By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The season – with the exception of Spain – has ended, the first big signings with the renewals of Vassilis Spanoulis and Nando De Colo’s contracts are a reality and the transfer market has lit up.
This concerns not only the players who are targeted by Euroleague teams, but those who stole the show this season and have the prospect of the NBA in front of them. It’s no secret that the people of the American league follow very closely everything that happens in our parts, now have full knowledge of everything that goes on in the old continent and with the new situation regarding the salary cap, the capacity to acquire a player if they really want him.
Eurohoops presents the ten players who have the most chances than any other of finding themselves on the other side of the Atlantic in the new season. Although there was the case of De Colo who, despite Denver’s interest, stayed in Europe, it’s a fact that the attractions of the NBA excite many players. This list doesn’t include the players who are very likely to be in the next draft, but those that have already shown substantial credentials and want to take the next big step in their career.
Malcolm Delaney
It’s no secret that this player, who is now a free agent, stresses at every opportunity that he’s very interested in the prospect of the NBA. He had a great season with Lokomotiv Kuban and managed to steal the show from many others.
In Europe, Barcelona is the team that has been involved with his case much more intensely than any other. However, he has made it clear that he is not going to make a commitment with anyone and is going to wait and see the options that he has on the other side of the Atlantic.
Even though initially the Nets had expressed a very strong interest in the prospect of his acquisition, he now seems to be looking at other cases of teams that have followed everything he’s done this year, leading Lokomotiv Kuban to the Final Four of the Euroleague.
Justin Hamilton
For a while now his name has been coming up in stories concerning Real Madrid and Barcelona’s potential targets, which makes a lot of sense considering the season he’s had in Spain.
Last year, when few expected it, Valencia managed to convince him to leave the USA and come back to Europe. As it turned out though, following the announcement of the Croatian federation, his presence here was brief.
Hamilton, who has a Croatian passport, will not be able to help the Croatian national team in the pre-Olympic tournament in Turin, as he’s about to sign a new contract in the NBA, which means that all that remains is to find out which team.
Anthony Randolph
Delaney’s teammate in Lokomitv, he came back from an injury and had an equally impressive season. Even though Delaney was the one who had the ball in his hands and made the decisions, Randolph had the ability to destroy any defense on his own, playing away from and close to the basket.
His name has already been reported as a possible new addition to Real Madrid’s roster, though he might get a second chance in the NBA, where –on the basis of his skills – he seems to belong.
Randolph found himself in Europe for the first time in 2014 with Lokomotiv, trying to salvage a career that began in 2008 in the NBA, when he was selected at number 14 of the draft pick. He wore the jersey of the Warriors, the Knicks, Minnesota and Denver, he never fulfilled the expectations he had created, but it’s a fact that he can stand his own on the other side of the Atlantic as well, more mature and more prepared in relation to the past.