppg sounds a bit disingenuous.
– Finally, Clay Tucker started the season with BC Kyiv, and averaged 15.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game in the Ukrainian league, but he was waived when the team cut all its foreign players to save money. Tucker has since signed with Cajasol in Spain, where he has averaged 17 points through two games.
