By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Very few coaches in the world enjoy the total trust of their owners and are totally beloved by the fanbase of their club. Sarunas Jasikevicius is not only a EuroLeague legend as a player and a rising star in Europe as a coach but also an institution in Kaunas.
However, with Zalgiris estimated to reduce its budget at least by 30%, Saras’ time in Kaunas may be over. A lot of players from the current roster are expected to leave the team, and Jasikevicius, during the last few years, is under the NBA microscope.
Until recently, Jasikevicius explained that he would not make the jump to the States unless he gets a head-coaching job. Despite strong interest from the Toronto Raptors and the Memphis Grizzlies, he stayed in Europe.
With the new reality after the COVID-19 pandemic, anything seems open, and while Zalgiris would love to keep Saras around for next season, he is free to go if he wants to, despite having a contract until 2021.