By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Promising prospects or experienced European stars moving their talents to the NBA is normally the case. Those players gather most of the attention, expanding their respective careers to the league based in North America and reducing the talent level in the Old Continent, especially over recent years. However, the opposite route is often the case for seldom-used players seeking an immediate upgrade, resurfacing in a familiar environment.
On the latter, Eurohoops presents ten NBA free agents who could be on their way to Europe this summer. Many top clubs seeking upgrades make the list intriguing for fans, to say the least.
It is more than likely that offseason rumors will link even more NBA players, household names in Europe, to various teams based on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Anyway, considering this list of free agents, a hot summer market is the forecast.
👀🇪🇺 10 NBA free agents that could move to Europe this summer.
🇬🇷 Thanasis Antetokounmpo
🇹🇷 Furkan Korkmaz
🇮🇹 Danilo Gallinari
🇩🇪 Daniel Theis
🇺🇦 Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk
🇬🇪 Sandro Mamukelashvili
🇬🇪 Goga Bitadze
🇪🇸 Usman Garuba
🇷🇸 Boban Marjanović
🇧🇦 Luka Garza pic.twitter.com/qMJyyGl5GK— Eurohoops (@Eurohoopsnet) June 3, 2024
Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Greece)
Last season salary: $2.3M
2023-24 NBA stats: 0.9ppg, 0.5apg, 0.4rpg
The Milwaukee Bucks have been his home for several years but Thanasis enjoyed solid campaigns with Panathinaikos, before returning to the NBA and joining his brother, Giannis, in 2019.
A versatile forward with great energy, constantly boosting his teammates, would be a brilliant signing for any top club in Europe.
Recovering from a torn Achilles tendon is the priority, approaching the offseason.
Furkan Korkmaz (Turkiye)
Last season salary: $5.4M
2023-24 NBA stats: 2.5ppg, 0.9rpg, 0.7apg
The 26-year-old sharpshooter has been on the free-agent pool for the majority of the 2023-24 season, He is destined to become a big-time signing, especially for Turkish clubs hoping to strengthen domestic firepower.
Early days in Turkiye, largely between Anadolu Efes and Banvit, he was named Best Young Player of the Basketball Champions League in 2017, the inaugural winner of the award.
From there to sinking long-range shots for the Philadelphia 76ers and dealing with shrinking playing minutes at the bottom end of seven years.
Danilo Gallinari (Italy)
Last season salary: $7.9M
2023-24 NBA stats: 5.6ppg, 2.3rpg, 1.1apg
After 16 years in the NBA, bouncing back in Europe seems like a solid option for Gallinari.
What if he avoided so many injuries? What if, a story for another day, better told by the 35-year-old Italian forward himself…
In 2008, wrapping up his promising stint with Armani Jeans Milan, he was named MVP of the Italian league. Assuming limited time is left to compete at the elite level, returning to his home country and perhaps to the Fashion Capital would generate excitement across the continent.