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By Aris Barkas/ info@eurohoops.net
The Euroleague season started, there’s a small sample of games after round 1, but the perception for most teams is the same we got during the summer. And like it or not, the summer signings are those who define the buzz that every team creates.
Eurohoops ranked the Top20 Euroleague summer moves, not taking into account not only the money spend, the fans’ reaction or the media interest, but also the impact and the role each player is expected to have. After all, all of them are now part of title contenders and the final verdict on their transfers can be reached only at the end of the season…
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[lptitle title=”20. Nikola Kalinic“]
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Signed with Fenerbahce Istanbul
His move from Crvena Zvezda Telekom Belgrade to Fenerbahce turned out to be a summer serial and the Turkish club had to buy out his contract in order to get him.
According to Crvena Zvezda, the buyout was one million euros, the biggest paid this summer in Europe. The player also got a generous raise compared to the money he made in Serbia. However, money doesn’t play basketball. Kalinic brings a tone of energy to every team, but at the same time he has a lot to prove.
Among all the players in this Top 20, the Serb forward in theory is the biggest risk taken by any team. With that being said, head coach Zeljko Obradovic always finds a way to make his players blossom.
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[lptitle title=”19. Marcus Slaughter“]
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Signed with Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul
He was one of the summer’s last moves and the most impressive addition by Darussafaka, which made quite a few. It’s not small feat to get a center from the reigning Euroleague champions who had a valid contract with the team.
The story of Slaughter is quite strange. Last year he was one step from leaving Madrid in order to sign with Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv, but in the end he stayed with the team and with time he found his role. In the last part of the season, he was an asset for the champs and that’s why we expect him to find his role with ease in his new team.
He is one more player of the recent undersized center trend which is a must for every Euroleague club and one of the best at what he does.
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[lptitle title=”18. Pero Antic “]
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Signed with Fenerbahce Istanbul
He was part of the back-to-back Euroleague-winning Olympiacos Piraeus teams and returns after two season in the NBA with a vengeance. This time he will play for Fenerbahce and the target is obvious. Despite being listed as a power forward, he can also play at center and that’s a plus in the current Fenerbahce roster.
His presence in any case guarantees rebounds despite his 33 years of age, while his gung-ho mentality and his habit of making big shots, especially threes, are a plus for his team. This unpredictable part of his game cost him his spot in Olympiacos, but if the timing is right, it can turn a team into a champion.
Also the fact that a Euroleague champion is now in the locker room of Fenerbahce can do no harm. On the contrary.
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[lptitle title=”17. Carlos Arroyo“]
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Signed with FC Barcelona Lassa
At 36 years of age, Carlos Arroyo has one more – and maybe his last – big chance to compete for the Euroleague title. Considering the fact that he has a much different role compared to the one we were used to seeing him hold at Galatasaray and Besiktas, nothing can be excluded.
This time Arroyo doesn’t have to do everything by himself; he just has to contribute some quality minutes and offensive punch from the bench. As he proved last season, despite his age, the experienced guard still has much of his old athletic ability. His basketball IQ can’t be denied and the motivation of playing for a team like Barcelona may prove to be enough.
And that’s good news also for Barcelona, which is trying to get back on top for the first time since 2010.
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[lptitle title=”16. Trey Thompkins“]
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Signed with Real Madrid
Real Madrid was collecting titles last season and at the same time preparing for next season. Thompkins, a key member of the last season’s Cinderella team, Nizhny Novgorod, was the power forward who was missing for the champs’ roster.
Thompkins is the kind of player who can be effective both in the post and on the perimeter. He is an efficient rebounder, he has a body that permits him to play in the paint, and he completes the already admirable roster of Madrid. We expect to see him play at the center position for some minutes. In theory he can be on the court together both with Felipe Reyes and Gustavo Ayon. And he is a better post presence compared to Andres Nocioni and Jonas Maciulis.
This seems to be a match made in heaven.
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[lptitle title=”15. Bobby Dixon“]
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Signed with Fenerbahce Istanbul
He took the Turkish league by storm last season and beat Fenerbahce in the semifinals. His reward for this season was a contract with the team he killed. The story of the 32-year-old Dixon makes you cheer for him. He is playing basketball in Europe almost for a decade and this is the first time he gets his big break.
The only question for him is quite simple. In Pinar Karsiyaka Izmir, he had the ball in his hands and the team was built around him. In Fenerbahce things are different and even the starting point guard position is up for grabs.
However, if he continues to play like he did last season, then he may turn out to be the key element missing from Fenerbahce in order to make the next step.
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