By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Damjan Rudez (28 years, 2.04 m.), the Croatian forward with the “deadly” three point shot, after a great season in Eurocup and in Liga Endesa with Zaragoza, he is one of the hot names of the marker and that includes interest even from the NBA.
According to Eurohoops sources, Zaragoza’s forward is one of the main targets of Unics Kazan, which already thinks about the possibility to pay his buy out to the Spanish club and sign a contract with the player for next season.
However, at this moment there’s one more suitor for Rudez from the other side of the pond. There’s an NBA franchise interested in his services, Zaragoza knows it and the Spanish club has given the permission to the player to travel to the States, in order to visit the city in which he may continue his career. Zaragoza, the club which owned also Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rights, knows really well that this kind of transfer may be mutual beneficial for every party involved.
Rudez finished the season in Liga Endesa with 24 mpg in 34 games and also 10.6 ppg, 2 rpg, 40% in threes and 35% in two points shots. In Eurocup he had 25 mpg in 16 contests with 10.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 49% in threes – during regular season this number was the almost unreal 57% – and 49% in two points shots. In his last game, the 101-95 defeat by Real Madrid, he had 20 points on 4/5 threes.
So, it’s almost certain that the player will leave Spain and the only question seems to be if he will play in Europe or in the NBA!
According to “Gigantes“, the NBA franchise which is interested in Rudez is Cleveland Cavaliers.
Update: Damjan Rudez flies tomorrow (9/6) to Cleveland, in order to meet the management of the team and have dinner with the GM and others from the organization. According to sources the Croatian Forward is in advanced talks with the Cavs.