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.
Daniel Theis (Germany)
Last season salary: $9.1M
2023-24 NBA stats: 6.2ppg, 4.0rpg, 1.0apg
At 32, the German center is coming off spending the last seven years in the NBA, playing for the Boston Celtics, Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Indiana Pacers, and Los Angeles Clippers.
Earlier experience included the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. Certainly, resurfacing in Europe’s premier club continental competition would boost any participating team. Impressive determination can work wonders in the competitive environment of ‘every game matters’.
A FIBA World Cup champion with Germany, additional experience at the top level reinforces those traits.
Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (Ukraine)
Last season salary: $2.3M
2023-24 NBA stats: 3.6ppg, 1.2rpg, 0.8apg
It has been ten years since the Ukrainian forward joined the Kansas program. After four NCAA seasons, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers. From there, 296 appearances in the NBA.
Only 26, an interesting option for European clubs. Multiple bids fell to his natural priority, extending his career in the top league of the world.
Lakers, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks, Charlotte Hornets, and Boston Celtics. What is next for Mykhailiuk?
Sandro Mamukelashvili (Georgia)
Last season salary: $2M
2023-24 NBA stats: 4.1ppg, 3.2rpg, 1.1apg
In contrast to most players on our list, the Georgian forward/center lacks professional experience in Europe. However, being a regular with the national team of Georgia, he is fully adjusted to the style of play.
A Seton Hall product, he was selected with the 54th overall pick of the 2021 NBA draft by the Indiana Pacers. He went on to play in 130 NBA games between the Milwaukee Bucks and San Antonio Spurs.
Before the NCAA, Mamukelashvili participated in the Euroleague Basketball Next Generation Tournament with Stella Azzurra Roma.
Goga Bitadze (Georgia)
Last season salary: $2M
2023-24 NBA stats: 4.9ppg, 4.5rpg, 1.3apg
A back-to-back from Georgia via Bitadze, a EuroLeague Rising Star in 2019.
A veteran of five NBA seasons, he has improved his game across the board since making plenty of noise with Buducnost VOLI.
Facing complicated decisions this summer, similar to most players on our list, European powerhouses approaching the 24-year-old center is certain.
Usman Garuba (Spain)
Last season salary: $3.1M
2023-24 NBA stats: 0.5ppg, 1.2rpg, 0.5bpg
Linked to a reunion with Real Madrid, he recently denied rumors about his future. Nevertheless, failing to meet expectations with the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, compared to receiving the EuroLeague Rising Star award in 2021, makes a return to the capital of Spain a solid option.
Garuba was held to seven games played in the NBA during the 2023-24 season with the Warriors. Two years in Houston packed 99 appearances.
At only 22, a promising career is ahead, regardless of immediate decisions.
Boban Marjanovic (Serbia)
Last season salary: $2.9M
2023-24 NBA stats: 3.2ppg, 2.3rpg, 0.4apg
Before becoming popular among teammates and fans across the NBA, he was a freak of nature dominating the paint all around Europe. A different kind of attraction, compared to his most recent years in the league based in North America.
Looking to establish himself, the Serbian center displayed his extraordinary reach in the EuroLeague with CSKA, Zalgiris, and Crvena Zvezda.
Hitting free agency almost every summer for numerous years, Marjanovic is often linked to European clubs. Needless to say, actually signing him would be a huge deal.
Luka Garza (Bosnia-Herzegovina)
Last season salary: $0.7M
2023-24 NBA stats: 4.0ppg, 1.2rpg, 0.2apg
The American-born naturalized Bosnian has never played in Europe, besides representing Bosnia-Herzegovina in last summer’s FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament in Poland and Estonia.
Coming out of Iowa in 2021, he was drafted by the Detroit Pistons. From Motor City to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2022.
Far from a safe bet for success in the Old Continent, lacking significant experience in a different style of basketball. Still, Garza on this side of the pond would be a treat.