By Utkan Şahin / info@eurohoops.net
Following the conclusion of the 2020-21 season with a spectacular showdown at the Cologne Final Four, Eurohoops focuses on the free-agent gems available on the market for the 2021-22 season.
So far, we’ve analyzed the top point guards, top shooting guards and the top small forwards, and now it’s time to take a look at the Top 10 available power forwards.
Note: Players with options in their contracts are also included.
10 – Aaron White (Panathinaikos)
Age / Country: 28 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 4 seasons – 118 games
Stats: 33 games, 7.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, 9.0 EFF
Best game: 11 points, 8 rebounds, 20 EFF vs Anadolu Efes
Do you remember when Aaron White entered the EuroLeague with the Zalgiris Kaunas jersey in the 2017-18 season? While Zalgiris was making the Final Four that season, White was one of the most important parts of the team.
Even though his athleticism has always placed him in a different team among his 4 seasons in the league, he could not come to the fore as a player whose name we heard a lot.
Returning to the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos after a little Lenovo Tenerife adventure in between, White has had the chance to play consistently this season.
In general, while he did not perform as strong as before, though he achieved average work despite the mediocre course of his team.
9 – Kostas Mitoglou (Panathinaikos)
Age / Country: 25 / Greece
EuroLeague Career: 4 seasons – 93 games
Stats: 34 games, 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 11.3 EFF
Best game: 29 points, 12 rebounds, 2 assists, 42 EFF vs Khimki Moscow
Konstantinos Mitoglou has taken a place in our memories as perhaps one of the EuroLeague’s most committed players this season. After 3 seasons of NCAA experience, Mitoglou, who was in the league rotation of Panathinaikos in the 2017-18 season, started to become one of the most important parts of the first team over the years.
Of course, Mitoglou, who has a long way to go at a still fairly young age, is actually an interesting player with his approach to the game and the physique that can be oversized for a power forward. The Greek player, who has become a monument of stability by playing in all 34 games this season, provided the maximum performance that his team would expect from him with 9.3 points – 5.4 rebounds averages.
His 29 points – 12 rebounds game against Khimki Moscow will be remembered. Contrary to what is expected from his physique, he is an important part of the future of Panathinaikos and Greek basketball with his quickness and awareness of rim defense. He is a player who can attract attention among the free-agent power forwards.
8 – Adrien Moerman (Anadolu Efes)
Age / Country: 32 / France
EuroLeague Career: 8 seasons – 183 games
Stats: 41 games, 6.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 8.5 EFF
Best game: 17 points, 9 rebounds, 2 assists, 27 EFF vs Crvena Zvezda
Actually, there is no need to explain Adrien Moerman at length. The French player, whom we have watched for years in teams such as Bandırma, Barcelona, and Anadolu Efes, is also among the power forwards to be released this summer.
Moerman, who has made a generally criticized performance in the EuroLeague this season, took the stage again in the final game and played as if to prove why he is one of the most critical parts of Efes. Thanks to his two-way contribution to the game, Efes has been playing strong basketball for three years.
Moerman, who is one of the best performing players of the season in the Turkish BSL, may be a valuable target for Efes in terms of keeping the same core for the coming season, despite the fact that his EuroLeague performances might have not been that effective.
7 – Jonas Jerebko (Khimki Moscow)
Age / Country: 34 / Sweden
EuroLeague Career: 4 seasons – 72 games
Stats: 28 games, 11.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 12.8 EFF
Best game: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 3 assists, 25 EFF vs Zalgiris
Jonas Jerebko was just one of the names whose departure from Khimki Moscow was unpleasant this season. Even if his advancing age is something that we think may be an obstacle for him, any GM, coach, or manager who is aware that players who have spent many years in the NBA are much stronger and more resilient, would want Jerebko in their team.
The general problems in Khimki’s structure and the chemistry that could not be established due to financial problems did not affect Jerebko’s individual statistics negatively, but it was still not a system that he enjoyed playing. He is one of the most experienced players among the free agents on the list.