By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Olimpia Milano and Mike James have reached an agreement for the termination of the player’s contract, the Italian club announced.
Per Milano: “Pallacanestro Olimpia Milan has reached an agreement with Mike James in order to rescind the existing contract.” James had signed a 2+1 deal with the Italian club in 2018. The contract was earning him 1.9 million per season.
On Friday (26/7), Milano head coach Ettore Messina issued an official statement, mentioning that he has informed James that he’s not on the team’s plans for the 2019-2020 season plus the reasons that led him to this decision.
“There is no playing time available for him in our technical project for next season,” Messina said.
Milano has already announced the additions of former NBA guard Shelvin Mack and Michael Roll while the club has also signed former EuroLeague MVP and reigning champion Sergio Rodriguez. The backcourt lineup of the team is featuring three more players: Nemanja Nedovic, Amedeo Della Valle and captain Andrea Cinciarini.
James averaged 19.8 points, 6.4 assists and 3.8 rebounds in 33:56 minutes over 30 games in the 2018-2019 EuroLeague. The 28-year-old American guard won the “Alphonso Ford Top Scorer Trophy” award.
Despite a quality roster, Milano underachieved in the 2018-2019 season, after entering the campaign as a serious playoff contender in EuroLeague and the heavy favorite to win the Italian league. The “Red Shoes” failed to make the postseason in EuroLeague for a fifth straight year and got beaten by Dinamo Sassari in the Serie A semifinals.