By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Behind the duo of Porzingis and Hezonja, Aleksander Vezenkov is the only other European player who seems to have real hopes to be selected in the first round of the upcoming draft. However, the 19 years old player is expected to withdraw his name and stay in Europe.
At this point Vezenkov is not officially represented by any agent, as he left Nick Lotsos and despite talks with Arn Tellem, there’s no deal with his company, the Wasserman Media Group. His father Sasho Vezenkov, who is also the sports director of the Bulgarian club Lukoil, is acting as his representative.
According to sources close to the situation, under the current conditions Vezenkov is expected to withdraw from the draft. After all he will have three more chances to be selected until his 22nd birthday and get picked higher than the end of the first round, which seems to be the best case scenario for him at this point. However he is also expected to leave Aris for a top European team which can give him a lucrative multiyear contract. Panathinaikos, Barcelona and Anadolu Efes have an interest on him, while his current contract includes a 250.000 US dollars buy out option for Europe.