UNICS officially announced the addition of Paul Stoll on Wednesday. Dmitry Gerchikov breaks down Kazan’s reasons for bringing the Mexican playmaker on board.
Why was UNICS looking for a point guard?
That’s easy. Anton Ponkrashov’s injury left UNICS with only one point guard. At the end of October, the Russian national team playmaker suffered a serious injury to his right knee in a Euroleague game vs. Darussafaka, forcing him to miss several months.
Quino Colom was the only experienced point guard left on Evgeny Pashutin’s roster with the skills to compete at an elite level. Given that UNICS is spread between multiple fronts–both the continent’s top tourney and the VTB United League, resulting at times in three games per week–the front office knew it needed to ink another guard.
Who was Kazan considering?
Ideally, Kazan wanted to bring in another Russian. After all, the VTB United League has rather strict standards when it comes to the number of domestic players on the roster. Signing another foreigner, then having to exclude someone in every VTB League game, would be a major luxury. Unfortunately, you can count the number of accomplished Russian point guards on one hand and none of Kazan’s rivals had any interest in parting with one. The only somewhat realistic loan candidate was CSKA guard Mikhail Kulagin, who’s not seeing the court much in Moscow. But that deal never went further than the sports pages.
Kazan initially turned its attention to Lorenzo Brown, even making the deal official in November. But despite experience with the Sixers, Wolves, Suns, and Pistons in the NBA, Brown never debuted with UNICS due to heart trouble.
As a result, Kazan made an emergency move, signing former Bucks guard Orlando Johnson to a three-month contract.
So, why did UNICS need Stoll?
Because of the lack of versatility on the perimeter. Colom is an excellent passer, deft in the pick-and-roll, and finding teammates on the weakside. Johnson, on the other hand, relies more on his athleticism and looks to score. When UNICS needed someone who could combine both attributes, and attract the defense with unorthodox decisions (making life easier for Keith Langford), the team had issues. Worse, both Colom and Johnson were predictable, allowing opponents to frequently double team Langford. The help defense would be asked to cover the Spaniard or American–UNICS was simply too predictable at the position. Stoll was signed to change that.
Why is UNICS so confident Stoll is the answer?
Watching this clip should give you an idea.
Stoll takes an unconventional approach to offense, and that’s a good thing. Even when it looks like he’s going to drive, he’s always thinking about kicking the ball out or finding someone in the corner. Thanks to his explosive speed and chiseled physique, Stoll isn’t afraid of contact (which can be an issue for Colom) and finds ways to attack bigger opponents (Johnson struggles with this). Plus, the Mexican can shoot from outside and make his opponents pay, if they aren’t careful. Stoll is going to have those opportunities when Evgeny Pashutin decides to go with a small lineup.
How will such an exotic player adapt to Russia?
Without any trouble, since he’s already played in the VTB United League. A year ago, Stoll replaced Courtney Fortson at Avtodor. At the time, it looked like a bad exchange. Fortson, after all, had turned into a triple-double machine in Saratov, raising his value so dramatically in one season that Avtodor was unable to re-sign him. Few could have believed Stoll would be capable of something similar. But seasoned by experience in both Israel and Turkey, he proved a pleasant surprise, torching opposing defenses from the start.
Stoll wasn’t just familiar with European-style basketball, he fit right in, demonstrating his ability to pass the ball and keep everyone involved on offense. When the team needed it, the Mexican wasn’t afraid of the limelight. Prior experiences helped: Paul had a part in Maccabi Haifa’s championship in 2013, not to mention a major role on the Mexican national team. Alongside Gustavo Ayon, he’s helped lead one of the Western Hemisphere’s biggest surprises. In 2013, Mexico won the continental title then followed it up with a championship at Centrobasket in 2014. The team played next at the World Championships, where Stoll made a very positive impression, solidifying his reputation as a terrific sniper. Both in Mexico and in Israel, he was recognized as the league’s top 3-point shooter.
If he’s so good, why didn’t he sign until December?
There are two reasons. One, family problems forced the Mexican to put his career on pause for a few months and return home. Two, he didn’t want to lower his value. I know second-hand that several VTB United League clubs expressed interest over the summer. But their ambitions (as well as the amount offered) were too modest and Stoll declined. He was hoping to follow in Fortson’s footsteps, who was able to cash in on his sparkling Saratov statistics. Stoll, after all, led the VTB United League in assists in 2015-16. Sooner or later, there would be demand for someone with his resume. Stoll waited for his chance. Understandably, a team like Barcelona was not in the cards. His lack of a European passport and shortcomings on defense (opponents can light him up much like he does at the other end) prevented him from signing with a powerhouse. But teams with slightly lower expectations and sufficient financial capital were going to take a look at him sooner or later. That’s what happened in December, as UNICS brought back one of last season’s most exciting talents to the VTB United League.
