By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
A very busy Tuesday started with big news from CSKA Moscow with Nenad Krstic staying put and is ending with more than a bang. As it was reported some days ago, first by local newspaper “La opinion de Malaga”, Croatian guard Krunoslav Simon is officially a player of Unicaja. Also, Jamon Lucas-Gordon left Galatasaray for Anadolu Efes with a two season deal and will stay an Istanbul resident.
Also two players, Nik Caner Medley and Erwing Dudley confirmed via twitter their new contracts with Maccabi Tel Aviv and Galatasaray respectively. Both of them had good season, Caner Medley at Valencia and Dudley at Besiktas. However, the big news from Valencia came from French guard Nando De Colo (photo) who is leaving the team and will sign a two year contract with San Antonio Spurs for 2,8 million dollars. The news are confirmed by the player and his agent, with De Colo saying goodbye to Valencia fans also via twitter.
There is also a Greek player who is leaving Spain in order to return to his home country. Dimitris Mavroeidis is leaving Bilbao for Panathinaikos, as it was reported days ago by Eurohoops. His place at Bilbao is already taken by Serbian former Zalgiris Kaunas center Milovan Rakovic.
And last but not least, Fenerbahce/ Ulker has signed a two year deal with former Panathinaikos‘ player Romain Sato, who was also in very advanced negotiations with CSKA Moscow. However, he ended up at Istanbul and maybe that’s one more sign of Kirilenko staying in Russia. Fener is also trying to lure Mike Batiste from Athens, where he is offered by the Greens two million dollars for two years. The Turkish offer is better, but the American forward/center and long time Panathinaikos’ star hasn’t made up his mind yet.
Ed.note: According to the latest information from Turkey Mike Batiste decide to sign an one year contract with Fenerbahce.