By Can Bedel/ info@eurohoops.net
Fenerbahce Beko general manager Derya Yannier discussed the major decisions of the offseason, leading to the 2023-24 editions of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and Turkiye Sigorta Basketbol Super Ligi.
Yannier, 38, confirmed reversing the initial team decision regarding Nick Calathes. The experienced floor general was part of preseason preparations and had a key role in friendly games, despite being left out of the plan for the next season by the Fener GM during the summer.
“The situation changed,” mentioned Yannier in a press conference on Tuesday, “Nick is a member of our team. If the situation changes again, we will seek another solution. But this is our team to start the season.”
“Neto’s injury was a huge blow for us,” he referred to the setback suffered by Raul Neto with the Brazil national team during the 2023 FIBA World Cup, shortly after signing a contract to join Fenerbahce, “We considered him a fit in team chemistry.”
“Arturs Zagars needs to improve”
A breakout star of the recent World Cup, Arturs Zagars was signed by the Istanbul outfit and subsequently loaned to BKT EuroCup outfit Wolves.
“We are excited about Zagars. The point guard market is very thin. It is difficult to find a traditional complete point guard,” said Yannier, “Zagars is close to completing the package offensively. He also has his weaknesses. He needs to improve and establish himself as a defender. He struggled to find consistency due to injury.”
“It is very important for him to get one more year of experience through EuroCup,” he added on the Latvian point guard spending the next season on loan with the Lithuanian club, “He will be leading the team and play more minutes.”
“I would be lying if I said we got all the players we wanted. There were players we wanted and did not sign,” Yannier confessed in a brief recap of the offseason, “We can say we recruited the majority of the players from our initial list.”
The team coached by Dimitris Itoudis will play host to EA7 Emporio Armani Milan to tip off the EuroLeague Regular Season on October 6, five days after the BSL opener against Cagdas Bodrum Spor.