Guard Alex Acker has been offered a one-year deal worth $1 million to play in Greece next season.

Acker, who flew to Athens to see the city and living conditions before signing the deal with Olympiakos, knows his role with the Pistons this season would be limited.

The Pistons gave newly signed guard Flip Murray jersey No. 6, which Acker wore last year.

The Pistons made a qualifying offer to Acker that would pay him $664,000 for 2006-07, which Acker most likely would spend mostly in the development league.

The Pistons would still retain rights to Acker should he sign with Olympiakos.


How exactly do we keep his rights? I thought teams only retained rights until drafted players signed their first contracts, which Acker did last year. If we can keep his rights I think this sounds like a great deal. We'll have one more roster spot for another young guy, or if we add another vet at the league minimum. Acker will be able to go overseas, get some playing time, and come back to us as a better player in a year or two.

If he signs elsewhere I don't believe we retain his rights.

We had him last season so if he leaves that's it.

If we wanted him back we could still grab him, but so could ever other team.

BTW, who cares? The guy would not have been part of the active roster anyway. Let him go and if he ever develops like Anthony Parker did maybe one day the guy will come back.

good for him. i honestly don't see him having a future in Detroit, so it's good he can provide for his family by playing ball overseas. $1M is a decent chunk of change.

I just didn't understand why they said we'd retain his rights. Drop Blaylock to the NBDL, use Hunter as a specialist, and sign Jay Williams to compete for the backup pg spot (I completely forgot about him until Pharaoh mentioned him in another thread)

Who cares if we retain his rights. We have enough 2-guards already.

yea i'm surprised no ones taken a shot at Jay Williams.

^ that really tells me he's not half the player he once was.

the fact that nobody has taken a flier on him makes me think his health/mobility is much worse than people thought.

there are plenty of PG hungry teams who have worked him out, yet he's signed with nobody. i think he's probably finished. or if he plays, he's a non-factor....

He was pretty close to signing with the Sixers. Maybe Jay needs to start over and start out in the CBA or something or maybe try the NBDL. I think he's taking things too fast.

Acker is caugh in a bidding war/pissing battle between Maccabi Tel-Aviv and Olympiacos. Apparently the latest offer is $1.3 million.

http://detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060731/SPORTS07/607310346/1127/SPORTS01022


Pistons' Acker signs deal to play in Greece

Chris McCosky / The Detroit News

AUBURN HILLS -- Pistons guard Alex Acker has agreed to a one-year contract to play in Greece next season. He will replace another former NBA player, Tyus Edney, on the Olympiakos team.

Acker, who saw action in five games for the Pistons last season and spent half the season with the team's developmental league affiliate, will be paid one million Euros (about $1.27 million U.S.). He would have made $664,000 with the Pistons and again spent the bulk of the season in the developmental league.

The Pistons still retain rights to Acker and could bring him back for the 2007-08 season.

Since we had him under a team option, we could've not let him go unless he agreed that we would still retain his rights upon his return.

IBTWODSTITFOBD

IBTWODSTITFOBD

in before the wrath of diddy says that it's the fault of Bill Davidson

aww... dam

too quick

WTF are we going to do without the last player selected in the entire draft?

The season is OVER!!!

Oh, nevermind. I think we replaced him on the roster with another guard who was the last player selected in the draft, and gave him a two year contract.

Whooohooo.

I'm sure glad they're doubling my ticket prices for next year, what with the vastly diminishing return on investment in terms of player salaries.

Who can complain though, right?

I like spending twice as much for half as good of a team.

I figured that if Acker was going to have any role, it'd be as the MoEvans spot-up shooter, so he'd be replacing an undrafted player.

Do we have any undrafted players on our team now?

I'm guessing the reason we retained his rights is because of the qualifying offer and that made him like a restricted free agent. If another NBA team wanted to sign him next season, we would probably be able to match and/or force a sign-and-trade

Dupree was only drafted by the NBDL, does that count?

I like spending twice as much for half as good of a team.

thats funny, bill davidson like to spend 1/2 price on 1/2 the talent. to each his own, i guess.

ps: bill davidson doesnt owe you shit.

Of course he dosnt. Its not like he's paying the team with his own money ;)

IBTWODSTITFOBD
in before the wrath of diddy says that it's the fault of Bill Davidson

:eek:

^ I just changed the game

Acker update


Maccabi for Acker?

by Kostas Papadopoulos - May 23, 2007

According to the Israelian web page ynet.co.il, Maccabi has already put its interest for Alex Acker (196-G-83, college: Pepperdine). The team wanted the player to join it even from the last year but Olympiakos' offer was bigger. He is a player that any team would like to play for it, although the player still firstly wants to return to NBA.

http://www.eurobasket.com/events/eluleb/06-07/eurol.asp

Any chance he's better than whoever else would takeover for Chauncey?

Any chance he's better than whoever else would takeover for Chauncey?
He's not a PG. That was just a test-run they gave him his rookie year. Joe D made a statement about that. When we bring him back, he's going to be a SG.

^I agree. His PG skills are horrible. Acker is no better than Flip Murray at this point.

What's the worst he could do, run around in circles and not take the damn shot? Oh wait, that was Chauncey last night.

yeaiknowbutimalittlepissedstill

So what becomes of Acker?

With his success in Greece (16.5 points and 7.5 rebounds with the Euroleague's Olympiacos) will another NBA team make him an offer knowing that the Pistons won't likey match due to tax concerns?

Did the Pistons keep him away from Vegas to keep him hidden or were they more concerned about him taking playing time from Stuckey/Afflalo/Mejia?

I'm intrigued by this guy and we don't seem to have a plan or a role for him.

Depends on Flip. I think Acker will get another shot if Flip is moved. And I think the chances of that increase with Stuckey playing well in summer leagues. Joe is probably only hanging on to Flip in case Stuckey won't be ready to contribute right away (if he felt Flip could buy him a portion of the season). If Stuckey shines, I think he has the green light to move Flip right away.

Why isn't Acker playing in Vegas?

I'd rather have Acker than Flip. Hell, move Flip for a 2nd rounder and bring Acker back for a similar contract and I'll consider it an upgrade.

I'd rather have Acker than Flip. Hell, move Flip for a 2nd rounder and bring Acker back for a similar contract and I'll consider it an upgrade.

I've never been an Acker fan (mostly because we tried to make him a PG, which he sucked at), but he can't be any worse than Flip (a undersized SG that shoots around %40). I'm in favor of moving Flip and bringing Acker back as a 14th or 15th man, just because he has more room to grow than Flip does.

I'd try to move Flip + 2 2nd round picks for a 1st rounder.

I'd try to move Flip + 2 2nd round picks for a 1st rounder.

Find a team facing tax concerns next year (like the Suns this year) and that might work. Flip is an expiring and 2nd rounders are non-gaurenteed money.

From a DraftXpress article called "The Top Overseas Free Agents on the 2007 Market" http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2160


Alex Acker, Detroit Pistons- Acker took a fairly strange route to making this list, being drafted in 2005 and playing a year for the Pistons before deciding to leave their qualifying offer on the table to sign with Euroleague powerhouse Olimpiacos in Greece. His rights are therefore owned by Detroit still, and the qualifying offer they made last year is still in effect as long as they still want him. Acker initially signed a two-year deal with Olimpiacos with a team option on the second year. The team decided that they do not want him back next year and already decided not to opt-in. Acker reportedly had some issues with the coaching staff last year and was close to not returning to Greece at one point after taking a short vacation back to the States. He was spectacular at times this season (flirting with an unprecedented Euroleague triple double against Prokom for example) and very average in others, showing the deficiencies he has in his game in regards to his maturity level and defensive ability. Still, with Carlos Delfino being shipped out and only Arron Afflalo competing with him for playing time at the swing position, the Pistons could very well decide to keep Acker if he shows progress during Summer League.

This is from July 3, before it was known that he wouldn't be playing in the Summer League.

So Stuckey isn't competing with him for PT? And since when is Acker a swing player? No way he can guard SF's.

I know that he has really long arms, but not that long.

He's a swing player in Europe, not in the NBA.

He's competing with Stuckey and Afflalo for playing time, but I don't think we're bringing him back if he's not even playing in the summer league. I still don't get why they wouldn't want him out there instead of one of the FA's that we all know aren't making the roster.

My only theory on that, which I mentioned earlier, is that maybe they are hiding him while they figure out what to do with Murray. If they let him play in Vegas and he really lit it up, he may get an offer from another team that the Pistons wouldn't match.

My only theory on that, which I mentioned earlier, is that maybe they are hiding him while they figure out what to do with Murray. If they let him play in Vegas and he really lit it up, he may get an offer from another team that the Pistons wouldn't match.

I agree. No way some of those scrubs have shown Joe more potential than Acker. He would have Acker there if Flip was already dealt I think.

If we wanted him, why wouldn't we have already signed him then? To keep the value on Flip up?

am i the only one that thinks that Acker just sucks? if he's rated highly in any sort of overseas list, i'm sure there would be scouts checking out his game.

from what i remember Acker didn't show me anything to get even slightly excited about his game. even Afflalo seems to have some good attributes that i'd like to see here (his defense, mostly). Acker seems like a guy with enough talent to play well overseas, but that's it. he wasn't particularly fast, he didn't shoot amazingly well, he wasn't cut out to play PG. not sure what the interest in him is......

right matt. i'd not put too much stock into these cloaks and daggers type talk.

I like him more than Flip Murray, but I like Stuckey and Afflalo more than both.

am i the only one that thinks that Acker just sucks? if he's rated highly in any sort of overseas list, i'm sure there would be scouts checking out his game.

from what i remember Acker didn't show me anything to get even slightly excited about his game. even Afflalo seems to have some good attributes that i'd like to see here (his defense, mostly). Acker seems like a guy with enough talent to play well overseas, but that's it. he wasn't particularly fast, he didn't shoot amazingly well, he wasn't cut out to play PG. not sure what the interest in him is......

No, I've always thought he sucks. The only reason I'd rather have him than Flip is because Flip can't get any better.

Some references for Acker. Don't get me wrong, he may never pan out, but there are some that think he's got what it takes.

----------------

If you put any faith in Jonathan Givony or Draft Express (I do), then here is an excerpt from Acker's pre-draft profile:


Tall, versatile, triple-double threat with unique skills that make him an intriguing draft prospect.

Acker is an athletic 6-5 guard with legitimate PG skills, and that alone will get him some serious looks if history has anything to say about that. While he is more of a swingman at the college level (because that's what his team needs), watching him play its impossible not to think that his natural position at the next level will be at the point.

He has terrific ball-handling skills with either hand, a very good feel for the game, and the natural instincts needed to run the point off the bench for an NBA team. He can run an offense and is generally an unselfish player. His court vision is very good and he has a certain knack for putting his teammates in a position to score that just can't be taught. His passing skills are very good at the moment and he looks just as comfortable making the simple bounce pass to a cutting teammate for an easy layup as he does throwing a pin-point accurate heave from half-court for an alley-oop. There is no doubt that he's an extremely talented player.

On top of that, he is a very solid athlete. He's fluid, very smooth, fairly quick, and has a very good 1st step which makes him a threat to get into the lane at any time when you combine that with his outstanding handle.

His jumper is getting better and better, up to 43% a game from behind the arc on 4.5 attempts per game, a testament to his work ethic. It looks smooth, with nice mechanics, and good elevation. He can make it off the dribble (although not consistently) or off a turnaround jumper.

Acker is a solid rebounder for a guard, thanks to his height, athletic ability and an above average wingspan.

Acker plays a ton of minutes for his team, only sitting for 88 of a total 1240 minutes this season. His conditioning is excellent and he always keeps his body in top shape.

According to anyone around the program, Acker is a class act both on and off the court.

Sounds intriguing to me.

He college coach, former NBA head coach Paul Westphal:

He's barely scratched the surface of how good he can be. He has such incredible gifts. He's got timing, he's got a great shooting touch, great hands and good body control. He's everything you look for in a player. In my opinion, [though], he still has a ways to go as far as intensity and consistency."


"All you need to know about Acker is that (Paul) Westphal never takes him out," said one NBA scout.

Hoopshype profile:

Can play all perimeter spots...Great ballhandling skills...Good rebounder for his size.

2006 Summer league:

Averaged 18.4 pts, 5 rebs, 2.6 asst, 1.2 stls in 34.6 mpg.

He also made the Euroleague All Star team in his one season over there.

His natural position will be at the point? Doubtful.

His natural position will be at the point? Doubtful.

He's a terrible PG. That's the problem. Even if he is a decent combo guard, we already have Stuckey. Acker won't get a chance to even show anything (if he has anything NBA caliber) unless we get decimated by injuries.

Matt and Chris bring up the best points. What should weigh more in your mind as the truth is what you saw with your eyes. He looked crappy to me, albeit that was when the games didn't matter and it was last year.

Do you guys think that Joe D would have invested in two guards (3 if you include Mejia) if he thought that any of our existing guards were going to be a rotation player? Not me.

Glenn thanks for the quotes, but I think you can delete Al Acker and insert Harold Minor in almost all of those pretty easily.

I've never seen him play SG, so I don't know if he is garbage or not.

I can tell that he is a pretty poor PG, but how good of a point guard would Rip Hamilton be?

Rip managed to get more apg than Chauncey for the 2nd half of 2005, surprising when you consider that he was still passing while jumping in the air. Rip has all the tools to be a fine PG, except for judgement.

:langlois:


John: Why is Alex Acker not on the Summer League team? Is he still in Europe?

Langlois: They mutually decided it wasn’t necessary. Once the Pistons added three perimeter players in the draft, they focused on evaluating them in the Summer League. They already have a pretty good handle on Acker’s capabilities. And there’s also the matter of Acker and his agent believing his play in the Euroleague has already established his value. It’s still up in the air whether the Pistons will have a roster spot for Acker and try to get him signed.

Anybody know what to make of this?

According to Storytellers, the Pistons made a qualifying offer to Acker on 6/30/07 ($862,456).

I assume that this was necessary to keep his rights, but what does this mean with regards for his roster status?

http://www.storytellerscontracts.info/resources/07-08salaries.htm

I guess the easy answer is, they made the qualifying offer right before the Summer League began, so they didn't know what they had in Stuckey, Afflalo & Mejia.

So I suppose that it's possible that they have withdrawn the offer, but I think we might have heard about that.

What if he accepts the offer?

I assume we have a certain number of days to make room, which would probably be a Flip Murray trade. Or they just cut Acker and eat the money I suppose.

Or they just cut Acker and eat the money I suppose.

That would be very un-Davidson like this close to the tax.

well, you'll have to cut somebody or trade somebody.

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20070724/noticia_53379419729.html
^That's in Spanish.

Babelfish translation:


To by Alex Acker

Jose Ignacio Huguet - 24/07/2007 03:00

Axa FC Barcelona can lose to Juan Navarrese Carlos but the next campaign will continue having a great equipment. Mainly if it manages to close the draftee of Alex Acker, one of the best American players than passed by Europe the last season. Acker, an escort of 24 years and 1,95, shone in the Olympiacos but it managed to free itself of the second year of contract with the equipment of Athens by his bad relations with technician Pini Gershon. After the draftee of the Turkish wing-pi'vot Ersan Ilyasova and the renovation of Jordi Trias, the American has become the main objective of the Barça to reinforce his east group summer.

Acker is a player of great offensive and very complete talent. Its great handling of ball allows him to play of base - it already did it in the Greek equipment in some parties and its physical explosividad allows him to also do it of ' tres'. In fact, the Barça already tried to file to him a year ago to occupy the eaves seat after failing the attempt by the Argentinean Carlos Delfino, although the Olympiacos prevailed in the struggle when presenting/displaying to him one súperoferta. With the Greek equipment it signed in the last Euroliga averages of 15 points, 6,5 bounces, 2,7 attendances and 2 recoveries.

The objective of Acker is to return to the NBA, but it will be difficult that it obtains it. The rights of the escort belong to the Pistons, that chose to him in the last position (nº 60) of the second round of draft of 2005, but the equipment of Detroit does not have site for Acker in its group after in the last taking control of three outer players (Stuckey, Afflalo and Mejia) draft. To them it is necessary to add Richard Hamilton, Flip Murray and the renewed Chauncey Billups. In addition, it is very probable that the Pistons extends by a year plus the contract of the veteran Lindsey Hunter. (lol)

To Acker, that only played 5 parties in his first and only season in Detroit, only it they have left two options: that their rights are transferred to another equipment NBA or to continue progressing in the basketeuropeo. And this one last one is much more easy and lucrative. In Europe its cache goes up to around the million euros, whereas in the NBA hardly it could sign by more than 850,000 dollars (615,000 euros).

The Barça already has transmitted its interest to the agent of the player and the negotiations could start up in days, as soon as Acker assimilates that it still does not have site in Detroit. The Pistons either does not want to transfer their rights because they consider a player him with much future, which pays the possibilities from their return to Europe.

Also it interests to the Tau
The Barça is not the only European equipment interested in Acker. The ex- player of Olympiacos also is courted by the Maccabi Tel Aviv and the Ceramic Tau, that needs to incorporate impact players after the march of Scola to the NBA.

But the Barça plays with advantage thanks to its good relations with the Pistons, that they prefer to see Acker in an equipment where, unlike the experience of Olympiacos, finds means and the stability to progress before recovering it in a future. The advice of president Joe Dumars can be decisive so that he ends up saturating in the Palau in the next weeks

Basically, there are some Euro teams interested in signing Acker.

the equipment of Detroit does not have site for Acker

Haha, gotta love translations.

Translated by a guy at SpursReport.com

I´m not good at translations, but here it goes...

FC Barcelona might lose Juan Carlos Navarro, but they will still have a great team for next season. And specially if they are able to sign Alex Acker, one of the best US players who played in Europe last season.
Acker, 24 years old / 6"5 shooting guard, shined in Olympiacos but agreed to be waived from his second year of contrat due to problems with coach Pini Gershon.
After signing Ilyasova and re-signing Jordi Trias, el american has became the main target of FC Barcelona during the offseason.

Acker is a player with a lot of offensive talent, and very well rounded. His great ballhandling skills allows him to play PG (which he did with the greek team in some games) and his athleticism allows him to play some SF too. In fact, Barcelona tried to sign him last year and play him at SF after negotiations for argentine Carlos Delfino failed, even though Olympiacos got him offering a lot of money. With the greek team his stats were
15 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.7 apg and 2 spg

The goal for Acker is to return to the NBA, but It will be difficult for him to achieve it. His rights belong to the Pistons, who drafted him with the last pick (#60) of the second round during the 2005 draft, but the team from Detroit has no roster spots for Acker after drafting three backcourt players (Stuckey, Afflalo and Mejia) in the last draft. Add Richard Hamilton, Flip Murray and the re-signed Chauncey Billups. Moreover, is highly probable the the Pistons sign a one year extension for veteran Lindsey Hunter.

Acker, who played only 5 games in his first and only season in Detroit, has two options left: his rights being traded to another NBA team or keep improving in Euro basketball. And this last option is easier and more lucrative. In Europe, his contract would be around 1Mill Euro, while in the NBA he could hardly get a contract worth $ 850K (615K Euro)

Barca has already talked to the player´s agent, and negotiations could go ahead in some days, after Acker realizes that there are no spots available in Detroit. The Pistons don´t want to trade his rights because they consider him a player with a bright future, which enforces the possibilities of him returning to Europe.

Tau also interested

FC Barcelona is not the only european team interested in Acker. The former Olympiacos player is also being watched by Maccabi Tel Aviv and Tau Ceramica, who needs to sign an
impact player after Scola heading to the NBA. http://www.spursreport.com/forums/images/smilies/biglaugh.gif

But Barca has some advantage thanks to their good relationship with the Pistons, who prefer watching Acker in a team where, instead of the experience with Olympiacos, he finds the way and rythm to develop before getting him in the future. The advice from president Joe Dumars could be decisive for him finally arriving in the Palau sometime in the coming weeks.

I'm just impressed that someone from a Spurs site finds it worthwhile to translate an article about a B-list Pistons prospect.

I asked for it.

Very nice. Its nice to see what other people are thinking, what exactly is going on there. I wouldn't mind seeing him stay overseas another year. We don't really have a spot for him and we could always include his rights in a deal if need be.

News on Acker's equipment.

Translation courtesy of Babelfish.


Acker, to point

Jesus Perez Branches - 07/08/2007 03:00

American eaves Alex Acker (24 years, 1.96) and the Axa Barça are closely together to close an agreement that would turn to this player the second draftee of the azulgrana club this season after the one of the Turkish wing-pi'vot Ersan Ilyasova. Several European equipment considered ' grandes', as it is the case of the Maccabi Tel Aviv, Tau Cera'mica and Olympiacos, has maintained in the last weeks an intense race to file this player, but finally the Barça is the one that has remained single in head and it hopes that in a pair of days the operation can be closed.

Acker has maintained in the last weeks the hope of which some equipment of the NBA bet strong by him, but has not finally been thus. In the Detroit Pistons, tax exemption that has its right in the NBA, did not have hollow, so the best option now than it has left is to follow in Europe. American eaves have been the one of the revelations last season in the Euroliga playing in the rows of the Olympiacos and have happened to be almost a stranger to finish the competition being number 12 in Valuation (15.6 by encounter) and ninth in annotation (14.3 points by party).

Acker, in addition, is very athletic, which allows him to collaborate actively in the bounce. In fact, this last season has been the outer player that you reject more has captured of average (5.59, in position 16 of ránking). Its better performance in the Maxima European competition was in the first day and, peculiarly, as opposed to the Ceramic Tau (25 points, 13 bounces and 34 of Valuation), one of the equipment that has been interested more in their situation.

With Acker, the Barça trusts having to a player who cover the positions with ' dos' and of ' tres'. At the moment, in the positions of escort and eaves there are three men: Roger Grimau, Gianluca Basile and Ersan Ilyasova, that will alternate the functions of ' tres' with those of ' cuatró. The club wants to incorporate to which it can contribute things from the perimeter. Sarunas Jasikevicius, in spite of the complicated thing of the operation, is the first option

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20070807/noticia_53382193059.html

http://www.elmundodeportivo.es/gif/20070807/e__archivo_photo_10_1_1_20070807_ybk01f1.tif6.jpg

"collaborate actively in the bounce" -- I love it!

Normally I can tell what they are trying to say, but this one:

"American eaves have been the one of the revelations last season in the Euroliga playing in the rows of the Olympiacos and have happened to be almost a stranger to finish the competition"

:huh:

Acker, fichado
After the incorporation of Ilyasova, the escort is the second new face of the FC Barcelona for the next season
9/8/2007
Maite Antón

AXA FC Barcelona already has to their second reinforcement for season 2007-08: Alex Acker. The blaugrana club and the American escort reached a total agreement yesterday after several days of long negotiations in which the economic differences and the supplies of other equipment avoided that the operation took shape before. The good work of Zoran Savic, however, had its fruits and it obtained yesterday ‘yes’ from the player.

Of this form, the Barça will count on Acker, Gianluca Basile and Roger Grimau for the position of ‘2’, whereas the following objective is to complete the game of perimeter with the 3 draftee ‘of’ American.

Formed in the not very well-known University of Pepperdine, Alex was chosen in second round of draft of 2005 (60°) by Detroit Pistons. When not having many opportunities at the NBA, the escort it chose to cross the pool and to land in Europe, where the last season signed by the Olympiacos, in which it divided equally 14.3 points and 5.6 bounces by party in the Euroliga.

Nevertheless, their bad relations with technician Pini Gershon clouded their passage by the Greek equipment and chose to look for a new destiny. In principle, the idea of Acker was to saturate in some tax exemption of the NBA, but when not finding no project that assured minutes to him it decided to bet by the FC Barcelona.

Versatility in perimetro
The arrival of the escort will suppose, without a doubt, a very interesting reinforcement for the blaugrana perimeter, mainly after the march of Juan Navarrese Carlos, since its versatility allows him to alternate the positions of ‘2’ and ‘3’. Acker emphasizes being an excellent penetrador, has a great jump thanks to its athletic qualities and a great capacity to finalize plays. Lee the game and surprises their ability very well in happens, whereas in the shot harvests high percentage.

In addition, Alex makes an effort much in the defensive tasks and in the Olympiacos it excelled by his reboteadora capacity, something that will go to him perfect to the FC Barcelona, whose pending subjet of the last season was the bounce.

http://www.sport.es/default.asp?idpublicacio_PK=44&idioma=CAS&idnoticia_PK=431303&idseccio_PK=808

http://www.sport.es/vivo/recursos/fotos/foto_234932_CAS.jpg

Acker is in the escort business now?

It goes on to say he's an excellent penetrador and a great capacity to finish plays.

http://www.euroleague.net/news/i/14866/180/item


AXA F.C. Barcelona nabs Acker

Spanish powerhouse AXA F.C. Barcelona has replaced a proven star with a budding one, swingman Alex Acker, one of last season's top newcomers in the Euroleague. Acker (195, 24) who will step into the hole left in Barcelona's lineup by all-Euroleague guard Juan Carlos Navarro, proved a multi-faceted talent from the moment he stepped on the floor last season with Olympiacos of Greece. In his very first Euroleague game, Acker led Olympiacos past a perennial Final Four team, Tau Ceramica, with 25 points and 13 rebounds. Two weeks later, he dished 9 assists in another game. Acker eventually ranked 12th in overall index rating for the season (15.7 per game), ninth in scoring (14.3 ppg.) and 16th in rebounds (5.6 rpg.) while helping Olympiacos reach the Quarterfinal Playoffs. No other player shorter than 2 meters ranked among the Euroleague's top 25 rebounders last season. Before Olympiacos, Acker had played a single season with Detroit of the NBA after a successful NCAA career at Pepperdine University.

http://www.euroleague.net/resourceserver/2689/d65c5824-e1ca-4139-bf72-e1b1f465110e/64b/rglang/en-US/filename/d65.jpg

I converted Acker's new Euro salary to USD and that fucker is getting nearly $2.5m for this year.

Damn.

I converted Acker's new Euro salary to USD and that fucker is getting nearly $2.5m for this year.

Damn.
And Euro pay is reported in after tax money. And at the rate the Euro climbs against the U.S. dollar, it could be more by the end of the season.

http://ichart.finance.yahoo.com/1y?eurusd=x

Alex Acker may not be playing for Barcelona after all:

http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=mozclient&u=http%3A//www.elmundodeportivo.es/web/gen/20070822/noticia_53385896049.html

The AXA Barcelona has decided not to finally incorporate Alex Acker, after the American escort did not surpass previous the medical tests to its draftee by the Barcelonist club by a problem in one of its knees.

Acker comprised of the first group of players of the first azulgrana equipment that spent the medical tests Monday, along with Pepe Sanchez, Vázquez, Moncasi and Grimau. Nevertheless, the medical body has detected a problem in the knee of the player who has not been made specific by the club and that has prevented the incorporation of Acker. Barcelona will look for a substitute for the American player now.

The medical examinations counted on a test of effort, ecocardiograma, analytical of blood and tinkles, revisions of vision, ear, podológica, biometries, espirometrÃfudgea - pulmonary capacity of blow and other complementary tests to evaluate the global state of each player.

Acker was destined to occupy the site of Juan Carlos Navarro in the equipment of Dusko Ivanovic, and was the second incorporation of Barcelona after Ersan Ilyasova. Club and player had reached an agreement by one season with option to one second.

bump

lol@tinkles

He had some good games this year and a great series in the semis against Juventud. They couldn't stop him without fouling and he got to the line a lot. He was physical which was what Barca needed (well, even more inside but after letting two Serbs absolutely ruin the team what can you do). I don't know where he is now, but since Barça's bringing back Navarro (in a HUGE political move) if he's still here he might have playtime issues.

FWIW I think he must live near me as well since I've seen him at least twice at the market by my house (which makes sense because I live a 10 minute walk from Barça).

Do you ever say "Hey Al, I'm a huge Pistons fan. Can't wait to see you in their summer league"?

I'm not shy but at the same time respectful when in situation like that. I like to go up to the person, say my piece, maybe get a handshake and if they don't want to keep talking, I'm out of there. But both times I've seen him at the market, he's got his headphones on and his Ipod going.