EuroBasket2013.org

Tibor Pleiss is currently playing for Germany in the ongoing EuroBasket 2013 qualifiers. Germany is 5-0 so far and could clinch a EuroBasket 2013 bid tonight when they take on Bulgaria.

Pleiss, drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder 31st overall in 2010, has averaged 11.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game so far in qualifying. He is also shooting 65.8 percent from the field and averaging 4.0 offensive rebounds per game.

Pleiss is a skilled 7-foot-1 center who recently signed a 4-year deal to play in Spain earlier this summer. With Nazr Mohammed’s contract up at the end of last season, there was some thought that Pleiss would come over to play with the Thunder this coming season.

That will obviously have to wait now as the Thunder have signed Hasheem Thabeet and Daniel Orton instead of going the Pleiss route.

With luxury tax penalties on the near horizon for OKC, there is a good chance that Kendrick Perkins will be amnestied after this coming season some time. If that happens, the need for a replacement will become imminent and Pleiss could be that guy.

Not surprisingly, Pleiss is described as not ready yet physically to compete in the NBA but he would bring a different brand of playing style to the center position for the Thunder, as his “court awareness and passing skills are developing brilliantly.”