The Secret Behind Miroslav Raduljica’s NBA Deals

Miroslav Raduljica should have been killing right now. If not in the NBA, at least overseas.

The Serbian hulk averaged 3.8 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while playing spotty minutes last season for the Milwaukee Bucks – numbers that failed to warrant another NBA deal. Raduljica was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers, who waived him the same week.

A dominant performance last summer at the World Cup with the Serbian national team resurrected his stock as teams from Europe and Asia were blowing up Raduljica’s phone.

Raduljica was a bull for Serbia, registering 13 points and 4.6 board per contest and helping to lead an underdog national team to a silver medal in Espana. Still, NBA decision-makers weren’t impressed.

Raduljica signed a lucrative $1.5 million contract with the Shandong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, but his stint in Asia was short-lived as Raduljica received $1.2 million to terminate his deal after posting 18.3 points and 9.1 boards over 14 games in the CBA.

Once again, Raduljica was a hot potato.

But despite a large number of NBA call-ups this season, it seemed as if no one was interested in the Serbian. Raduljica was again overlooked.

Then, the Minnesota Timberwolves elected to sign Raduljica to a 10-day contract followed by a second 10-day before he was waived.

According to league sources, linkage between Milwaukee and Minnesota — the only NBA organizations to sign Raduljica and give him a shot in the league — isn’t coincidental.

“It’s comical to be honest,” a person familiar with the situation told Basketball Insiders.

Raduljica is represented by agent Matthew Babcock of APAA Sports Group. So where is the connection? On board as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Bucks is Dave Babcock, Matthew’s father. Though Milwaukee was loaded at the time, roster space wasn’t a concern when adding Raduljica.

Wait, there is more: Rob Babcock, the Assistant General Manager with the Timberwolves, is Matthew’s uncle. Raduljica averaged 1.6 points and one rebound over five games for Minnesota, in three of which he went scoreless.

“Out of all the NBA teams, the only two that signed the kid have personal relations to [Raduljica’s] agent,” said the source. “How does that look behind the scenes? It sums up the definition of a ‘family business,'” the source added.

The Dallas Mavericks, I’m told, was a team that could’ve made a move to secure the Serbian giant, but discussions never gained momentum.

Now a free agent, Raduljica is nursing a bone bruise in his ankle and is unlikely to latch on with a Euroleague team before the signing deadline expires next week. The NBA, however, is still an option. Or is it?