Tristan Vukcevic’s move to NBA: Why he left Partizan for Wizards? / News - Basketnews.com

Although Tristan Vukcevic's move to the NBA in March may appear unexpected, it actually offers a win-win-win scenario for all parties involved.

Credit: ABA League j.t.d./Dragana Stjepanovic Credit ABA League j.t.d./Dragana Stjepanovic

Tristan Vukcevic's departure from Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade to join the NBA in March surprised many in the EuroLeague community.

Tristan Vukcevic

Team:Partizan Mozzart Bet BelgradePosition:CAge:21Height:209 cmWeight:99 kgBirth place:Siena, ItalyProfileNewsStatistics

The Washington Wizards' decision to acquire the last player on Partizan's EuroLeague rotation may raise questions, prompting a closer examination of the move.

BasketNews delves into the details of this unexpected transition.

Who is Tristan Vukcevic?

Vukcevic is a 21-year-old 2.13-m prospect whom the Wizards selected with the 42nd pick in the 2023 NBA draft.

He introduced himself to the EuroLeague fans in his short stints with Real Madrid. At 18, he made his EuroLeague debut in the 2021 playoff series against Anadolu Efes Istanbul, scoring 7 points in Game 2.

Vukcevic joined Partizan on January 27, 2022. This season, he's been averaging 4.2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 9 minutes per game in the EuroLeague.

Trifunovic ranked last, at the 15th position, on Partizan's EuroLeague roster in playing time. However, he had the opportunity to showcase his skills in the ABA League, where he was among the top 5 players in minutes per game.

Developing under the iconic EuroLeague coach Zeljko Obradovic, Vukcevic showed improvements in his defense and flourished in the Adriatic League, averaging 10.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in under 19 minutes per game.

Vukcevic has demonstrated a solid ability to shoot from beyond the arc. He has made 6 out of 15 attempts from the 3-point range (40%) in the EuroLeague and connected on 22 out of 50 3-point attempts (44%) in the Adriatic League (ABA). Only Danilo Andjusic and James Nunnally have made more threes than Vukcevic in the ABA competition.

Why now?

The Wizards are currently facing one of their toughest seasons in franchise history, ranking as the second-worst team in the NBA (11-54).

Washington Wizards / Schedule

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With a recent 16-game losing streak and a 38-day drought of victories, they are on track to potentially record their worst winning record ever, which currently stands at 18-62.

The Wizards are now in tanking mode with 17 games left in the regular season, which ends on April 14. This approach involves giving more playing time to prospects and potential future assets, rather than relying on the main players, to evaluate talent and plan for the future.

But for $1.2M?

According to Bojan Brezovac from MozzartSport, the Wizards will pay a $1.2M release clause, with Partizan and Real Madrid each receiving $600,000.

In some instances, a buyout of around $1.5M or higher can pose challenges for NBA clubs looking to bring a player from Europe to the NBA, often requiring the player to cover at least half of the buyout fee.

However, in this case, the Wizards are well below the salary cap to conclude the 2023-24 season, giving them the financial flexibility to proceed with moves like buying out Vucevic.

From the perspective of the NBA club, it's a low-cost move to utilize the remaining part of the season to test a draft pick who might not necessarily receive the same opportunity if he were to join the team at the start of the NBA season when the head coach and front office have different priorities.

Why it's a win-win-win scenario?

This unique situation presents a win-win-win scenario for all parties involved.

For Vukcevic, it offers an opportunity to showcase his talent in the NBA and prove his worth to his current club and potential future suitors.

The Wizards benefit by adding a player to its rotation, providing valuable playing time and experience to evaluate their draft pick and his potential as a future NBA player.

Partizan stands to gain from the buyout, receiving $600k from a player who had minimal playing time on its EuroLeague roster.

Partizan already possess promising local talent on their frontline, with former NBA draft picks Alen Smailagic (39th pick of the 2019 NBA draft) and Balsa Koprivica (57th pick of the 2021 draft, draft rights owned by the Los Angeles Clippers) bolstering their ranks.

In summary, it's a situation where everyone comes out ahead, making it difficult to find any reason for complaint.

Other late EuroLeague to NBA moves

In recent years, there have been notable instances of players making late transitions from the EuroLeague to the NBA.

One example is Gabriel Deck, who signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 12, 2021, agreeing to a 4-year, $14.5 million deal. However, the final three years of his contract were non-guaranteed, and he ultimately returned to Real Madrid seven months later.

Similarly, Luca Vildoza joined the Milwaukee Bucks on April 8, 2022, under a 4-year, $13.6 million deal. Like Deck, the final three years of Vildoza's contract weren't guaranteed, and six months later, he opted to return to Europe, signing with Crvena Zvezda Belgrade.

Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Vukcevic signed a two-year deal with the Wizards and will join the team in the last weeks of the season.

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