By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Olympiacos during the era of Aggelopoulos brothers’ ownership, never wanted to extend contracts, even of key players, when they were not free agents. That didn’t changed not even after the summer of 2012 and the Euroleague title. However, the mondus operandi of the club has changed according to Eurohoops sources. Next summer a lot of contracts are expiring – Printezis, Mantzaris, Sloukas and Dunston among others – and that’s why the Reds are not going to wait this time.
The team wants to keep its core and it’s just a matter of days, or even hours for a three years extension offer to be presented to Vaggelis Mantzaris. The players has a contract until the summer of 2015 with a player’s opt out option in case of an NBA offer, but Olympiacos wants to keep him for many more years.
The new contract will expire at the summer of 2018, the offer is already drafted and the meeting between the club and the player will take place in the next days. Despite the rumors surrunding him, Mantzaris wants to stay to Olympiacos and at least for next season he will be a part of the team. If the extension talks are succesful, something more than possible, the Greek guard will stay with the team for four more seasons. If not, he will be a free agent next summer.
Printezis to follow
Since Olympiacos decided to initiate extension talks with key players, it’s a safe bet to say that Giorgos Printezis will also receive an offer.
There’s still one year left in his contract – to be exact a team option – with a million euros salary. So extension talks for him also is the most probable scenario. The team wants him, he loves Olympiacos with the passion of a fan, so it’s more than a match.
As we reported, there’s a market for the 29 years old forward in Turkey, thanks to the interest for him from Galatasaray and Anadolu Efes, however there’s not a buy out clause in his contract, only the team option of Olympiacos.