From Russia with Love

By Stelios Toromanidis, adapted by Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net

After withdrawing the participation of CSKA, Zenit, and UNICS from the 2021-22 Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the ongoing war, Euroleague Basketball excluded the Russian teams from the 2022-23 season. Consequently, departing players moved elsewhere to stay in the top club competition of the continent.

Rosters diminished and respective budgets drastically reduced as the aforementioned teams are preparing to focus on the VTB United League competition instead of combining it with EuroLeague, the usual route before the war. Players, including multiple household names of EuroLeague, moving on from Russia shifted the balance of power in Europe.

Eurohoops listed the outgoing players attached with the new destinations when available checking which teams benefited the most by improving respective squads entering the 2022-23 season.

CSKA’s 7, Zenit’s 5, UNICS’ 5 in EuroLeague and 3 free agents

Former players of CSKA, Zenit, and UNICS opting to stay in the EuroLeague amount to 17, signing with nine separate clubs. The offseason practically extended to March sending interested parties into the market as some players became available earlier than usual. Additional players surfacing in the normal offseason were snatched as well. Three more players are still free agents.

CSKA

Eight players left the Moscow outfit, the most compared to the other two Russian teams previously competing in EuroLeague. Some amicable departures and others not so much.

Joel Bolomboy, Tornike Shengelia, Gabriel Iffe Lundberg, and Daniel Hackett parted ways with CSKA last season. Bolomboy penned a one-year contract with Olympiacos this summer, while Shengelia and Hackett wrapped up the 2021-22 season together at Virtus Segafredo Bologna. Hackett signed a multi-year contract and Shengelia was out at the end of the season but is still a free agent and at the end of the day can be back for the Italian club. Lundberg also ended up in Bologna penning a two-year contract after a cup of tea with the Phoenix Suns in the NBA.

The other half of departures saw Will Clyburn moving to the back-to-back champion Anadolu Efes, Marius Grigonis joining Panathinaikos OPAP, and both Kevin Pangos and Johannes Voigtmann landing at EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Voigtmann’s addition has yet to be officially confirmed by the Italian champions.

CSKA also parted ways with Dimitris Itoudis. The Greek tactician took over Fenerbahce Beko signing a three-year contract.

Zenit

The team coached by Xavi Pascual captured the VTB title but failed to keep seven players on board. Five departing players found new homes in EuroLeague but the other two are stuck in the free-agent pool.

Alex Poythress inked a two-year contract with Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv, Arturas Gudaitis made his way to Panathinaikos, prolific scorer Jordan Loyd moved to AS Monaco, Jordan Mickey is among the newcomers of Virtus Bologna, and Billy Baron penned a 1+1 contract with Olimpia Milano.

Still seeking their next team are Mindaugas Kuzminskas and Mateusz Ponitka, both experienced and important players.

UNICS

Olympiacos, Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Beko, Maccabi, and Monaco made the most of the opportunities coming out of the Kazan outfit. Isaiah Canaan was picked up by the Reds, Mario Hezonja made the trip to Madrid on a two-year deal, Tonye Jekiri joined Fener, and Lorenzo Brown jumped into the Israel giant for the next two years.

On the move as well, John Brown III. From emerging as a defensive specialist to a two-year contract with La Roca Team.

List of 17+3 players parting ways with EuroLeague teams after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine