By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Houston Rockets are ready to initiate negotiations in order to sign Kostas Papanikolaou, however the side of the player is waiting for the official offer of the NBA franshise which is not yet on the table. According to Eurohoops sources close to the situation, in the next few hours a meeting for this matter will take place between the management of the team and agent Marc Cornstein who is representing the Greek player in the States.
As Papanikolaou explained in his recent Eurohoops interview, he is willing to make a financial sacrifice in order to sign with the NBA franchise, compared to the 2,2 million euros – net – contract for two more seasons he has left with Barcelona. However he needs to know if he will get minutes and the opportunity to prove himself in the NBA. The Rockets have followed him closely during the season, they have invited him to Houston after the end of the Spanish Liga Endesa, but he didn’t traveled to the States.
His contract with the Spanish champions includes a 1.120.000 euros buy out, which has to be paid, if he decides to continue his career in Houston. At this point, Papanikolaou hasn’t decide anything about his future, simply because the Rockets haven’t presented him with their offer.
UPDATE: According to Sport24.gr the Rockets are willing to present an offer of 5 m. dollars for two years to the player.