TPercy wrote:

smackeddog wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:

Rookie wrote:

BRIGGS wrote:galdikas 216?looks heavier than postings. Both of those guys will be a challenge for Clydes rhymes

Hopefully he odor and ledo make the team. We have 3 spots left?

Galdikas deserves his own thread man. How the heck did we get him on our roster. BTW, who is Odor?

From what I see galdikas should have a 3year deal already. Ndor sorry these tablets have their own minds with spell check

He's going to have a tough time explaining his past with the ny media, I think

What past? (I really not hip)

From Realgm, like i said I have no idea how true it is, but wikipedia does also mention it:

Hello, I'm from Lithuania (Galdikas' native country) and I have some more information about him. The guy seems to be quite talented, has decent mid-range shooting and has perfect height, mobility, agility combination. The only reason he's unknown now is because his life is (or atleast was) a huge failure. He had a sex with ~13 years old girl, which looked quite mature and lied him about her age, telling him that she's 16-17 years old. The girl seems to be a total whore as she was boasting in the media, after becoming the youngest wife in Lithuania, that she had first sex when she was only 10 years old (again with 18+ guy). Galdikas was 18 or 19 at that time and that girl became pregnant... He had a choice: go to jail for having sex with kid or marry her. Of course he has chosen to marry her... And that's when his life became even more complicated. He was a member of Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school for one season (2006-2007) and had all possibilities to move into Žalgiris (Lithuanian league champions, former Euroleague champions) after a few seasons as he was quite perspective big man. However Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school wasn't paying enough for him to fulfill his family needs and that's why he left Žalgiris-Arvydas Sabonis school (despite the fact that he LOVES basketball) and went to factory, later - auto service and worked hard-work for a few years to fed his new family. Then around ~2009 basketball agent Baroga (his current agent) and Klemensas (Lithuanian basketball player, which played in France at that time) noticed him.

A 7'2 Lithuanian tower which don't play basketball in a basketball-crazy nation (as he described). However he wasn't ready for professional basketball so Baroga and Klemensas started training him (see videos below). Klemensas took him to France for training and then he joined Vilnius KM-Magnus (third-tier Lithuanian league club) during 2009–2010 season and averaged 21.2 points, 10.9 rebounds. Next season he joined Anykščiai Puntukas (second-tier Lithuanian league club) and averaged 14.8 points, 9.3 rebounds and 3 blocks. Too bad he had to miss 2011-2012 season due to injuries. Then last season he joined Šiauliai. Too bad they don't gave him enough playing time and he had only decent stats (I think he could had double-double per 25-30 minutes) because Šiauliai had Papa Dia (former Euroleague player).

So all in all, I think that if we would delete the part with that girl from his life, he could have been NBA drafted or at least playing for decent Euroleague club and I think he still could make to Lithuania national team after a few years if he will develop as fast as he did so far. The guy seems to be closely talented (shoot blocking, rebounding) and hard-working to Jonas Valančiūnas just don't have enough experience and offensive arsenal like a 24 year old guy, but he's still pretty good at defense now. Previously there also was a guy Eurelijus Žukauskas which started his career when he was 21 year old and developed into a decent Euroleague defensive center and Lithuania national team member. Galdikas has potential to do this too if he will work, I think. I would be very happy if Knicks would give him a chance as a 15th man. If not, well Knicks still helped him to partly recover his reputation and maybe Žalgiris or Lietuvos Rytas (Lithuanian league vice-champions) will give him a second chance. Interesting fact is that Knicks observes him for more than 3 years and even Knicks president visited Šiauliai last season to meet with Galdikas and watch his game play (sadly, he was injured at that time).
Galdikas' training videos with Klemensas (4 years ago):

fishmike wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:It looks like a great roster. Have to wonder if Thanasis makes the team.

boy he's got phyiscal tools... would love to see him playing good BB. I have a feeling they will shortly choose between Thanasis and Early.

Early has a guaranteed contract for next season.Thanasis should make this team as a rotation Sf imo. Better him than lance Thomas

CrushAlot wrote:

mreinman wrote:so all the KP not playing freak outs were for nothing?

Knicks are drafting Stein

if we did, could you imagine the freak outs about his injury?

WaltLongmire wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:It looks like a great roster. Have to wonder if Thanasis makes the team.

Has to show more than just his athleticism if he wants to separate himself from his competition.

Needs to show some confidence in his shot and play under control.

Wonder what his off-season has been like.

CrushAlot wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:It looks like a great roster. Have to wonder if Thanasis makes the team.

Has to show more than just his athleticism if he wants to separate himself from his competition.

Needs to show some confidence in his shot and play under control.

Wonder what his off-season has been like.

It looks like he has been doing some community work for the Knicks. I think he is in their plans but there is a lot of talent on the roster.

GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Can Galdikas do anything besides dunk and block shots? Just asking.

rebound. What does Rudy Gobert do for Utah?

Also the NY media isnt going to toast a 27 year old man for fooling around with a younger woman when he was 19 years old and then marrying her. How many 19 year olds in this world messed around with someone in high school--probably 2-3mm a year right? Jees no wonder why top players dont want to come here when the fans btch about nothing--forget the media,.

BRIGGS wrote:

GoNyGoNyGo wrote:Can Galdikas do anything besides dunk and block shots? Just asking.

rebound. What does Rudy Gobert do for Utah?

Also the NY media isnt going to toast a 27 year old man for fooling around with a younger woman when he was 19 years old and then marrying her. How many 19 year olds in this world messed around with someone in high school--probably 2-3mm a year right? Jees no wonder why top players dont want to come here when the fans btch about nothing--forget the media,.

Non issue..

Oh, and I love this summer league roster also.