By Aris Barkas/ barkas@Eurohoops.net
Jan Vesely is the prime candidate to replace Brandon Davies in FC Barcelona, according to Eurohoops sources.
Vesely, 30, is in advanced talks with the Catalonia giant. However, Fener wants to retain his services moving forward, still it’s more than possible for a free-agent switch to happen from Istanbul to Barcelona.
The Czech center had joined Fener back in 2014. Besides extending his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague experience to 11 seasons, he was crowned champion in 2017 and MVP a couple of years later, in 2019. Inking a new contract in 2019, he committed until the end of the 2021-22 season.
In 2021-22, Vesely put up 13.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per contest over 22 appearances in Europe’s premier continental club competition, including 20 starts. Before becoming a member of Fenerbahce, he made his way to 162 NBA games between the Washington Wizards and Denver Nuggets from 2011-12 through 2013-14. He was drafted by the Wizards with the sixth overall pick of the 2011 NBA draft.
Davies, 30, has already decided to leave Barca at the end of his contract. The former BYU standout is heading to AX Armani Exchange Milan, however, there are also other suitors for him.
Another former NBA player, a veteran of 78 games played between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets prior to opting to move his talents to Europe in 2015. Previous former teams in the Old Continental include Zalgiris and AS Monaco.
Vesely was first linked to Barcelona by Spanish media “Home of Glory”.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net