Olympiacos in the running for the EuroLeague Final Four, but also very attentive on the market for next season.
According to Sportando, an agreement has now been reached with Keenan Evans (17.3 points average and 3.9 assists in EuroLeague), a handler who will leave Zalgiris Kaunas at the end of the season. Despite an important offer from Fenerbahce, Evans chose Olympiacos for a two-year, €3.2 total plus bonuses.
But the ‘Reds’ do not stop there. According to Sportando, Tyler Dorsey is also set to return to the red and white. The player has a renewal option in his contract with Fenerbahce, but is set to leave Turkey in the summer.
Daulton Hommes, who has been with Pallacanestro Reggiana for training since yesterday, made this statement to Carlino.
“I’m happy because today (yesterday, ed.) after a long time I started training again in a competitive five-on-five context and I’m grateful to Reggio, the club, the executives and the whole organisation for giving me this opportunity to get back in shape. Do I imagine myself here next season? Sure, why not? The possibilities are there, I’m doing well here from every point of view”.
Oggi #Hommes ha iniziato ad allenarsi con la #Unahotels facendo 5vs5 per la prima volta in stagione, persa per un problema al ginocchio: “Ringrazio Reggio per l’opportunità. Giocare qui in futuro?Mi piacerebbe”
Improbabile un tesseramento playoff per l’ex #Baskonia ma in estate… pic.twitter.com/TI0wSib8ua
According to a report by Rupert Baig and Tomer Givati on Israelhayom, Maccabi Tel Aviv is already working on the team for next season and reportedly has big man Trevion Williams in its sights.
Making his European debut, the former Purdue immediately showed his talent in an excellent year with ratiopharm Ulm.
Williams produced averages of 14.8 points (54% FG, 66% FT), 10.8 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game in the Eurocup, while in the BBL he is scoring 15.2 points (56% FG, 64% FT) with 9 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
The big man, included in the All Eurocup first team, is among the candidates to replace Josh Nebo, who is on contract expiration and has been on the notebook of several Euroleague bigs for quite some time.
As it’s expected that @Joshnebo will receive big offers this summer after his strong performances, @MaccabiTLVBC is looking for a potential replacement. One of so far five candidates is EuroCup First teamer Trevion Williams of @ratiopharmulm sources tell @givati_tomer and me. pic.twitter.com/ZRVwWsplxI
Jabari Parker has agreed to extend his contract with Barcelona for one more season, with an NBA exit option. This was reported by encestando.
The renewal proposal was made after the Copa del Rey and Parker has always viewed it favourably. However, the possibility of receiving an offer to return to the NBA delayed the deal, which includes a clause allowing Parker to opt out of the contract until mid-July, giving Barcelona time to find a replacement if necessary.
Dzanan Musa gave a long interview in his homeland to the website nacional.hr. Here are some passages.
ON A FUTURE IN NBA
“The contacts are there, but I am focused on the season with Real Madrid, to try to win two titles, which is our goal this season. After that we will think about everything else”.
ON THE YEARS AT EFES
“I cannot be dishonest and say that coach Ergin Ataman and the club did not do a good job. I was simply not there. Things changed and last year I won the Euroleague with Real and was selected in the top five of the Euroleague. In the end it went well’.
ON PARTIZAN’S OFFER
“I know what the truth is, so I have no energy or will or desire to explain to anyone what is going on. The people who are with me every day, my family, know what is happening and that is the most important thing for me. Let people and the media talk, we all know how many falsehoods there are and I focus every day on being the best I can be and moving forward. And I can’t stop all this writing, so I won’t even try”.
Andrea Trinchieri-Zalgiris, the marriage goes on and on. The parties are negotiating the removal of the summer release clause from the two-year contract signed in January 2024.
Trinchieri has led the team to a remarkable recovery, turning an initial 5-12 record into 14 wins from 34 EuroLeague games and improving Zalgiris’ offensive and defensive effectiveness.
With him at the helm, the team has also picked up significant wins against quality opposition in the continent’s premier competition.
After Sunday’s win over second-placed Rytas, Zalgiris are now firmly at the top of the Lithuanian league with a 22-2 record.
Josh Nebo might join Luka Doncic on the Slovenian national team for the Olympic qualifying tournament in Greece, according to BasketNews.
The Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv big man is considered a potential addition to support the Dallas Mavericks star in the qualifiers scheduled for July 2-7, where Slovenia will compete against Greece, Dominican Republic, Croatia, New Zealand, and Egypt.
In the EuroLeague regular season, Nebo has impressed with averages of 11.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, and a 16.6 PIR.
ASVEL closes its EuroLeague 2023-2024 today, club president Tony Parker also talks to Le Progrès about the future coach.
“We will make a decision soon (on the possible confirmation of Pierric Poupet, ed), although it is no secret that we are in contact with Gordon Herbert and Sergio Scariolo.”
Sergio Scariolo will be a free agent as of 1 July 2024. He was exonerated by Virtus Bologna before the start of the current season.
Also Real Madrid in the mix for Deividas Sirvydis. According to the website 15min, there is not only Zalgiris Kaunas on the trail of the best scorer of the last EuroCup.
The Lietkabelis player has been in talks with Zalgiris Kaunas for some time, but for the moment the agreement has not been reached, also due to Sirvydis’ desire not to sign long-term agreements.
Real Madrid has been following the player for some time, given the need to redefine the department with the farewells of Hezonja and Rudy, without forgetting the probable departure of Causeur.
Nick Calathes gave a long interview to sportal.gr. Here are two key passages, on the present and future of the Fenerbahce playmaker.
ON THE RELATIONSHIP WITH JASIKEVICIUS
“We talked about it, I don’t know where it came from that we had a fight. There was no quarrel between me and him. We have always been professionals on the court. We have never quarrelled. We have a good relationship, from player to coach, and, as you can see on the pitch, his presence on the bench is good for our team and makes it better.”
ON THE FUTURE
“Nobody knows the future. For now I just focus on the season and hope to take the team to the Final 4 and do something good for Fenerbahce.”
Semi Ojeleye could leave Valencia at the end of the season if the Taronja club are not confirmed in the EuroLeague. According to encestando, Barcelona would be very interested.
In the summer, Valencia paid Virtus Bologna €300,00 for the winger, who is averaging 13 points and 4.5 rebounds in the EuroLeague this season.
Ojeleye, who still has a year left on his contract, would have been the Blaugrana’s replacement for Nikola Kalinic, who is expected to return to Crvena Zvezda in Serbia.
Zalgiris Kaunas is already laying the foundations for next season. The Lithuanian champions have extended the contract with Laurynas Birutis for the 2024-2025 season with the option to work together in 2025-2026 season as well.
With the addition of head coach Andrea Trinchieri, the 26-year-old 213 cm player has moved to the starting center position. Under the Italian’s guidance, Birutis is Zalgiris’ third most valuable player in the EuroLeague, averaging 8.6 points, 4.3 rebounds and 10.4 efficiency points during that stretch.
“I feel good here. Zalgiris is one of the best organizations in Europe, we have a great fan base, so the motivation to stay in Kaunas is high,” said Birutis. – I grew up in Zalgiris youth system. Although I didn’t get to the main team by the most direct route, I found my place here. It also gives me an extra boost.”
In the Betsafe-LKL championship, Birutis is Zalgiris’ top scorer and most efficient player. He averages 10.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 16.5 efficiency points per 18 minutes on the court.
“Our goal is to give Lithuanian players who care about Zalgiris and want to play in Kaunas the opportunity to develop at the highest level. Laurynas has had many good games this year, he had had some bad ones, but that is to be expected from a player who is still developing. I am happy that we will continue to have a player with an upward curve in the team,” said Zalgiris Head Coach Andrea Trinchieri.
Birutis made his first professional steps in Zalgiris Kaunas junior team and later was loaned to other Betsafe-LKL clubs. In 2018, while representing Siauliai, he was named the regular season MVP.
Birutis made his debut in Zalgiris’ main team in the 2018-2019 season and then spent two years with Monbus Obradoiro in the Spanish ACB League.
According to Encestando, Luka Bozic will become a Valencia player starting next season.
The 27-year-old Croatian guard, currently in his second season with KK Zadar, is producing 21.1 points, 8.1 rebounds and 6 assists per game in ABA Liga.
The parties have reportedly reached an agreement since last February.
Valencia remains in a complicated position on the market because of uncertainty over its participation in the upcoming Euroleague.
The Croatina player Luka Bozic is Valencia Basket's first signing for next season, I was confirmed 🏀El alero Luka Bozic, primer fichaje del Valencia Basket para la próxima temporada, donde el club empieza a temer un regreso a la Eurocup, según nos dicen ➡️https://t.co/4oE4l7I0gUpic.twitter.com/jHRzDmb9FP
Aquila Trento head coach Paolo Galbiati spoke to Area 52 about Andrejs Grazulis’ imminent transfer to Virtus Bologna next season.
«He has seen a lot of basketball because he has been in Russia, he has been with Marco Ramondino, he has been in Trieste in a different system with Dalmasson, then with Lele (Molin, ndr), then with Luca (Banchi, ndr). He’s got a lot of experience, he’s got a lot of guile and I think he’ll give Virtus a good hand».
At the end of February, there were rumours that an agreement had been reached between Andrejs Grazulis and Virtus Bologna. Then, at the end of March, it was announced that he would be undergoing knee surgery, ending his season prematurely.
Básquet Girona signs Gabe York after Kenny Chery’s injury. The agreement is until the end of the season.
The guard ended the season in the G League with the Ignites producing 15.9 points on average with 4.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists.
ÚLTIMA HORA: El Básquet Girona ha cerrado el fichaje de Gabe York (1.91 m.; 30 a.).
Formado en los Wildcats de Arizona, en #NBA ha jugado en los Pacers. Tiene experiencia en Europa en 🇮🇹 Cremona, 🇩🇪 Bayreuth, 🇬🇷 AEK, 🇫🇷 Strasbourg e 🇮🇱 Hapoel Tel Aviv.
Marius Grigonis has signed a new three-year contract with Panathinaikos, extending his commitment until 2027.
The Lithuanian guard, who is playing his second season with the Greek club, has recorded averages of 10.1 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 33 EuroLeague games, contributing significantly to Panathinaikos’ current second place ranking.
This deal not only guarantees Grigonis a central role in the team’s future, but also puts him on the path to becoming the Lithuanian player with the longest tenure in the club’s history, surpassing Sarunas Jasikevicius.
Virtus Bologna still on the market. According to the Corriere di Bologna, the italian club are looking for a playmaker ‘as a policy for the playoffs to cover the backs of Hackett and Pajola’.
One name could be that of Bryce Cotton, according to the newspaper on the newsstands yesterday.
Formerly of Efes and Germani Brescia, Cotton has been permanently in the NBL at Pert since 2018. With the Wildcats this season he has produced an average of 22.9 points (best scorer), 3.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 1.5 stolen balls.
As UCAM Murcia CB equals its record for individual wins in the Endesa League (18), management continues to build the team for the 24/25 season.
The team announced the contract extension of Troy Caupain for one more year.
Caupain has become the team’s most reliable 3-point shooter with 45 percent in Liga Endesa and nearly 50 percent in BCL.
In the national competition he has 7.3 points, 2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a 6.5 rating; while in BCL he has averaged 10.6 points, 2.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists.
In the upcoming season the Cincinnati product will continue to be part of a team that is making history.
UCAM Murcia
🚨 | OFICIAL |
🔥 Troy Caupain renueva con el UCAM Murcia CB
🏀 El base americano extiende su contrato por una temporada más
Frédéric Fauthoux has decided to extend his contract with JL Bourg by three seasons, as reported by Le Progrès and confirmed by L’Équipe. The news comes after the Ain club qualified for the EuroCup final.
Despite ASVEL’s interest, the stability and success of JL Bourg and the doubts surrounding the Lyon club’s future were key factors in Fauthoux’s decision to stay.
Still searching for his first trophy as a head coach, Fauthoux could also be tipped to take charge of the French national team after the 2024 Olympics. However, Kenny Atkinson is the favourite for the job.
Valencia have officially said goodbye to Alex Mumbru. The team will be managed until the end of the season by Xavi Albert, a respected and up-and-coming assistant. The target for next season is Slovenian Jaka Lakovic, head coach of Gran Canaria.
Valencia have officially said goodbye to Alex Mumbru. The team will be managed until the end of the season by Xavi Albert, a respected and up-and-coming assistant. The target for next season is Slovenian Jaka Lakovic, head coach of Gran Canaria. pic.twitter.com/Y1ABhTr5hs
— Alessandro Luigi Maggi (@AlessandroMagg4) April 5, 2024
In the summer, the target of the Taronja management is Jaka Lakovic. Born in 1978 in Ljubljana, after his playing career Lakovic began to train as a coach with Barcelona, Bilbao and Badalona. After three years as head coach at Ulm, he has been leading Gran Canaria since 2022, with whom he won the 2023 EuroCup and has a contract until 2025.
Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro has reached an agreement to bring in Italy Loudon Love for the last part of the season.
The center just finished the G League season with the Memphis Hustle producing 8.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and a steal in 18 minutes per game.
The Club is working on the necessary paperwork for the purpose of obtaining a visa to allow the player to be in Pesaro in the coming days.
Pesaro also announces that Scott Bamforth returned to the United States for very serious family reasons. The Club wishes him the best of luck in the continuation of his career.
Stefano Tonut talked about his future in Olimpia Milano with Sport Mediaset: “I have an option to stay here. I am happy with these two years and also with the fact that the fans support me. The coach, the staff, all my teammates love me. That’s something I think is very important. I was lucky in my career to do long periods in teams, where I got to know many players and I always had a good feeling, a good relationship, even afterwards. Yes, I would definitely be happy to stay. Let’s say that now comes the most important period of the season for everyone, where so much of our future will be decided. So we’ll try to push, try as I’m already doing, to get ready for the most important part of the season.
Anadolu Efes is ready to make an important offer for Kendrick Nunn.
The former NBA player signed in November a deal until the end of the season with Panathinaikos (€1.5 million according to sport24), who are working on a new multi-year contract.
Will he be the first big target of the Pascual era?
Panathinaikos are working on a new deal with Kendrick Nunn, but Efes are reportedly ready to make a huge offer.