By Stefan Djordjevic, Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
While the 2019-20 German, Spanish and Israeli League campaigns are yet to be finished with the Final Tournaments, the teams across Europe have already entered the ‘offseason mode’ and are planning a roster for the upcoming short and long term challenges.
Although the clubs have taken a hit due to the coronavirus pandemic and most will have to make compromises in putting together a competitive roster, there is no doubt that a need for elite shooters is all-present and there will be a spot for them in every squad.
And there are quite a bit of top-level shooters currently on the market as free agents. Eurohoops prepared a list of the most-wanted who played in EuroLeague this past season.
Keep in mind that it includes only the players who are currently and officially free agents, so, for example, Jimmer Fredette isn’t on it despite his departure from Panathinaikos being expected.
Here are the top ten shooters currently without a contract, in no particular order:
James Nunnally has had busy two seasons as he played for five teams across the globe in that time span. He got back to the NBA after four years and played 13 games for the Minnesota Timberwolves after which he had a 10-day contract with the Houston Rockets, however, he ended up back in Europe where he finished the season with Olimpia Milano.
He didn’t stay there for long either, moving to China for Shanghai Sharks and then finally returning to Fenerbahce, the club with which he won the EuroLeague in 2017.
The 29-year-old American averaged 9.2 points over 14 games with Fenerbahce in Turkey and EuroLeague while shooting 46.8% from the three-point territory. It might be time to settle down with a team, for a season at least.
Alexey Shved
The 2018 Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer in Alexey Shved needs no introduction as he and his skills are well-known to both the European and NBA basketball enthusiasts and experts.
After his three seasons in the NBA (2012-15) with multiple teams, Shved settled down in Khimki for the past five years and has been tearing the opponents’ nets regularly in VTB League as well as in the European competitions.
Khimki’s No. 1 shot 34.4% from deep before the season hiatus and averaged 21.7 points as well as 7.2 assists across EuroLeague and VTB League.
Shved has been considering returning to the NBA but only in case he would get a guaranteed satisfactory role on a team. Meanwhile, he’s been one of the best-paid players in Europe and although many clubs would want him for themselves, there’s no doubt that Khimki will do everything to keep him.
UPDATE: Reportedly has signed a three-year extension with Khimki, not official.
Sasha Vezenkov
The list, although filled with, isn’t exclusive to guards and Sasha Vezenkov has been a prime example of a European big man that can shoot the lights out.
Olympiacos power forward went viral recently after the security cameras caught him banking 98-103 threes in the gym during shooting practice.
Far from it that he’s doing the damage only in an empty gym, as he has been averaging 45.9% from deep this past season, a significant improvement from the 32.6% the year earlier. And there’s even more upside to the Bulgarian-Greek that’s just 24 years old.
UPDATE: Close to finalizing an extension with Olympiacos, according to Eurohoops sources.
Amedeo Della Valle
Amedeo Della Valle is no stranger to the impressive numbers during shooting practices that made their way into the public. Recently, he made 101 out of 103 shots three-pointers including 65 in a row. It doesn’t get much better than that.
The 27-year-old spent his whole career in Italy, starting from Junior Casale Monferrato, to Reggio Emilia and then finally in Olimpia Milano where he spent the last two years. The sides won’t continue together as Della Valle himself announced.
The Italian guard host an outstanding 50% from deep in EuroLeague this past season and has logged multiple impressive, explosive and clutch performances that pushed Milano to victory.
Martin Hermannsson
Alba Berlin has been known for its young squad which, under coach Aito Garcia Reneses, plays with a fast, shooting focused style. With great ball movement as well which ensures that everybody gets the chance to show off their skills.
Martin Hermannsson has certainly been one of the guys that benefited from that in his past two years with the German team, and it has caught the eye of many clubs including Panathinaikos.
The 25-year-old Icelandic guard has been averaging 11.4 points and 5.4 assists in EuroLeague and German League while making 36.2% of his shots from downtown.
Billy Baron
Coming off his second straight season with Crvena Zvezda mts, Billy Baron has evolved into an EuroLeague-level player effective from three-point range. He just needed one shortened run in Europe’s premier club competition to make his case.
Baron launched his pro career in Lithuania as a Rytas Vilnius player. Afterward moved to Belgium, Spain, and Turkey. Joining the Serbian powerhouse and displaying his talents at the highest level of European basketball, the shooting ace is gearing up for yet another run in the Old Continent.
His debut EuroLeague campaign saw him average 11.1 points per match behind 40.3% from three-point range. As for his second ABA League run, his 43% beyond the arc propelled him to 12.4 points per game.
Matt Janning
Matt Janning first joined Baskonia on a two-month deal in 2017. It has been smooth sailing since with additional deals extending his run with the Basque outlet until the ending of the 2019-20 season.
The proven shooter dropped to 28.5% from long range during the 2019-20 EuroLeague season. The Northeastern alum, now 31, still compiled a strong 39.7% from his 2019-20 ACB appearances.
Baskonia or elsewhere, Janning will surely be searching for better looks moving forward. Free agency coincides with an unprecedented offseason but European top-drawer options are expected to remain available.
KC Rivers
Five different EuroLeague clubs for KC Rivers throughout his six runs in Europe’s top continental club competition. Moving around is one way to read it, the constant arriving from downtown counts though.
The former Clemson standout has vastly improved during his European journey, but he established himself making three-pointers and keeps on knocking down those shots whatever the jersey.
Focusing on his most recent run with Zalgiris Kaunas he joined after starting the 2019-20 season with Real Betis, Rivers his 41.2% of his three-point attempts in EuroLeague averaging 9.3 points per game. In addition, he sank 44.6% of his threes in the LKL.
Ryan Broekhoff
Not directly from EuroLeague, but Ryan Broekhoff made his presence felt back in 2015-16 shooting 47.2% on three-pointers for Lokomotiv Kuban. Certainly, a player that will add range to any side potentially picking him up ahead of the 2020-21 season.
The Valparaiso alumni is a free agent since February drawing interest from various EuroLeague teams. The Dallas Mavericks held him the past couple of seasons after signing him to a two-year contract in 2018.
He neared 40% on three-point shots in the NBA, previously sustained himself in equal or even higher percentages in Turkey with Besiktas and in Russia for Loko both in the domestic leagues and in the European club competitions.
UPDATE: Broekhoff signed a deal with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Kyle Kuric
FC Barcelona is likely to keep Kyle Kuric as the two sides have reportedly agreed to a two-year contract extension. The 30-year-old guard would make a great addition for any EuroLeague outlet, surely packs an inspiring story.
The sharpshooter recovering from brain surgery went on to improve his long-range shooting since 2015. He joined the Spanish powerhouse in 2018 and is expected to keep helping Barca for the upcoming season and beyond.
The shortened EuroLeague season featured Kuric with 9.4 points per appearance and 44.3% three-pointers. He added 8.3 points per ACB contest.