By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
Anadolu Efes decided to use the opt out clause in the contract of Stephan Lasme, however the reason behind this decision is strickly financial. The Turkish club wants to keep the player with a new one year deal and a smaller salary.
According to Eurohoops sources, Efes wants to give Lasme an equal salary with the one Bryant Dunston is getting (900.000 $) and that will make Derrick Brown the highest paid player of the team. Efes also keeps Stratos Peperoglou, whose contract is still valid for next season and doesn’t include an opt out clause. The same applies to Dario Saric and Efes may have even more money to spend, since they have 1,2 m. euros more compared to last season, because of Zoran Planinic. The Croatian point guard was paid this sum last season, even if coach Ivkovic didn’t use him not even in practices.