By Giorgos Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
This summer was characterized by the many departures of players for the Chinese League and the NBA, but this doesn’t mean that the clubs did not try to strengthen their roster.
After the presentation of the signings for the places 20 through 11, now it’s time for the Top 10, where the choices were even more difficult and the differences particularly small.
Let us remind you that the basic criteria for the final ranking have to do with the quality of each player, the team’s dynamics, the player’s role, but also the subjective criterion that always affects these kinds of matters.
10. Marko Guduric (Fenerbahce)
Starting next season, Marko Guduric will be playing in the colors of Fenerbahce, as the Turkish club spent a little less than 1 million dollars to make him theirs.
This particular amount is one of the largest that has been paid in recent years on the EuroLeague market, and it’s a sample of the great expectations that Zeljko Obradovic and his associates have from the player.
The Serbian guard put on some impressive performances in the Red-and-White, and in almost 16 minutes of playing time he averaged 7.1 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.4 assists. His numbers might not be impressive but his talent is enough to lead him on a path similar to that of Bogdan Bogdanovic. Besides, let’s not forget that we’re talking about an athlete who is only 22 years old…
9. Othello Hunter (CSKA Moscow)
CSKA will start yet another season with the primary goal of winning the EuroLeague, as this summer’s transfer moves have improved even further a roster that was already strong.
One of the players who has come aboard is Othello Hunter, who, after a short stint in Real Madrid, will remain at the highest level under the instructions of Dimitrios Itoudis.
The American center had a very good season, averaging 9.4 points and 6 rebounds, but the Whites’ people chose to replace him with Ognjen Kuzmic. Hunter will make CSKA’s frontline stronger and more athletic, he will provide solutions in offense through his game in the pick-and-roll and above the rim, while together with Kyle Hines they will form a duo that will conjure up Olympiacos.
8. Marcelinho Huertas (Baskonia)
A return to familiar grounds for Marcelinho Huertas, who, after two years in the NBA, will be playing in the Spanish league once again, and in fact for Baskonia, where he also played in the period 2009-2011.
The Brazilian’s choice to leave Europe to test his strengths in the best league in the world wasn’t very successful, something that can be seen from the 3.9 points and the 3.1 assists he had in a total of 76 appearances with the Lakers.
This, however, cannot reduce the 34-year-old playmaker’s value at all, as he knows the courts of the EuroLeague like few others (165 games, 8 points, 3.8 assists) and will give the Basques valuable experience, calmness, and solutions mainly in the creation and secondarily in scoring.