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.
Zalgiris has renewed the contract (1+1) with big man Laurynas Birutis! 🦾 pic.twitter.com/clXN4q1LHN
— BC Zalgiris Kaunas (@bczalgiris) April 9, 2024
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/4oE4l7I0gU pic.twitter.com/jHRzDmb9FP— www.encestando.es (@webEncestando) April 8, 2024
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.
— Chema de Lucas (@chemadelucas) April 8, 2024
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.
Source: BasketNews
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
📰 https://t.co/YpcjEem7Wi#TheLegacy pic.twitter.com/NMb96txp5P
— UCAM Murcia (@UCAMMurcia) April 7, 2024
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.
Alex Mumbru will end his time on the Valencia bench today after Thursday night’s loss to Asvel.
The team will be inherited by Tomas Lamas of L’Horta Godella of Leb Plata.
ÚLTIMA HORA: Álex Mumbrú dejará de ser entrenador del Valencia Basket esta mañana.
Tomás Lamas, entrenador de L’Horta Godella, podría hacerse cargo del equipo.
— Chema de Lucas (@chemadelucas) April 5, 2024
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.
⚠️ La Carpegna Prosciutto Basket Pesaro ✍️ @love_loudon 🔥🇺🇸
👉 https://t.co/q3kwz74ADX 🏀⚪🔴#WelcomeLoudon pic.twitter.com/Zm6l4gddjX— VL Pesaro Basket (@VLPesaro) April 4, 2024
The Promitheas announced the arrival of Bryce Hamilton on a contract until the end of the season.
The UNLV product started the season in the G League with the South Bay Lakers (16.6 PPG, 1.9 APG, 1.2 SPG).
Ενίσχυση με Μπράις Χάμιλτον#promitheaspatras #promitheasbc #proudtobeorangehttps://t.co/AJ54mo3VMe
— Promitheas Patras BC Vikos Cola (@promitheasbc) April 4, 2024
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.
Will he be the first big target of the Pascual era? pic.twitter.com/H2tUAEhMbA
— Alessandro Luigi Maggi (@AlessandroMagg4) April 4, 2024
VL Pesaro has closed the deal with Johnny Hamilton. The news is reported by Carlino and Corriere Adriatico.
The agreement has been reached. A class of 1994, 213 centimetres, Hamilton was born in Rio Claro in Trinidad and Tobago, after the G League he has been in Europe since 2019, in 2020-2021 he will also play in the EuroLeague with Fenerbahce.
This season he produced 10.8 points on average with Busaspor with 6.8 rebounds.
Home VL Pesaro, Scott Bamforth leaves Italy due to serious family problems. This was reported by the Corriere Adriatico.
Il Resto del Carlino confirms that the player has already received the green light from the club.
The guard ends his experience with Pesaro with an average of 13.7 points, 3 rebounds and 3.7 assists. His high was 23 with Treviso and Varese.
Augustine Rubit has reached an agreement until the end of the season with the Rostock Seawolves, according to Rupert Fabig.
The power forward is returning to the game after the Achilles tendon injury he suffered during last season with Bayern Munich.
Rubit will help the BBL team, currently fourth-last with six wins in 25 games, avoid relegation.
Meinen Informationen nach wird Augustine Rubit die @HRO_Seawolves bis zum Saisonende verstärken. pic.twitter.com/BuF7NtdS83
— Rupert Fabig (@rupertfabig) April 2, 2024
Sharife Cooper has reached an agreement with the Liaoning Flying Leopards, as announced by his agency.
Cooper, the No.48 pick of the 2021 NBA Draft, leaves US for the first time in his career to help the Chinese team win a third consecutive CBA title.
The Auburn product started the season in G League with the Cleveland Charge, averaging 18.6 points, 7.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game.
The Liaoning Flying Leopards have added 22-year-old star point guard @SharifeCooper for their 3rd straight CBA Championship run 🏆 pic.twitter.com/uYrUDEJRIj
— LIFT Sports (@LIFTSPORTSMNGMT) April 1, 2024
Ludwisburg announced the return of Ariel Hukporti on a deal through the end of the season.
The 21-year-old German big man, No. 58 in ESPN’s Top 100 for the 2024 NBA Draft, previously played with MHP RIESEN from 2018 to 2020.
Hukporti spent the last three years with Melbourne United (7.9 PPG, 7 RPG, 1.5 BPG in 17 minutes per game in the 2024 NBL).
📝✅ | Nach vierjähriger Abstinenz und im Vorfeld der angestrebten @NBADraft kehrt unser @BBA_Ludwigsburg-Eigengewächs Ariel #Hukporti nach Deutschland zurück. Wir leihen den 21-Jährigen bis Saisonende von @MelbUnited aus. 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗸𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗺, 𝗔𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗹! pic.twitter.com/h13X3REksL
— MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg (@MHP_RIESEN) April 1, 2024
Xavi Pascual heading to Anadolu Efes? The Spanish coach’s agent, Vadim Mikhaelevskiy, commented as follows to the Russian website Match TV: “Pascual has an existing contract with Zenit until the end of the season, so we have not yet reached an agreement with anyone. Remember that last summer he ‘transferred’ to five Euroleague teams, but in the end he stayed in St. Petersburg. That is why it is too early to talk about a new contract’.
In short, caution is normal this season: ‘At this stage there are no movements regarding Pascual’s future. He has an existing contract with Zenit and is only focused on the end of the season’.
Xavi Pascual to become Anadolu Efes head coach next season.
Forrmer Barcelona and Panathinaikos to leave Zenit and to return in EuroLeague with an important multi-year contract in Turkey pic.twitter.com/rgByySxwnd
— Alessandro Luigi Maggi (@AlessandroMagg4) April 1, 2024
Virtus Bologna are already active on the market for next season. According to Sportando, negotiations are underway to bring John Petrucelli to the Bianconeri.
Petrucelli, a 1992 Hicksville graduate and Italian international, has one year left on his contract with Pallacanestro Brescia, but with a reduced buyout for EuroLeague teams.
Coming to Italy in 2021 at the instigation of Marco De Benedetto, Petrucelli is now a player of great interest on the national market. According to Sportando, the virtussina proposal would be on a two-year basis.
With an extraordinary EuroLeague on the line and a Scudetto sprint on the horizon, the Bianconeri are wasting no time in launching an ambitious plan for next season.
Kevin Porter Jr. to sign a $10,000 one-month contract with PAOK as reported Harris Stavrou.
Former Rockets player would make his debut on Lavrio’s court this week, and then play the other three matches of the second phase of the Greek top league.
In case of playoff qualification, the agreement would be extended until the end of the season.
Με κάτι λιγότερο από 10k δολάρια φέρνει ο ΠΑΟΚ τον Kevin Porter στην Ελλάδα. Για minimum 4 εμφανίσεις + τα playoffs αν η ομάδα προκριθεί σε αυτά.
Τα υπόλοιπα στο αυριανό Bald Brothers.
— Harris Stavrou (@harris_stavrou) April 1, 2024
Partizan offered a new contract extension until 2026 to Željko Obradović. This move demonstrates the club’s intention to retain Europe’s most successful coach on a long-term basis.
Currently, Obradović’s focus is on the upcoming challenges on the court, with Partizan preparing for a crucial game in Berlin against Alba to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the Euroleague play-in.
Since his return to Partizan in 2021, Obradović has guided the team to remarkable success, culminating in winning the ABA League last season and the EuroLeague playoffs with Real Madrid.
Source: Mozzart Sport
Amar Alibegovic officially leaves the Cagdas to sign with the Trapani Shark. The player said goodbye to the Turkish club on Instagram.
“It was definitely a difficult season for all of us, but I will never forget this experience. I met many great people who I will keep as close friends and I found a place where I can feel at home. My only regret is that I did not achieve the higher goals that we have the potential to achieve. I would like to thank the coaching staff, the management and all my fantastic teammates. Thanks to all the fans who came to support us.”
“I will miss this place and wish this club all the best for the future”.
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Barcelona and Jabari Parker negotiate contract renewal.
This season the former NBA player is averaging 10.3 points in EuroLeague with 4 rebounds.
🔵🔴 JIJANTES FC | Mercato
El Barça i Jabari Parker han iniciat converses per la renovació del nord-americà. La sintonia és bona i des del club es confia en la continuïtat de l’aler pivot.
Parker està molt content amb l’equip, al club i a la ciutat. pic.twitter.com/8x3QBHNHEy
— Marc Mundet (@MarcMundet78) March 28, 2024
VL Pesaro targets also Nick Perkins to replace injured Leonardo Totè as reported Corriere Adriatico.
American big man averaged 13.7 points and 5.9 rebounds in Japan B1 League with Nagasaki.
