By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
French center Petr Cornelie is on the radar of Bitci Baskonia, as reported by SER Vitoria.
Cornelie, 26, was recently released by the Denver Nuggets. He appeared in 13 games of the 2021-22 NBA Regular Season producing 1.1 points and 1.1 rebounds in 2.9 minutes per contest.
He was selected with the 53rd overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft by the Nuggets. Five years forward, he made the jump to the NBA but his rookie effort was cut short. Besides debuting in the NBA, he posted 16.3 points, 14.3 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.7 blocks per G League game for the Nuggets affiliate, Grand Rapids Gold.
Back in the Old Continent, his career featured 46 Basketball Champions League appearances between Le Mans and Elan Bearnais Pau-Lacq-Orthez, 11 games played in 7DAYS EuroCup, and 13 in FIBA Europe Cup. A potential move to Baskonia would mark his debut in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague.
The report adds Baxi Manresa’s Ismael Bako as another option for the team based in Vitoria-Gasteiz. The cost of the potential transfer out of the BCL outlet is estimated at around 600,000 euros, as noted.
Baskonia is actively scanning the market for a roster upgrade, as confirmed by head coach Neven Spahija following the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague Regular Season Round 21 loss to Real Madrid at WiZink Center Friday.
Spahija’s side is currently ranked 15th in EuroLeague behind a 7-12 record. The 8-7 W-L tally in Spain’s ACB is good enough for ninth place.
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