By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Penning a five-year contract extension at 32, Walter Tavares signals toward staying with Real Madrid for the rest of his career.
The Cape Verdean center will sign a contract extension, as reported by Encestando and confirmed by multiple Spanish outlets and Eurohoops on Tuesday.
Per Eurohoops sources, his annual net salary will be set near 3 million euros, breaking Real Madrid’s usual modus operandi, according to which the salary ceiling in the team was 3 million euros gross. The reported NBA interest for Tavares was real, but also exaggerated. The real competitor of Madrid for Tavares was Panathinaikos, with the Greeks in theory willing to offer a bigger annual salary.
Tavares, 32, was vocal about wanting to stick around. Following the Final Four of the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and the team coached by Chus Mateo settling for second in Berlin, he reached an agreement with Madrid. The all-time leader in blocks tallied 9.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game in the 2023-24 edition of Europe’s premier club continental competition.
With his side focused on the Playoffs of Spain’s Liga Endesa and an upcoming best-of-five series opposite archrival FC Barcelona for a spot in the 2024 ACB Finals, planning for the future will lead to roster adjustments during the offseason, including a reunion with Usman Garuba. The Spanish big is projected to replace Vincent Poirier, partnering with Tavares in the center rotation.
Since moving his talents to Madrid in 2017, following his experience in the NBA producing 13 appearances between the Atlanta Hawks and Cleveland Cavaliers, Tavares was crowned EuroLeague champion in 2018 and 2023 and was named Final Four MVP in 2023. Among more achievements, he contributed to capturing the ACB title in 2018, 2019, and 2022. Individual awards include EuroLeague Best Defender nods in 2019, 2021, and 2023.
Photo Credit: EuroleagueBasketball.net