By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Panathinaikos raised the bar early in the summer by making a run to get Nick Calathes and then mentioning the possibility of targeting Jimmer Fredette. However it seems than none of those two players is expected to end up in Athens. On the contrary the club has give a deadline to Calathes in order to sign a contract.
Technically Calathes can’t sign anything, since Memphis has a team option in his contract for next season and there are many indications that the NBA team wants to keep him, something that it can be decided until the 1st of July. Still, Panathinaikos is accusing the player of “not signing”, despite the fact that the Greek club has already met his demands and wants a final answer from his side until tomorrow. Calathes is a hot name in Europe, as also CSKA Moscow and according to Turkish media Fenerbahce/ Ulker are interested on him.
In the meantime, Panathinaikos has engaged in talks with A.J. Slaughter who finished the season in the French ProA as a member of Chalon. Slaughter has also an offer from Lokomotiv Kuban according to Serbian journalist Djordje Matic.