[lptitle title=”BEGIN THE COUNTDOWN”]
[lpcontent]
By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The NBA free agency period has started and despite the bad financial situation of Europe, already we have a player leaving the States for the Euroleague. Pero Antic made the trip back and he might not be the only one.
However, contrary to recent past, we don’t expect many players to return in order to get paid. Eurohoops presents the Top10 of players who might return to Europe. The order starts from those free agents who are a real longshot and ends to those who are already known targets for big Euroleague clubs, or those whose names are not create a real buzz in the States.
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”10. Alexey Shved“]
[lpcontent]
He proved with the Knicks that he belongs to the league, he hopes to resign in New York and he averaged 10.5 points this season. It seems natural for him to stay in the NBA, but his former team, CSKA, can pay him more if they decide to bring him back. That been said, CSKA‘s backcourt is loaded so the chances of Shved coming to Europe are very low.
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”9. Hedo Turkoglu“]
[lpcontent]
He is a national hero in Turkey and he said that he hasn’t made up his mind yet about his future. However the main question about him is if he will retire or not. He has the experience and the shot to make a contribution to any team. Born in 1979, the end of the road seems near for him. As he stated many times, the only European team in which he wish to play is Fenerbahce, so you never know…
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”8. Joe Ingles“]
[lpcontent]
The Jazz like him, he wants to stay and so the chances of him returning to Europe are low at best. However he is a former Euroleague champion and many top teams are looking for players in his position, mainly CSKA Moscow and Fenerbahce/ Ulker. So you never know what it might happen down the road, if he stays in the market, even if he clearly prefers the NBA.
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”7. Alexis Ajinca“]
[lpcontent]
He is an other player who clearly prefers the NBA from Europe, he had his best season in the league with 6,5 points and 4,6 rebounds. However he might get a better offer in Europe and money is always a factor. He is a guy not eager to return but free agency is always tricky and it’s not clear yet what he can get on the table, even from his team, the Pelicans.
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”6. Ognjen Kuzmic“]
[lpcontent]
He is an NBA champion with the Warriors, but he played 19 games in total during two seasons. He has the body and the potential to develop into a rotation player, but that seems to be a long way down the road. On the contrary he can really help now a team in Europe. The Warriors made him a qualifying offer, making him a restricted free agent. This is a sign for their intentions and the wish to keep him. However, if for Europe he is still a free agent without any restriction.
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”5. Andrea Bargnani“]
[lpcontent]
Bargnani, a number 1 draft pick, to Europe? He has NBA talent, but after two mediocre seasons in New York and many injuries, this is not as crazy as it sounds. There’s also a rumor circulating around Europe that he has an offer from Fenerbahce/ Ulker in which the GM is his mentor Mauricio Gherardini. This is not confirmed, but maybe it’s a hint that Bargani at this point of his career can’t exclude anything.
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”4. Jonas Jerebko“]
[lpcontent]
Will he play for the first time pro ball in Europe? Jerebko in Boston was a solid rotation player, but after five seasons in the NBA, he is never exploded to the level he was projected to. So let’s create an interesting scenario. Jerebko has a Swedish passport, his father is Russian-American and CSKA needs a new front line. Want more? In the past Jerebko was coached in the summer league by current CSKA coach Dimitris Itoudis, who at the time admitted that Jerebko was one of his favorites.
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”3. Luigi Datome“]
[lpcontent]
He had the same route with Jerebko, leaving the Pistons for the Celtics and proving what everyone in Europe knew: He can shoot! He also has the option of Fenerbahce/ Ulker as Eurohoops reported, but on his facebook page he clarified that he is not decided about his future yet and he will wait for the NBA. It will be a nice summer storyline to watch.
[/lpcontent]
[lptitle title=”2. Joel Freeland“]
[lpcontent]
After three seasons in Portland, Freeland hasn’t exaclty wowed the NBA. He played in 48 games this season and the other European of the team, Victor Claver, has been cut during the season. A return to Europe will make sense for Freeland, specially on financial terms and he has been linked with the CSKA. If that’s the case, then we might see him back in Euroleague soon.
[/lpcontent]