By Utkan Şahin/ info@eurohoops.net
After the conclusion of the 2020-21 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season with the Final Four held at Cologne, the focus turns to the players set to become free agents this summer. Our first look is on the playmakers.
Considering the constant movement of point guards to the NBA, the market in the key position will remain hot for the best teams in the continent looking to boost their squad during the offseason.
Eurohoops starting the series of Top 10 free agents per position compiled a list with the Top 10 floor generals on expiring contracts.
Note: Players with options in their contracts are also included.
10 – Lorenzo Brown (Fenerbahce Beko)
Age / Country: 30 / USA
EuroLeague career: 2 seasons – 64 games
Stats: 37 games, 9.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 8.6 PIR
Best game: 17 points, 6 assists, 3 rebounds, 25 PIR vs. Khimki Moscow Region (Regular Season Round 23)
In the canceled 2019-2020 season, the American playmaker had a remarkable stint with Crvena Zvezda, despite playing in the EuroLeague for the first time. This performance took him to the next level and Fenerbahce. But the Turkish team was a little too much for him.
At the beginning of the season, the club wished to form a great backcourt duo with Nando De Colo and Brown, but never got what they expected from the American player.
Perhaps the expectations were different when he first joined EuroLeague with Crvena Zvezda but the same just didn’t work with Fenerbahce. Especially the playoff performance was a big disappointment.
We probably wouldn’t be exaggerating if we said that the only good memory of him in the yellow jersey was the game-winning basket he scored against his former team.
It was so messy in Fenerbahce that, no matter how much the talent ceiling dwindles in Europe, ambitious teams probably won’t be paying much attention to him this summer. Teams ranked lower in the EuroLeague may find it difficult to give him the contract he expects.
9 – Thomas Heurtel (LDLC ASVEL Lyon-Villeurbanne)
Age / Country: 32 / France
EuroLeague career: 10 seasons – 226 games
Stats: 12 games, 2.9 points, 1.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.9 PIR
Best game: 7 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 5 PIR vs. Panathinaikos OPAP (Regular Season Round 4)
Thomas Heurtel, one of the names that gained much attention this past season, was probably one of the names that enjoyed Sunday night and Barca’s loss in the Final the most. The EuroLeague season, which was agonizing for him, came to an end.
His skills are unquestionable when it comes to passing. After all, we are talking about the 5th ranked player when it comes to assists in EuroLeague history. It should also be noted that he achieved this honor with fewer matches than any other player in the top 10.
Nothing to worry about though, as according to reports across the continent, Heurtel, who finished this season in ‘exile’ in France, will play for Real Madrid next season.
8 – Nicolas Laprovittola (Real Madrid)
Age / Country: 31 / Argentina
EuroLeague career: 3 seasons – 71 games
Stats: 34 games, 6.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 8.1 PIR
Best game: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 10 assists, 29 PIR vs. Fenerbahçe Beko (Regular Season Round 34)
Speaking of Real Madrid… Let’s talk about a talent that the Spanish giant already has.
Returning from the brink of leaving Real Madrid and going to Panathinaikos in the summer of 2020, Nicolas Laprovittola managed to create an interesting story for himself under difficult conditions.
After Facundo Campazzo’s departure, Real Madrid surprisingly failed to attempt to fill the void, and Laprovittola suddenly found himself as the team’s main point guard.
At first glance, the 31-year-old guard may not have had a season like that. After all, Real Madrid did not reach the Final Four, and Laprovittola did not perform great statistically while this was happening. But he managed to make a good ending to the season.
He took the stage whenever his team needed him, both in the playoff race and in the playoffs, and he showed that he is a valuable player for the team and that he can be reliable.
Frankly, if Pablo Laso had seen this spark during the season, he would not have taken any risks with Heurtel and would have continued with him. Of course, it can still happen. In Real Madrid, we have seen many names whose contracts were extended in the summer while they were expected to be sent from the team in the middle of the season.
However, if we take into account that the current rotation is crowded, it seems unlikely at the moment. If the Argentine guard cannot find him a new contract in Madrid, one can assume that many EuroLeague teams will wish to provide him a new home.