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.
Sergio Llull (Real Madrid)
Season Stats: 16.4 points, 5.9 assists, 1.9 rebounds in 27:44 minutes per game
NBA Rights: Houston Rockets
To all those who wondered what would happen to Real Madrid with the cerebral leadership of Sergio Rodriguez out of the equation in the beginning of the season, Llull said “shush, I got this.” He emerged as the leader of Real Madrid this season, increasing his productivity in both scoring for himself and creating for his teammates (12.8 p., 4.6 assists in 2015/2016) while remaining one of the elite backcourt defenders in the continent, able to shut down even the most dangerous of opponents.
To put it simply, there’s probably no other player in EuroLeague that influences his team’s game so heavily on both ends than Llull. And it’s not surprising that he’s generally considered a favorite to win EuroLeague season MVP.
And when it comes to the NBA? Well, if Teodosic is… let’s say up grabs and waiting for the highest overseas bidder, then Llull can be described as the diamond carefully locked with the most powerful safe-keys, as described below.
Probability of signing with an NBA team this summer: VERY LOW
Nearly “practical nonexistent”. The love for Real and an almost impossible to conceive but actually as real as it can get €12 million buy-out keeps him Madrid bound. At least for the foreseeable future. The Rockets definitely like him, GM Daryl Morey has the hots for him and there’s little doubt that his eruptive, “shoot first, ask questions later” style fits Mike D’Antoni’s full-scale attack bible. And Llull would provide a defensive flair.
Of course, Houston will have to spend big, big money to get him on a plane and sign him, including a particularly large salary. It won’t happen, despite THOSE kind of reactions.
Bogdan Bogdanovic (Fenerbahce)
Season Stats: 14.5 points, 3.9 assists, 3.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals in 28 minutes per game
NBA Rights: Sacramento Kings
Despite suffering through injuries that kept him sidelined for nearly a half of the EuroLeague regular season, Bogdanovic managed to be instrumental on Fenerbahce advancing to the Final Four for third year in a row, setting new standards with his performanes when it mattered the most.
Instrumental? Scratch that. He was the absolute protagonist in the quarterfinals versus Panathinaikos, beginning the series by registering a career-high and then surpassing it with almost ridiculous ease.
Having transcended his game from the one of a scoring “2” to becoming one of the most versatile and complete ballers in Europe, Bogdanovic’s monster performances in the playoffs were so exhilarating that made us wonder how strong his case for season MVP would be if he spent the year injury free.
Probability of signing with an NBA team this summer: VERY HIGH
“We have Bogdan Bogdanovic coming over next season as an asset,” Kings GM, and fellow Serb to Bogdan, Vlade Divac confidently said earlier this year and it looked to be far more than simple wishful thinking.
Of course the player himself doesn’t like talking about his future now, preferring to focus on his goals with Fenerbahce. But his desire is to join the best league on the planet. And the Kings, that need to pay only €1 million for the buyout, will be there to tell him what he wants to hear, before christening him as one of the people who might lead them back to the promised land of the playoffs.
While his star was shining the brightest in the EuroLeague sky during the playoffs against Panathinaikos, all Sacramento Kings affiliated personae went nuts about him. From a random fan, to beat writers and the club’s official media that compiled stories of his achievements. As if he was already one of their own.
Nikola Milutinov (Olympiacos)
Season Stats: 4.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.9 blocks in 12:38 minutes per game
NBA Rights: San Antonio Spurs
Here’s the youngest player in the list since he just became 22 on late December. Curiously, it was around that time that he started to seriously showcase on EuroLeague basketball level, why the San Antonio Spurs picked him in the 2015 Draft.
After one year and a half of doubt to the point of disbelief, mainly by Olympiacos fans, Militunov began establishing himself in the first line of his team’s rotation. Not only by getting promoted to a starter in some key games, but finding his role upgraded towards becoming a focal point on offense. He was the first player to receive the ball from the point guard and the central figure from which many systems coach Sfairopoulos drew on his board would launch.
His EuroLeague top performance arrived this year in the the first match of the quarterfinals between Olympiacos and Anadolu Efes with a performance that had something of Nikola Jokic-esque aura. Not quite there of course, but with an obvious scent of the way the Nuggets‘ center operates and affects the game.
Probability of signing with an NBA team this summer: MEDIUM/HIGH
Milutinov had one of his most interesting games of the season, heck probably of his career so far given the circumstances, under the gaze of Spurs GM RC Buford. Accompanied by Spurs scouts who were literally taking notes, Buford attended Game 1 of the EuroLeague playoffs between Olympiacos and Anadolu Efes and saw first-hand the Serbian center’s abilities, deep Yugo-perception and understanding for the game that goes beyond the banality of numbers (11 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists in 26:28). Milutinov showcased the feel and intelligence Gregg Popovich appreciates in a player and the elements that might get him the call to become a Spur this summer.
Ekpe Udoh (Fenerbahce)
Season Stats: 12.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.1 blocks, 1.9 assists in 31:38 minutes per game.
NBA Rights: –
Last summer Fenerbahce fans practically begged Ekpe Udoh to stay in their beloved team and after weighing his options, the American big guy decided to remain an Istanbul resident.
The 29-year old forward/center had been the defensive backbone of Fenerbahce, often carrying “Mission Impossible” tasks, containing numerous pivots, nullifying opposing guards on the switch and taking care of his team’s rear.
On the other end, Udoh has been one of the most imposing finishers after the pick n’ roll around the continent, while also providing a considerable doze of mid-range threat. At the same time, he added an extra weapon on his offensive arsenal, by dishing 1.9 assists per game and finishing five games with more than four dimes. To be honest, sometimes he looked quite Vujcic-esque. No, I’m not exaggerating there…
Probability of signing with an NBA team this summer: MEDIUM/LOW
Udoh has been a defensive titan (for me by far the EuroLeague DPOY this season and one among the “creme de la creme” last year as well) in Europe. While his characteristics may translate into NBA-worthy output, it remains to be seen if league executives have erased the hesitation they showed during previous summer, reevaluate him now and possibly extend him an offer to return in the championship. After paying a €1 million buy-out.
Season Stats: 9.6 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals in 24:23 per game
NBA Rights: –
This season has been somewhat less impressive than the previous one (11.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 1 block per game) for Jan Vesely, but he remained an integral part of Fenerbahce‘s frontcourt action along with partner in crime Ekpe Udoh (see above). Fatigue from the obligations with the Czech national team in the past summers has caught up with him and the reduced rotation of his squad, in combination with the fact that he does some heavy lifting on both ends, often sapped his energy tanks quickly.
Probability of signing with an NBA team this summer: LOW
Last summer Vesely signed one of the most lucrative contracts in Europe that includes a buy-out around €1 million. It’s questionable, however, if NBA teams that didn’t care much for him last summer, will be seriously interested in acquiring him this time after an inconsistent season, at least for his standards.
Giorgos Printezis (Olympiacos)
Season Stats: 12.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, 1 assist in 25:17 minutes per game.
NBA Rights: San Antonio Spurs
Considered by many as the best power forward in Europe, Giorgos Printezis arrives from the top season of his career, taking into account his personal numbers and the fact that Olympiacos is Final Four bound. An artist of the low post and perhaps the most difficult player to stop when he’s playing with his back facing the basket thanks to a plethora of moves, the equally potent use of his left and right arm and his signature “un-guardable” floater that he even hits from a distance beyond five meters.
Add to that the ability to strike from the perimeter (it would be unfair for his class to simply characterize him as “stretch 4”) especially in clutch moments, and you get the idea why his name appears in discussions regarding Euros making the NBA jump.
This season he was picked in the All-EuroLeague selection (First Team) for the first time in his long and celebrated career. Something that was long overdue, according to pretty much every person who watches EuroLeague basketball.
Probability of signing with an NBA team this summer: LOW
Printezis is 32 years old and while he’s alway reaching new heights with his performances, he has lost a great deal of the athleticism, airborne quality and explosiveness that characterized him once, when NBA teams owning his rights were perhaps pondering to penciling him to a deal. The attributes that are his greatest weapons in Europe simply don’t apply in the ever-growing speed of NBA action.
Also,there’s something else that you might find it funny or weird, depending on your viewpoint. But it’s entirely true. A key reason that can keep Printezis in Piraeus during the upcoming free agency, is the binding, unyielding love he carries for Olympiacos. Being a fan(-atic) of the team since he was just a kid, with numerous posters hanging on the walls of his room, it’s almost impossible to be separated from his beloved Reds. To put it simply, the Greek forward can hardly picture himself wearing anything else other than the “Red & White” jersey he adores so much.
Erick Green (Olympiacos)
Season Stats: 10.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.1 assists in 24 minutes per game.
NBA Rights: –
Erick Green never hid the fact that he joined Olympiacos to attract the NBA attention he craves by competing in high level of basketball such as EuroLeague. While the Reds penned him, a natural born scorer, as someone who would become the offensive beacon that’d attract opposing defenses and relieve some pressure from captain Vassilis Spanoulis, he has made visible steps into diversifying his game and working towards his goal of becoming a versatile, complete player.
Probability of signing with an NBA team this summer: MEDIUM/LOW
Has this season been solid for Erick Green? Of course. He has become a more team-oriented player by learning to act towards the benefit of the whole while taking great efforts to improve his defensive perception as a part of highly-disciplined in that area team.
Has this season been good enough for him to attract notable NBA attention? Not quite, at least so far. There have been some truly fiery nights for him, (like the 25-point game vs Unics Kazan on the road) but not something to turn heads in the NBA. It all comes down to what kind of offers he’ll receive on summer and how much he’ll pursue a return to the league. If he finds something interesting, he can simply opt out of the second season of his contract with the Reds.
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These aren’t the only Euroleague Final Four names that are eligible to play in the NBA next season of course. No. 1 pick in the 2013 NBA draft, Anthony Bennett is wearing the jersey of Fenerbahce but not really considered as part of the rotation by head coach Zeljko Obradovic. Still, he’ll do anything to track his path back to the NBA this summer.
Olympiacos has Atlanta Hawks stash Dimitris Agravanis (manageable buy out) and there’s Patric Young who is becoming a free agent this summer.
But, as you probably already know, the player who will steal the bulk of the NBA attention funneled to the Final Four is a certain wunderkid who will remain in EuroLeague at least for the next season. His name? Luka Doncic.