By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
Laboral Kutxa made the biggest transfer surprise of this Euroleague season by signing Lamar Odom. However the Basques wanted to sign one more player from the NBA, someone who isn’t connected only with marketing, but with the present and the future of the club. The big target of coach Sergio Scariolo before the end of Euroleague’s transfer deadline was Tornike Shengelia.
The Georgian forward started the season with Brooklyn Nets, but his playing time was limited and that made him think seriously the return to Europe. Laboral offered him a really good contract, considering him a talented player in a very good age – he’s still just 22 years old – who could stay for many years in Vitoria and play as Spaniard, as he has also a Spanish passport. Laboral made a run for him also last summer and it was also unsuccessful.
This time the negotiations stopped when Chicago Bulls stepped into the picture who traded Marquis Teague in order to get him. Shengelia still wants to fight for his NBA dream and Laboral was forced to change its plans.