By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Walter Edy Tavares, arguably the best center outside the NBA, and the anchor of Real Madrid, especially on defense, has a contract for next season.
However, one of the main issues for him and the Spanish club is his extension, which will not permit him to be a free agent in the summer of 2024 at 32 years of age.
Tavares has been arguably underpaid, getting three million euros gross last season, just under the Top 10 EuroLeague salaries.
This is expected to change. Per Eurohoops sources, his gross salary for the 2023-24 season is four million, however, to sign an extension, his asking price is even bigger as he wishes for a salary of three million net, similar to the contracts of Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic with Anadolu Efes.
No real progress has been made so far and Real Madrid, with most of the team secured for next season plus Facundo Campazzo having a deal with the EuroLeague champions and a modest salary, has focused its efforts on getting a deal with Tavares.
A unique presence
The MVP of the recent EuroLeague Final Four is by far the most influential player of Real Madrid when he is on the court, affecting the game with his size and rim protection.
The latest extension of his contract was signed back in 2019 and since then he remains a dominant presence on the court.
Real Madrid so far has a strict policy for the ceiling of basketball contracts and in general, there’s the notion that EuroLeague teams want to reduce salaries.
However, while this always seem to be the intention, there are always clubs that want to spend money and if there’s a player who can break the salary ceiling of Madrid, his name is Edy.