By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The time has come for the NBA Free Agency frenzy.
Lots of franchises have already made moves, and the destinies of multiple European players have changed. Firstly, Jonas Valanciunas left the New Orleans Pelicans to join the Washington Wizards.
As Adrian Wojnarowski tweeted, the Lithuanian center has agreed on a three-year deal with the Wizards worth $30 million.
This will be the fourth NBA team for the experienced center, as he played for the Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies, and the aforementioned Pelicans before moving to Washington, spending a total of 12 years in the States.
As for the European players, Portuguese Neemias Queta is staying with the NBA champions Boston Celtics on a multi-year deal, per Charania.
The Celtics declined his $2.1 million team option and will give the first-ever Portuguese player in the NBA a long-term contract.
On the other hand, Turkish international Omer Yurtseven is looking for a new team, since the Utah Jazz plans to waive him, also according to Wojnarowski.
He signed a two-year deal last summer with the Jazz and averaged 4.6 points and 4.3 rebounds last season, but he’ll have to change course.
What could prove to be a big deal for two European players is Chris Paul signing a one-year $11 million contract with the San Antonio Spurs, as reported by ESPN’s Wojnarowski.
He’ll join Victor Wembanyama in Gregg Popovich’s team and could prove to be a great mentor to recently drafted Spaniard Juan Nunez.
The experienced point guard was waived by the Golden State Warriors after a single season, before the deadline that would have guaranteed his contract for $30 million next season. He averaged 9.2 points and 6.8 assists in 58 games played last season.
In possibly the biggest deal of the night, Paul George agreed on a four-year $212 million maximum contract to join the Philadelphia 76ers and will form a big three with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, Wojnarowski reported.
George spent the last five years with the Los Angeles Clippers but decided to try his luck in the NBA championship pursuit with the Sixers.