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.
Dario Saric
Since last summer, the wonder boy of Croatian basketball has been stating at every opportunity that this year he intends to make the leap to the other side of the Atlantic. He would’ve liked to achieve something big with Anadolu Efes. That didn’t happen, but the changes in the team and the departure of Dusan Ivkovic probably make it easier for him to make the big decision, even if the new coach is his compatriot Velimir Perasovic.
Saric’s contract was designed from the beginning in such a way so that this summer he would be able to leave with relative ease for the NBA with a “reasonable” buy out. The Sixers officially state that the acquisition of the player is not definite, but the number 12 of the 2014 draft is more than likely to be in Philadelphia next year.
The Sixers have already waited for two seasons and Saric, who is still only 22 years old, looks ready for the next level in his career.
Bogdan Bogdanovic
In the same year as Saric, the Serbian shooter was selected with the number 27 of the draft pick by the Suns and, paradoxically, this fact makes his selection more complicated. Unlike Saric whose selection at number 12 ensures him a good contract, Bogdanovic is going to be “wronged.”
Based on the rookie salary scale, if Bogdanovic signs with the Suns this summer he will receive gross earnings of 5,7 million dollars in the next four years, minus the money he might have to use out of his own pocket to buy out his contract with Fenerbahce.
If, however, he waits another summer, then according to the rules of the NBA, the 5,7 million dollars will simply be the starting point in the negotiations for his contract. The Suns have stated publicly that they are going to speak with him, but the financial conditions are against them.
Ekpe Udoh
Fenerbahce’s fans have launched an entire campaign in order to convince him to stay in Istanbul. It all started from the fact that the team’s president, Aziz Yildirim, stated that Udoh is the only player on the team with a 50% chance of staying.
In his first season away from the NBA, unless one factors in the short period he was in Israel for Bnei Herzliya during the lock out, the American has wreaked havoc and turned out to be one of the best big men in the Euroleague. It’s rumored that CSKA Moscow are also interested in his services, but nothing is yet definite for him.
It’s obvious that he’s keeping his options open and it’s a given that NBA teams will also be interested in his services.
Gustavo Ayon
For a while now it has been rumored that the Mexican center is not going to be re-signed by Real Madrid, because he is asking for such an increase in his earnings that it’s going to be hard for him to get it, not just from the Madrilenos, but from any other team in Europe too.
At any rate, Ayon has served in the NBA, he was one of the best centers in the Euroleague and since centers are still in great demand throughout the world, it’s quite possible that we see him on the other side of the Atlantic once again.
In the past he has played with the Hornets, the Magic, the Bucks and the Hawks, so he’s not unknown on the other side of the Atlantic either. He too has been regarded as a potential target for CSKA Moscow, who are looking for a center.