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By Lefteris Moutis/ moutis@eurohoops.net
The “European borders” for the NBA opened in the early ‘90s and after the boom in the early ‘00s, every summer many European players travel overseas and many of them have a great career in the best league in the world. So who has the best chances to play in the NBA next season among the Euroleague stars?
Eurohoops chooses the Top 10 of the Euroleague players who are closer to the NBA according to their skills, the interest from NBA teams, their age and their contract’s clauses. For example we could include to this list also Bogdan Bogdanovic but he signed with Fenerbahce last summer a contract without any NBA out clauses for this year. He has many chances to make it, but not this summer.
In our Top 10 there aren’t American players who spend their season in the Euroleague because it’s hard to predict who may get a really good offer from an NBA team and come back home. Almost every American has the return to the States in his mind, but almost everybody recognizes that they will earn more money in Europe.
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[lptitle title=”Dario Saric (Anadolu Efes)”]
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Drafted 2014 No.12 (Orlando Magic) NBA rights owners: Philadelphia 76ers
He was considered as one of the biggest European prospects since his “childhood”. Sixers picked Saric last summer, he has a great season in the highest level of the European basketball with Efes but it’s unlikely to leave Turkey earlier than the summer of 2016. The Croatian forward signed a three-year deal with Efes last June and despite his quotes about the NBA – “I will play in Philadelphia. I am not a liar. I think we can talk about that to my Turkish team after this season” – he will probably travel later overseas. He explained it clearly: “I think it was the best route for me, to stay two years in Europe, to get more experience, and bring my basketball to another level”.
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[lptitle title=”Nemanja Bjelica (Fenerbahce)”]
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Drafted 2010 No. 35 Washington Wizards NBA rights owners: Minnesota Timberwolves
Nemanja Bjelica was drafted at his 22 years of age when he was still a talent and not a top class all-around player. Wolves have his NBA rights and watched him a lot during this season. His contract with Fenerbahce ends the summer of 2016, but don’t exclude the possibility to leave Turkey if he gets a very good offer in few months. He hasn’t the usual skills that the NBA teams love in Europeans but his basketball IQ can be more than appreciated.
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[lptitle title=”Alex Abrines (Barcelona)”]
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Drafted 2013 No. 32 Oklahoma City Thunder
This is his first season as a starter in a top class Euroleague team and he is doing pretty well. He’s athletic, has the instinct of a scorer and can be compared to Rudy Fernandez. All these years with Barcelona, he has grown up steadily and at his 21 years of age, he isn’t considered any more as a prospect. He’s a starter and from now on he can start thinking the next step. His contract ends in the summer of 2016.
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[lptitle title=”Mario Hezonja (Barcelona)”]
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Undrafted
He’s just 19 years old and the only undrafted player in this list. The NBA scouts follow him during the last years but he wants to become a leader with Barcelona and then move to the NBA. This summer he’s expected to be selected and probably he will think again his career overseas. This is his first season in the top European level and he has all the skills to make a career in the NBA.
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[lptitle title=”Davis Bertans (Laboral Kutxa)”]
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Drafted 2011 No. 42 Indiana Pacers NBA rights owners: San Antonio Spurs
He was drafted when he was 19 years old, four years ago, but all these years he didn’t prove that he deserved a place in an NBA team. Until his movement to Laboral Kutxa after signing a contract until the summer of 2017. The Latvian forward was a “sleeper” but he’s also a proven sharp shooter; doesn’t afraid to take responsibilities and lately Spurs watch him closely.
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[lptitle title=”Tomas Satoransky (Barcelona)”]
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Drafted 2012 No. 32 Washington Wizards
The Czech guard was drafted during his years with Sevilla and last summer made the big step by his transfer to Barcelona. Satoransky has many ups and downs during his rookie season in the Euroleague as back-up to Huertas but he has many chances to continue his career in the NBA. He’s a tall guard, runs well the court and Wizards can call him soon. His contract ends in the summer of 2016.
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[lptitle title=”Tibor Pleiss (Barcelona)”]
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Drafted 2010 No. 31 (New Jersey Nets) NBA rights owners: Oklahoma City Thunder
He’s 26 years old and last summer he could move to the NBA as he wanted during his break-out season last year with Laboral Kutxa. However, the Basques sold him to Barcelona and his NBA dream was delayed. As the “basketball law” says: “The big men grow up later”. So, it’s sure that Oklahoma City Thunder will express again their interest. Pleiss’ contract with Barcelona ends in the summer of 2016, so in few months his move to the NBA can make happy all the parts of the deal.
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[lptitle title=”Alessandro Gentile (Milan)”]
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Drafted 2014 No. 53 Minnesota Timberwolves NBA rights owners: Houston Rockets
Alessandro Gentile has many skills that the NBA teams are fond of. He is a pure scorer, is still young and took the responsibility to take a leadership role in his top class team, Milan, despite his age (22). Last summer he was thinking of moving but eventually he signed a new three-year contract with the Italian champs which includes an NBA buy out. Rockets have three players from Europe and maybe they will invite him to expand the international community.
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[lptitle title=”Ante Tomic (Barcelona)”]
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Drafted 2008 No. 44 Utah Jazz
If a player has been drafted back in 2008 and still plays in Europe, it would be a surprise to get an offer from an NBA team now. But that doesn’t apply to Ante Tomic. He’s 27 years old; he is one of the best big men in Euroleague and this summer he will have one of his last chances to make the NBA jump. Barcelona has the option to extend Tomic’ contract in few months and everything is possible.
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