By Antonis Stroggylakis/ AStroggylakis
To EuroLeague fans reading this: You better get used to the idea….
Among the players who will be gathering in Istanbul for the Final Four this weekend, there are some special few who will play their last games in the competition, at least for a fair number of upcoming seasons.
It’s somewhat of a nature’s law when it comes to basketball. Ever voracious NBA is waiting to throw its nets in the large pool of European hoops and catch the fish swimming closer to the surface. The ambitious, the risk-takers and, basically, those who have the will, mettle and quality to stand in the best league in the planet.
Of course, no organization, especially the ones with a grand history and prestige, wants to serve as a “farm team” for the NBA. Particularly the Spanish clubs that have been bled out of prospects or valuable assets (let’s drop the names of Rudy Fernandez, Ricky Rubio, Mario Hezonja, Tomas Satoransky to make a start) numerous times before. Hence the almost… mythical buyout of Sergio Llull that you’ll read in the article.
Llull should stay in Europe, unless for some reason the Houston Rockets upper echelons decide to spend an unprecedented amount of money to get him. But it will take less to seduce others that won’t resist the temptation. Those who won’t deny the dream of playing among the best of the best. Who are they?
Milos Teodosic (CSKA Moscow)
Season Stats: 16.2 points, 7.0 assists, 2.1 rebounds in 28:23 minutes per game
NBA Rights: –
If the European market was a hunting ground during open season, then Milos Teodosic would the most tantalizing game. The “belle of the ball” among NBA prospects of the EuroLeague Final Four, the Serbian guard had already been chosen as the “best player outside of the NBA” by league GMs back on October, following his shenanigans in the Olympic Games.
Coming from the most prolific and, quite possibly, the top season of his career it’s safe to assume that the executives’ opinions won’t be any different now. If anything, Milos’ performances would’ve convinced even the fiercest unbelievers that he’s not only NBA caliber but pretty much able to make an immediate impact, delivering savvy playmaking, fog-penetrating court vision and instant scoring, if needed.
Probability of signing with an NBA team this summer: HIGH
I wouldn’t call it “now or never” but it’s almost there. Free agent-to be Teodosic, 30, is at his prime and he knows it. If he doesn’t sign with an NBA team this summer then he might get stuck in Europe for two, three or perhaps more years, given that CSKA (or any other team) will want to put his bloo…., sorry, his pen, on a contract that will quite possibly be without any NBA clauses.
Now before you drop the name “Pablo Prigioni”, remember that Milos’ charisma is endless and he’s so many things as a player but it’s questionable if his basketball genius alone will be able to carry him on NBA floors when… 35 years old.
But here’s the tricky part: What defines an “attractive offer” for the Serbian guard doesn’t necessarily mean a tower of money but the certainty that he’ll be an integral part of the team he signs for. So it all comes down mainly to which teams are willing to offer Milos a a considerable salary and, more importantly, the on-floor duties he desires.