By George Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
The quality of a roster is what decides the success of a club to a large extent and this is the reason why every summer the fans ask their team’s management to spend a big amount on signings.
Of course, there are plenty of opportunities and there are cases of varying quality and different financial requirements on the market: top-shelf players who are… out of reach for most teams and others who are looking for a contract with fewer earnings.
Eurohoops singled out and presents here 10 shooting guards that are expected to attract a lot of attention from clubs!
(Take another look at the list of centers on the free agent market)
Vassilis Spanoulis
Stats: 14 points, 5.6 assists, 11.9 PIR
Vassilis Spanoulis has helped Olympiacos return to the elite of European basketball like very few others have and, as makes sense, his is a special case. The Reds want to keep their leader on the roster and in the near future there will be a meeting between the two sides.
The years have gone by, Spanoulis is 36, but on the court it doesn’t look like he has been much affected by time. He’s coming off a season in which he played more than any other teammate (26:19 minutes), while he gave Olympiacos 14 points and 5.6 assists per game.
It’s a given that, when things get tough, the ball will go through his experienced hands so that he can execute or find the ideal pass. But it’s not just that. Spanoulis’s presence in the team’s locker room guarantees composure and the right way to deal with any situations that may arise.
Mike James
Stats: 16.2 points, 4.1 assists, 15.7 PIR
Who can question Mike James’ talent? The American can take apart any defense and his name is one of the “hottest” in the current transfer period.
There are many scenarios that want him going to Armani Milan but until any deal has been made official, the player remains a free agent. Panathinaikos’s fans have come to love James, who helped the team win the last two championships, and they would like to see him continue playing in Green.
Besides, who wouldn’t want on his team a player who makes the difference and has proven that he can hold his own even in the NBA. His speed, drives, excellent ball handling skills and rich offensive talent help him stand out and secure him a spot on the roster of top clubs. Let’s hope we’ll continue to watch him on the courts of the EuroLeague…
Erick Green
Stats: 14.4 points, 1.7 assists, 1.7 rebounds, 13.5 PIR
Valencia may have lost the qualification for the EuroLeague playoffs early on but Erick Green is certainly not the one responsible for that. The American guard had an upgraded role and more playing time in the Spanish team and, as a result, he increased his productivity with 14.4 points per game.
Shooting from any range and driving to the basket are Green’s biggest assets and, for the second season in a row, he managed to maintain his very good percentage from the 6.75m line (41.7%). He can set up plays for himself, he loves to execute after a dribble, while in Olympiacos and Valencia he proved he can adapt to different roles and circumstances.
Valencia’s disqualification from the EuroLeague next season leads Green to the exit door and it will be very interesting to see which clubs will want to make him their own.
Andrew Goudelock
Stats: 12.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.8 assists
Andrew Goudelock, also known as, the scoring machine! No one can question the rare offensive talent of the American, who has played in the EuroLeague for three seasons with an average of 17 points (2014/15 Fenerbahce), 17.3 points (2016/17 Fenerbahce) and 12.3 points (2017/18 Milan).
“Mini Mamba” belongs to the category of players who, if they start scoring, they cannot stop irrespective of the defense they have in front of them. Of course, Armani Milan weren’t able to have a satisfactory course in the season that was completed and this affected Goudelock and several of his teammates.
A few days ago, the player said goodbye to the Italian club and at the same time sent the message out to the coaches who would like to have him at their disposal in the new season.
It’s worth noting that Armani Milano has a team option that expires on July 7th.