By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
It is not over just yet. However, the offseason traditionally combined with solid signings for Turkish Airlines EuroLeague clubs extended to this summer. A sweltering summer, indeed.
Looking forward to the 2024-25 season tipoff on October 3 and awaiting more impressive additions, Eurohoops compiled a list with the Top 10 summer signings.
Looking to boost their respective squads, all 18 EuroLeague teams completed several transfers over recent months, between internal league moves and attracting players from the NBA.
Eurohoops picked the best summer moves ranking them from first to tenth with one single team holding the top two spots.
Honorable mentions: Will Clyburn, Carlik Jones, and more
This EuroLeague summer transfer market was so eventful that a few names had to be excluded from the Top-10 list despite bringing significant hope to their new clubs.
One of the honorable mentions must be Will Clyburn, who joined Virtus Bologna at 34 to try to help the black-and-white side “get over the hump”. He brings winning experience with him, considering he lifted the EuroLeague trophy in 2019 with CSKA and is hunting for revenge after his Efes days.
Talking about black-and-white teams, Partizan Belgrade strengthened itself with Carlik Jones, South Sudan’s playmaking sensation in both the World Cup and the Olympics. He averaged 18.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 7.7 assists in Paris, and Zeljko Obradovic will count on his unpredictability of solutions.
Another Olympian who’s coming – or returning, in this case – to Europe is Usman Garuba, who made his comeback to Real Madrid three years after first moving to the NBA. He couldn’t translate his versatile skills into huge playing time in Houston, and he will now reunite with the Spanish powerhouse.
If Usman Garuba and Serge Ibaka – we will come back to him later – joined Walter Tavares in Real Madrid‘s massive frontcourt, somebody had to leave to create some space under the rim. Sharing duties with the Capoverdian center, Vincent Poirier grew recently and has now moved to Anadolu Efes.
Keeping with the back-to-back EuroLeague champions in 2022 and 2023, the Turkish side is going through a mix of renovation and confirmations. If Will Clyburn left and Shane Larkin was confirmed, another go-to-guy like Stanley Johnson joined the side to have his first overseas experience.
Finally, the EuroLeague assists leader moved from Baskonia to Crvena Zvezda: after averaging 9.6 points and 7.3 assists per game while recording a historic triple-double with 20 assists against ALBA Berlin, Codi Miller-McIntyre will learn from another playmaking master like Milos Teodosic.
1. Evan Fournier
New team: Olympiacos
Previous team: Detroit Pistons
Country: France
2023-24 stats: 6.9 points and 1.8 rebounds per NBA game
A veteran of 723 NBA games, Evan Fournier will debut in the EuroLeague. In a late boost to the roster, Olympiacos confirmed high ambitions for the next season with the biggest EuroLeague move of the summer.
“If one day I had to return to Europe and I had the choice to go wherever I wanted, I think I would go for Olympiacos. It’s still a hell of a club,” the experienced swingman predicted the future in a post on Twitter, now X, back in 2022.
After being selected with the 20th overall pick of the 2012 NBA draft, Fournier went from the Denver Nuggets to the Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, and Detroit Pistons. He had a solid career over the last 12 years, but it was time for a change of scenery.
Before moving his talents to the league based in North America, the early stages of his professional career featured Poitiers Basket 86 and JSF Nanterre, limited to domestic competitions in France. With the Reds, he will jump into the EuroLeague action in a highly-anticipated 2024-25 season.
2. Cedi Osman
New team: Panathinaikos
Previous team: San Antonio Spurs
Country: Turkiye
2023-24 stats: 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists per NBA game
Everything seemed relaxed on a Saturday morning in early September, a few days after Olympiacos dropped the Evan Fournier bomb and teams were starting to prepare for the upcoming season. Then, Dimitris Giannakopoulos announced a shocking transfer: Cedi Osman is a new Panathinaikos player.
Rumored to be in negotiations with Real Madrid to strengthen Chus Mateo’s team after ending the 2023-24 season as EuroLeague runner-up, he instead decided to join the ones who beat them in Berlin. Like Omer Yurtseven, he will share paths once again with Turkiye’s head coach Ergin Ataman.
Coming off a difficult season in the NBA with the San Antonio Spurs at the bottom of the NBA standings, he was eager to come back to competitive basketball. What better way to do it than following the case of Evan Fournier, Sasha Vezenkov, Jordan Nwora, and more? EuroLeague welcomes its alumni back.
3. Sasha Vezenkov
New team: Olympiacos
Previous team: Sacramento Kings
Country: Bulgaria
2023-24 stats: 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per NBA game
After being named season MVP and receiving the Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy, Sasha Vezenkov left Olympiacos. There was some unfinished business in Piraeus leading to his return after one year in the NBA.
Vezenkov, 29, lacked playing time with the Sacramento Kings. He featured in 42 games of the Regular Season, averaging 12.2 minutes per contest. Struggling to get things going, he ended up reunited with the Reds, after being traded to the Toronto Raptors and subsequently waived during the offseason.
The last time out, he fell narrowly short of becoming a EuroLeague champion, thanks to Sergio Llull. Fueled by that experience and eager to bounce back in style, he seems determined to get the job done in May.
4. Lorenzo Brown
New team: Panathinaikos Aktor
Previous team: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv
Country: Spain
2023-24 stats: 13.2 points and 6.1 assists per EuroLeague game
After two years with Maccabi Tel Aviv, Lorenzo Brown moved to EuroLeague champion Panathinaikos with an obvious goal, linked to Ergin Ataman completing yet another back-to-back. The experienced floor general was a brilliant addition to a successful squad.
Brown, 34, played in 107 NBA games before using overseas options over the last five seasons, including an All-EuroLeague First Team nod in 2023 and an entry to the Second Team last season, besides emerging as a naturalized player for Spain.
Highlighted by the arrival of the NC State product, the roster depth for Ataman looks scary.
5. Wade Baldwin IV
New team: Fenerbahce Beko
Previous team: Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv
Country: United States
2023-24 stats: 17.4 points and 4.9 assists per EuroLeague game
From powering up Maccabi’s backcourt with Lorenzo Brown to Fenerbahce was the summer drive for Wade Baldwin IV. A fifth EuroLeague team for the former Vanderbilt standout.
A member of the All-EuroLeague Second Team over the last two years at Maccabi, Baldwin was naturally looking for a nod in the First Team. Several MVPs of the Round and the Month make his case, beyond his trademark scoring abilities constantly forcing opponents to adjust.
After logging 63 NBA appearances with the Portland Trail Blazers and Memphis Grizzlies, Baldwin opted in favor of EuroLeague action, shifting from Olympiacos, FC Bayern Munich, Baskonia, and Maccabi, to a deep and promising squad at Fener.
6. Kevin Punter
New team: FC Barcelona
Previous team: Partizan Mozzart Bet
Country: United States
2023-24 stats: 15.0 points and 2.6 rebounds per EuroLeague game
Another gifted scorer with plenty of EuroLeague experience, Kevin Punter finally completed a transfer to FC Barcelona. After nearly landing in Catalonia last summer, he left Partizan Mozzart Bet to sign a one-year contract with Barca in July.
With a new head coach in charge, Joan Penarroya, and more impressive summer signings, including Chimezie Metu, the Bronx native is the most intriguing case, a measuring stick to calculate whether Barcelona will succeed or not next season. And potential success will be measured by nothing less than a EuroLeague championship.
In a long overseas career, Punter has celebrated two Basketball Champions League titles, besides numerous domestic and regional league championships. Also winning the top-tier competition of the continent would be a brilliant result.
7. Furkan Korkmaz
New team: AS Monaco
Previous team: Philadelphia 76ers
Country: Turkiye
2023-24 stats: 2.5 points and 0.9 rebounds per NBA game
AS Monaco was busy during the offseason, looking to strengthen the squad and return to the Final Four after the first berth in team history in 2023. Landing Furkan Korkmaz was certainly a step in the right direction.
Korkmaz, 27, was featured in 40 EuroLeague games with Anadolu Efes before moving his talents to the NBA in 2017. After seven years and 361 NBA appearances with the Philadelphia 76ers, he was traded to the Indiana Pacers and waived in February. A few months later, he signed with La Roca Team.
The Turkish sharpshooter with Mike James and fellow summer signing Nick Calathes creates an upgraded and powerful backcourt for head coach Sasa Obradovic.
8. Jordan Nwora
New team: Anadolu Efes
Previous team: Toronto Raptors
Country: Nigeria
2023-24 stats: 7.0 points and 2.9 rebounds per NBA game
Flying under the radar, Anadolu Efes secured the services of 25-year-old Jordan Nwora. The Nigerian forward is perhaps the most interesting rookie of the 2024-25 EuroLeague season.
Carrying the experience of 219 games played in the NBA, he struggled to maintain initially established playing time over the years. From the Milwaukee Bucks, Indiana Pacers, and Toronto Raptors, using EuroLeague options was far from expected but can reignite his career.
The Istanbul outfit looks good on returning to the EuroLeague Playoffs for the first time the second straight championship in 2022. The Louisville product adjusting and delivering would guarantee such prospects.
9. Serge Ibaka
New team: Real Madrid
Previous team: FC Bayern Munich
Country: Spain
2023-24 stats: 12.6 points and 6.8 rebounds per EuroLeague game
Joining Bayern after 14 years in the NBA last summer fell well shy of slowing down, deep into a successful career. Serge Ibaka instead confirmed leading qualities and established his talent across the courts of the EuroLeague. From there to a reunion with Real Madrid.
Ibaka, 34, joined a crowded frontcourt, including towering center Walter Tavares. With such support and deep rotation, the remaining head coaches surely envy Chus Mateo. It is all about reclaiming the throne. Seeking the 12th EuroLeague championship, the team based in the capital of Spain knows the way to the top.
During the 2011 NBA lockout, amid a solid run in the NBA, Ibaka joined Madrid. That was his debut in Europe’s premier club continental competition. It is now time for the real thing, a full expedition from start to finish.
10. Nick Calathes
New team: AS Monaco
Previous team: Fenerbahce Beko
Country: Greece
2023-24 stats: 7.1 points and 4.8 assists per EuroLeague game
Nick Calathes has been around for several years. From winning the EuroLeague with Panathinaikos in 2011 to more recent stints with Barcelona and Fenerbahce. A veteran of 358 games played in the league.
Calathes, 35, emerged as another solid summer signing for Monaco. Considering averaging 11.8 points. 4.8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game in a crazy best-of-five series against La Roca Team, which he capped off with clutch shots to send Fener to the Final Four, Monaco seemed predisposed in the market.
Reuniting with Mike James is the bonus, exciting the whole team, from the front office to the fans.