Report: Spurs sign 7-foot-4 Serbian center Boban Marjanovic
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With the back end of their roster thinned out following the cap-clearing moves required to sign LaMarcus Aldridge, the San Antonio Spurs are dipping back into the international player pool.
The Spurs have signed Serbian big-man Boban Marjanovic to a one-year contract, according to international reporter David Pick, who received word from Marjanovic's agent. Terms of the deal were not immediately available, but the Spurs' busy offseason leaves them with only the veteran minimum or a part (or all) of their $2.8-million Room Exception to offer.
While he's hardly a household name, Marjanovic could be quite the find. The 26-year-old stands 7-foot-4, weighs nearly 300 pounds, and was named All-Euroleague First Team, Serbian Super League MVP for a third time, and European Center of the Year in 2014-15.
It's not easy to translate international statistics to the NBA, but Marjanovic's numbers were terrific. He posted 27 double-doubles in 76 games, averaging 13.1 points and 8.6 rebounds while shooting 60.4 percent to help lead Crvena Zvezda to a league championship.
With a 7-foot-8 wingspan and 9-foot-7 standing reach, he should at the very least be an impediment to opponents at the rim. He's not particularly fleet of foot, but the size and production make him an intriguing reserve big, and it's difficult not to trust the Spurs when it comes to international draft picks and signings.
Marjanovic looks like the team's fourth big as things stand, likely helping replace Aron Baynes and Tiago Splitter behind Aldridge, Tim Duncan, and David West.
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