By Niki Bakouli/ bakouli@eurohoops.net
Nick Calathes fulfilled his childhood dream and became an NBA player! Few hours ago, the University of Florida graduate signed a two-year guarantee contract with the Memphis Grizzles. And as Eurohoops got to learn, his salary will reach 3.6 mil. dollars, until the summer of 2015.
The 24-year old point guard leaves Lokomotiv Kuban and Europe and he is heading to the NBA, as the MVP of Eurocup’s Final (his team won, got a spot at the next year’s Euroleague and Calathes was the top player). He will team up with Kostas Koufos, another Greek player, with whom he played at the Greek national team and he will have a great chance to have minutes on the court, since behind Mike Conley there is no other point guard to stand out as a backup.
Grizzlies were also flirting with Beno Udrih, but the Slovenian guard who will also miss the upcoming Eurobasket, like Calathes who will not play for the Greek NT, decided to sign with the veteran’s minimum to New York. After this move, one player who had a great season in Europe, Bobby Brown, will probably continue his career in China, where he already has signed a deal, despite being also on Knicks’ radar.
UPDATE: On the 20th of August the signing of Calathes by Memphis was announced officially.