By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Eurobasket has ended and it’s again buisness as usual around Europe. As it was officially announced French center Ali Traore signed a one year contract with JSF Nanterre and will help with his experience the team in its first ever participation to Euroleague. Traore was also in the radar of other Euroleague teams, but the injuries he suffered last season made bigger clubs hesitant about his case. So he has a really big motive to prove them wrong. One of his new teammates, guard Kevin Lisch will miss the start of the season, due to a broken finger, which he suffered on Sunday and will keep hm out of action for six weeks.
An other player who is coming back to action from a serious of injuries, Novica Velickovic, seems to be in trouble. As his team, German champions Brose Baskets, announced the Serbian forward needs to build his physical condition and for the next two months he will be training by himself.
Last week, an other Euroleague team, Laboral Kutxa announced the signing of Englishman Dan Clark to a two month deal, which can be extended until the end of the season. Clark had some impressive games for the Great Britain national team in the recent Eurobasket and will replace injured Leo Mainoldi in the rotation.
In Eurocup, Spanish club CAI Zaragoza, which had cut Clark before the Eurobasket, insisting that his ankle injury could be aggravated by him playing in Slovenia added Viktor Sanikidze, while Slovenian club Union Olimpija signed 35 years old veteran forward Dragisa Drobnjak.