By George Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
The summer transfer period is in full swing and most EuroLeague clubs have closed impressive deals that take their rosters to a higher level, as they do the competition itself.
There are several quality players who remain free agents but some of them have already put their signature on new contracts, the stars of the most important signings of the summer.
So, what are the 10 deals that have stood out so far? Eurohoops presents, in no particular order…
Shane Larkin (Anadolu Efes)
After a season in the NBA with the Boston Celtics, Shane Larkin returns to Europe for his second stint in the EuroLeague.
Anadolu Efes managed to close one of the biggest deals of the summer and take their backcourt on a higher level. In the 2016-2017 season, the American played in 33 European games with Baksonia and averaged 13.1 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.7 assists, being one of the protagonists on the courts.
Of course, we’re talking about a player who belongs on the top shelf and is a luxury for any team. He’s fast, he can drive, and he’s an excellent creator and scorer. Efes’s management deserves a lot of credit for what they’ve achieved during this transfer period…
Mike James (AX Armani Exchange Milan)
For several years now, Armani Milan’s management has been throwing a lot of money into the transfer market but they haven’t seen their investment bring the desired results. This year, however, there is a lot of optimism and one of the main reasons for it is the arrival of Mike James.
The American combo guard left Panathinaikos to move to Italy and, with an absolutely leading role now, lead the club to the playoffs of the EuroLeague. This task seems very difficult but Milan’s roster allows their fans to dream.
Besides, no one should forget that, aside from Mike James, among other players, Amedeo Della Valle, Jeff Brooks and, of course, Nemanja Nedovic, have also joined the team.
Chris Singleton (Barcelona)
Chris Singleton has a prominent position on the list of the top signings of the summer. How could it be any different when we’re talking about a player who plays as a 4 and shoots 46% from outside the three-point line, keeps his stats full and contributes in every area.
The American finished last season with an average of 10.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists and 1 steal in the colors of Panathinaikos and now he moves to Barcelona to continue his great performances.
Barcelona made Singleton their own by offering him 2 million dollars for the 2018-2019 season and they’re hoping that, after consecutive failed seasons, their signings will take them all the way to the Final Four and, from there, to the top.
Scottie Wilbekin (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
The cases of Maccabi Tel Aviv and Barcelona have several similarities. They are two great powers of European basketball that have been seeking for the ideal formula to return to the path of success for a few years now.
The Israelis reached deep in their pockets and acquired last season’s EuroCup MVP, who’s coming off a dream season averaging 19.7 points, 4.8 assist and 42.8% behind the three-point line.
His name was also connected to Efes, the player got close to staying in Turkey, but Maccabi was the team that agreed with Darussafaka and closed a great deal. Now, it remains to be seen whether Scottie Wilbekin will justify the trust that the management has showed him to become the Israelis’ leader.
Keith Langford (Panathinaikos)
Keith Langford is coming to Panathinaikos to cover the 2 position alongside Nikos Pappas and to do what he knows better than anyone: score!
At 35 years of age, the American is still a charismatic scorer who has won the Alphonso Ford trophy twice in his career and who has a career average of 17.1 points. In fact, in his last season in the EuroLeague (2016-2017), he scored 21.8 points per game in a total of 28 appearances in the colors of Unics Kazan and, as a result, he became the first player in the history of the competition to exceed 600 points in one season.
So, this was the main reason the Greens added to their roster a player who was born to score. Keith Langford is one of the best value-for-money transfer moves of the summer and it remains to be seen how fast he will click with Nick Calathes.
Kevin Pangos (Barcelona)
Zalgiris Kaunas had a mythical run to the Final Four and one of the players that stood out was undoubtedly Kevin Pangos. The Canadian guard cashed in his continuous progress with a transfer to Barcelona, where, alongside Thomas Heurtel, they will form one of the best duos of small players in the new season’s EuroLeague.
Under the directions of Sarunas Jasikevicius, Pangos significantly improved his game in the areas of execution and creation and, as a result, he became one of the most important players in his position in the whole of Europe. He averaged 12.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 36 games, skyrocketing his price.
It can be easily understood that, with the additions of Singleton and Pangos, Barcelona are taken to a new level.
Joffrey Lauvergne (Fenerbahce)
One era came to a close for Joffrey Lauvergne and another one begins. The French power forward/center made the decision to return to Europe after 4 years in the NBA, and Fenerbahce’s management can boast that they have made perhaps the biggest move of the summer.
At the age of 26, Lauvergne has everything that is required to have a leading role in the EuroLeague and to help Zeljko Obradovic’s squad reach a second EuroLeague trophy.
In those 4 years in the magical world, the Frenchman had a total of 208 appearances in the colors of the Nuggets, Spurs, Thunder and the Bulls, averaging 5.6 points and 3.8 rebounds. With Lauvergne, Melli, Vesely and Duverioglu, Fenerbahce have a frontline that looks scary.
Jannis Timma (Olympiacos)
Olympiacos kept their best signing for last. After just one year in Baskonia, Janis Timma became a free agent and immediately reached an agreement with the Reds as David Blatt wanted him badly.
The Latvian forward played in 33 games in the colors of the Basque team and maintained pretty good averages with 7.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 41% from outside the three-point line. These stats, however, do not reflect the player’s true skills.
David Blatt is hoping that Timma will unfold the full scope of his talent in Olympiacos and will provide great solutions in offense and defense by covering the gap created by the departure of Ioannis Papapetrou, who signed with Panathinaikos.
Rodrigue Beaubois (Anadolu Efes)
Anadolu Efes had quite a strong start to the summer transfer period since as soon as the 21st of June they had announced the acquisition of Rodrigue Beaubois. The signing may have been forgotten because it was completed early on and because several more followed for the Turkish team (Larkin, Moerman, Micic, James Anderson), but the Frenchman has proven that he can make the difference on the court.
In the last two years, the 30-year-old guard played in the colors of Baskonia and in the 2017-2018 season he averaged 12.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists with 40% in three-point shooting in a total of 33 appearances.
There’s no doubt that Rodrigue Beaubois, together with Shane Larkin, are one of the best duos of small players in the entire EuroLeague, if not the best, and it looks like Efes’s ceiling is pretty high.
Tyler Ennis (Fenerbahce)
For yet another summer, Turkish teams have a leading role in the transfer market. After closing the deal with Joffrey Lauvergne, Fenerbahce detonated yet another bomb with the acquisition of Tyler Ennis.
At the young age of 23, the Canadian guard leaves the NBA to play under the instructions of Zeljko Obradovic and to prove that he has everything that is needed to make the difference in Europe’s top club competition.
Besides, we’re talking about a player who is coming off a full season in the magical world as he played in the colors of the Los Angeles Lakers in 54 games and averaged 4.1 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Ennis has also played for the Suns, Bucks, and the Rockets, and what remains to be seen now is how fast he will adapt to the European style of play in order to contribute what he’s capable of.