By Bugra Uzar/ info@eurohoops.net
Stuck on the list of free agents as the 2022-23 season quickly approaches, Mindaugas Kuzminskas looks keen on committing to a new club.
Kuzminskas, 32, is in advanced talks with Basketball Champions League team Pinar Karsiyaka, according to Eurohoops sources. The deal is expected to be finalized soon.
Recently representing Lithuania in the 2022 EuroBasket, the experienced forward averaged 10.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per contest. The overtime loss to future champion Spain ended the campaign for the team coached by Kazys Maksvytis. After surviving an elimination scare in Group B of the preliminary round, his side was knocked out by La Roja in the Round of 16.
At the club level, Kuzminskas last played for Zenit, splitting the 2021-22 season between the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague and VTB United League, until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine prompted the early exit from the team based in Saint Petersburg. A veteran of 69 NBA games with the New York Knicks, 186 games in EuroLeague, and 29 in 7DAYS EuroCup, is heading to his BCL debut.
Looking to build a championship squad, Karsiyaka really meant business earlier in the offseason with multiple summer signings including former EuroCup champion and MVP Errick McCollum. Other newcomers are Thomas Akyazili, Jaylon Brown, Vitto Brown, Dusan Cantekin, Mert Celep, Angel Delgado, Skyler Flatten, Deniz Kilicli, Kenan Sipahi, and Ergi Tirpanci, while Berkan Durmaz stayed penning a two-year contract extension.
The Turkish team will compete in Group B of the Champions Regular Season against AEK, Telekom Baskets Bonn, and UnaHotels Reggio Emilia.
Photo Credit: FIBA.BASKETBALL