What's new
By:

Gal Mekel - our future PG?

karpasov

karpasov

Well-Known Member
https://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/50101/jazz-impressed-by-israels-mekel

ESPN's Marc Stein says point guard Gal Mekel impressed the Utah Jazz in a recent audition to such a degree that the Jazz, according to sources close to the situation, have extended an unexpected invitation to training camp to Mekel, who played two seasons at Wichita State from 2006-08.

That is very exciting news. Mekel is one of the finest Israeli ballers today and might be the one with the most potential. If this heappens I'll be extreamly thrilled to see how he will perform on NBA level basketball. It is a bit too early for comparssions but if he'll reach his ceiling I see him as a new Goran Dragic.
I'll check what the Israeli media has to say about this and keep you posted.

gal Mekel.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 520.jpg
    520.jpg
    18.5 KB · Views: 25
Last edited:
According to Stein's report, visa problems make it unlikely that he'd be able to show up for the first week of training camp, which in turn makes it unlikely that he'll attend training camp. Instead, Stein says, he's likely to play another Euro year, then come for summer league (for someone -- wasn't clear if there's any indication that he'd definitely lean toward Jazz) next year.

Various ways to interpret this, but one seems most likely: Jazz liked him & encouraged him & would probably hold a summer league spot for him next year. But they aren't fully sold. Otherwise, they'd probably try to snatch him and prevent him from signing elsewhere. After all, if he's really clearly NBA good, the likelihood that he ends up camping with the Jazz (rather than some other team or getting picked up by another team in the meantime) is quite low.

... Or then again, maybe it's just his agent using the pickup games in Utah, as a way, through Stein's story, to get him onto the NBA's radar.
 
Last edited:
Does anyone else think it's weird that the Jazz could sign a Gal? Sure they drafted a gal once, but that was just a publicity stunt.
 
Does anyone else think it's weird that the Jazz could sign a Gal? Sure they drafted a gal once, but that was just a publicity stunt.

[/endofcopyingmyresponsefromtheotherthreadonthefirstpagedealingwiththisexacttopic]
 
Gal was here at Wichita State for a while, when we had Mark Turgeon as a coach. He's got some serious skills, but doesn't always take coaching well (though perhaps he's matured). I'm always curious about these kinds of invites. It seems like he is someone on the radar that they could be interested in a year or two depending on how things shake out with the heavy changes the Jazz have made this year.
 
sounds like there are visa issues, so he won't be coming this week. stein made it sound like that was going to hurt his chances of making the team.

i, for one, am on board, even if he doesn't get here til mid-month. hell knows we could use a true playmaker, and if he's comfortable in P&R situations, even better.
 
But, but...that will cut into the minutes of Watson, Tinsley and even Foye at PG. Corbin will then have to follow the Sloan model and play those vets at SG (a la Fisher), which will reduce Burks' minutes to 10 per game.

Jazz just need to convince Watson to become an asst coach and Tinsley can join the "And1" tour.
 
So now that everyone knows Utah is interested in the kid, Portland will probably sign him to a contract. Personally, I think the Jazz should get rid of either Watson or Tinsley and sign a young PG who they think can play in the NBA. Next year the Jazz will not have a PG under contract which may or may not be a good thing considering they have to make decisions on AJ and Millsap. I like the kids size but never have seen him play so I don't know if he can play in the NBA.
 
MoTown16 said:
But, but...that will cut into the minutes of Watson, Tinsley and even Foye at PG. Corbin will then have to follow the Sloan model and play those vets at SG (a la Fisher), which will reduce Burks' minutes to 10 per game.

Jazz just need to convince Watson to become an asst coach and Tinsley can join the "And1" tour.
Click to expand...

sarcasm?

i hope so. the reality is that a 24-year-old international rookie would have to fight for every minute, meaning if he's on the floor instead of tinsley/watson/foye, it's because he's earned it by outplaying them. and i, for one, would LOVE to have somebody to outplay tinsley and watson as backup points.
 
Wonder if this is one of Lindsey's finds. SA has a good history of digging deep to come up with contributors. Perhaps the new GM is already paying dividends.

I'm not sure why Stein states it's unlikely Mekel comes to Utah one week in to camp. That gives him enough time for a full slate of games. And he could still return to Israel if he doesn't make the team. If he's promising enough, there's no reason the Jazz can't offer him a small guaranteed deal after Braille is released.
 
Last edited:
I have seen gal at 2009 eurobasket and he is great p.g.
very smart.
reminds me beno udrih. but stronger and better penetration skills
 
MoTown16 said:
Wonder if this is one of Lindsey's finds. SA has a good history of digging deep to come up with contributors. Perhaps the new GM is already paying dividends.

I'm not sure why Stein states it's unlikely Mekel comes to Utah one week in to camp. That gives him enough time for a full slate of games. And he could still return to Israel if he doesn't make the team. If he's promising enough, there's no reason the Jazz can't offer him a small guaranteed deal after Bell is released.
Click to expand...

I was going to pos rep you for a different post but after getting Braille's name wrong I don't know if I can do that.
 
theNBAnerd said:
sarcasm?

i hope so. the reality is that a 24-year-old international rookie would have to fight for every minute, meaning if he's on the floor instead of tinsley/watson/foye, it's because he's earned it by outplaying them. and i, for one, would LOVE to have somebody to outplay tinsley and watson as backup points.
Click to expand...
Yes, it was sarcasm.

I think there's definitely room for a backup PG. Watson is hurt (and a year older). Tinsley can't shoot. They're both good guys, but should be emergency-only players. Earl should just be added to the coaching staff.
 
The Israeli sports media is really hyped about this. The headlines generally goes something like "Will Israel have two representatives in the NBA?".
BTW - Mekel played in Italy the last two seasons, and did not have a lot of playing time this summer with the national team. Mostly because the more veteran PG (Yogev Ohayon) had a very good campaign. Mekel grew in a rather small Israeli team - Hapoel Galil Elyon, which is located in the country area not far away from my home. I love this team mainly because their specialty is to grow young talents with great basketball fundamentals and team work. Does anyone here remember Nadav Henefeld and Doron Schefer? They both came from that same team. I think he'll be great player to coach, and a team work guy. Don't expect any over average athleticism nor shooting abilities. But certainly a great prospect.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page
Back
Top