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SALT LAKE CITY — According to FC Barcelona's basketball-specific website, big man Ante Tomic will stay in the ACB next season, spurning the Utah Jazz and a potential move to the NBA by signing a contract extension with the Catalan giants. The official news ends a period of back-and-forth reports, which had variously indicating that Tomic had decided to sign elsewhere, stay in Barcelona, or come to the NBA.
OFFICIAL: Ante Tomic extends contract until 30 June 2018 #Tomic2018pic.twitter.com/4NWK3y2VN6 — FCB Basket (@FCBbasket) June 16, 2015
Tomic, who was drafted by the Jazz in 2008, was one of the best players in Europe last season, being voted to the All-Euroleague Second Team. His varied offensive game, great passing ability and height make him a force to be reckoned with in European basketball. On the other hand, he likely only would have been a role player in the NBA.
Tomic's backup at Barcelona, Tibor Pleiss, does seem more likely to make a move to Utah. The Jazz acquired Pleiss' rights in the Enes Kanter trade last season, and the Jazz are exploring ways to bring him over, though they'll definitely wait until the NBA's free agency period to explore what other possibilities are possible with the cap space they have.
This move also probably zeroes Tomic's value as a trade piece for the Jazz moving forward: Tomic wouldn't be able to move to the NBA until he's 31, and he's shown very little inclination to move to the league despite many opportunities.
