By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
In all the crucial games of Panathinaikos the duo Diamantidis (36 min per game in the playoffs series) and Ukic (30 min per game Vs Barca) spend a lot of time in the court, but in the Euroleague the Greens are not allowed to add one more guard, something they have the right to do in the Greek League.
Panathinaikos wants to add a player in the perimeter for the Greek playoffs and the upcoming finals Vs Olympiacos. The Greek team has offered a contract to its first target at the moment, Jeremy Pargo, who was waived early April by the Sixers.
The player has to answer till the end of the week. He was satisfied with Pao’s offer, thought pretty seriously to join Panathinaikos now, but finally he decided not to travel overseas, in order to play basketball just for one month.
His final decision is to stay at home and to examine all the offers he will receive during the summer from NBA and European teams. So, he will have the time to choose the best option for his career for the next season.
He was very close to say yes to Panathinaikos, but the last moment he denied. Now, the Greens are looking for other options. According to Eurohoops sources, Argyris Pedoulakis is checking Oliver Lafayette! The 29 year old American point guard averaged in this season Euroleague’s Top-16 9 points (37.8% 2p, 33.3% 3p), 3.5 assists, 2.1 rebounds in 24 minutes per game. and he is regarded as the best solution.
He has valid contract with Zalgiris but the well – known financial problems of the Lithuanians could be the key, in order to make the case easier for Panathinaikos. It’s possible for Oliver Lafayette to end this season in green shirts. Not Zalgiris’ but Panathinaikos’!