Βy Giorgos Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
Jamel McLean – 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 1.4 assists
After a presence of two years at Armani Milan, Jamel McLean’s contract with the Italian club has expired and now he has to look for the next stop in his career.
At 29 years of age, the American undersized big man is in his best basketball years without however coming off a season that is proportionate to his true potential. Milan’s disappointing course (16th place, 8-22 wins) and the lack of chemistry affected even the most talented players on the team that would now like to forget the previous season.
McLean counted 30 appearances, averaging 8.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.4 assists. He can post up his opponents, he can play facing the basket, put the ball on the floor and offer some quality minutes without his price tag being prohibitive.
Daniel Hackett – 5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists
The case of Daniel Hackett is one of the most special ones on this particular list since his serious injury midway through the season that just ended changed everything completely.
Olympiacos’s decision not to make a renewal offer to the Italian guard automatically places his name on the free agency list of the summer transfer period, with the competitive inaction of several months dropping his price.
Hackett’s averages (5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists) might not be impressive but all those things he can offer on the court make him an especially useful player. An exceptional character, a strong work ethic, a strong body, unbeatable in the post against big men or smaller players, and with good decision-making in offense whenever necessary. These are only some of the elements that can convince any EuroLeague coach that the 30-year-old guard deserves a spot on the roster.
Charles Jenkins – 9.4 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists
Charles Jenkins had some amazing performances with Crvena Zvezda throughout the entire season and the team that will manage to get his signature will have made a great move.
The 28-year-old American is the definition of the useful player for any coach. Besides, we’re dealing with the best on-ball defender in the entire EuroLeague, with 2.1 steals per game and inexhaustible energy reserves. Jenkins doesn’t lag behind in offense either, as he’s fast, has a reliable shot (42.5% in three-point shooting) and an excellent drive, and can run on the open court.
He was one of Dejan Radonjic’s important solutions in Crvena Zvezda and his price tag leaves the door open for several EuroLeague teams that are looking for a “value for money” option.
Sinan Guler – 10.5 points, 5.6 assists, 2.8 rebounds
At 34 years of age, Sinan Guler can still play like a teenager and this is his most important weapon. Besides, the fact that he’s coming off the best season of his career – contributing to Galatasaray’s game in scoring (10.5 points) and creating (5.6 assists) – is anything but a coincidence.
If the Turkish guard decides to stay in the same country then he might find a rather high contract, with Anadolu Efes figuring as a possible destination. But if Guler decides to play abroad for the first time, then his value will decrease considerably since he’ll be occupying a foreigner’s spot on the roster of his new team.
Players that combine great experience and ability are rare in the EuroLeague, with this particular combination taking the name of Sinan Guler higher up on coaches’ transfer lists.
Cory Higgins – 9.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.5 assists
This year’s free agency list includes big names and Cory Higgins is one that stands out. The fact that he was a key part of CSKA’s rotation – the team that reached two Final Fours in a row and won the EuroLeague on one of those occasions – is indicative of his great usefulness.
The 28-year-old guard/forward is athletic, fast, penetrating, a very good scorer, he moves well without the ball, while he’s no slouch in defense either.
It remains to be seen which will be the next stop at this career and even the notion of getting a new deal with CSKA Moscow can be excluded.
Stratos Perperoglou – 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists
After two years of sharing a common path with Barcelona, Stratos Perperoglou is parting ways with the Spanish club, and the Greek forward is already looking for the next stop in his career.
The first scenarios regarding the future of Stratos Perperoglou include Panathinaikos, but until there are any final developments, the player is a free agent on the market and he’s definitely not stressing about whether there are going to be any interested parties.
The 33-year-old forward counts a total of 209 games and 3 EuroLeague wins, with his experience being a given. What he has to offer a team is also a given, with his game in the post and his good perimeter shot making him an important and not especially costly addition.
Jon Diebler – 6.5 points, 1.4 rebounds, 53.8% in three-point shooting
Galatasaray played in the EuroLeague in the season that was just completed as the holders of the Eurocup, but this won’t be repeated next season and, as a result, several players left.
One of them is Jon Diebler! The American guard is without a doubt one of the best shooters in Europe, something that is reflected in the impressively high 53.8% from the perimeter, but also the speed with which he executes.
A good screen or a properly executed game plan is enough for Diebler to connect. It’s worth mentioning that he had some amazing nights this season, with the ones against Olympiacos (17 points, 5-for-5 in three-point shooting), Maccabi (21 points, 6-for-7 in three-point shooting), Barcelona (14 points, 4-for-4 in three-point shooting), and Unics (17 points, 5-for-6 in three-point shooting) standing out.
Colton Iverson – 8 points, 5.3 rebounds
When Colton Iverson signed a contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv last summer expectations were high, but the team’s poor performance didn’t allow any player to stand out.
Even so, the American center was one of those who survived the “shipwreck” that was the Israeli team. He played in a total of 30 games and performed very well with an average of 8 points and 5.3 rebounds, being the most important center after Maik Zirbes’s departure to Bayern Munich.
Iverson can threaten with his back to the basket, he’s a good screener and a good executioner after a pick-and-roll, but he’s going to have to improve his percentage from the free throw line, which is currently at 57%.
Matt Lojeski – 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 42% in three-point shooting
Can an injury deprive Matt Lojeski of – very likely – the last big contract of his career? His unique shooting ability but also his performances in the colors of Olympiacos in the past years would suggest otherwise.
The American was unfortunate in the game against Real Madrid and after that he didn’t play again for the remainder of the season. However, with everything he has shown with the Red-and-whites in his total of 91 appearances in the EuroLeague, it makes perfect sense that he has attracted the interest of other teams in the competition.
Any coach who will work with Matt Lojeski knows that he’s going to have a player with a venomous shot, who can run the court and put the ball on the floor. The level of the new team will essentially be what is going to determine the 32-year-old’s role…
Alex Tyus – 10 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1.5 blocks
Alex Tyus has been a… constant in the line of undersized big men in recent years, as his qualifications always help him find a contract with EuroLeague teams.
In the season that was just completed he played in 30 games in Galatasaray’s colors and he averaged 10 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks. He made himself known to EuroLeague fans with Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2014 when he reached the top of Europe and now the teams that are after him are well aware of the elements that they would add to their roster.
The 29-year-old center is enjoyable above the rim in offense and defense, he plays the pick-and-roll impeccably, he’s a strong screener and he has improved his finishes even further.