By Utkan Sahin / info@eurohoops.net
The EuroLeague offseason is up and running. Players might be concentrated on domestic league competition, but looking ahead to the next campaign of Europe’s premier competition Eurohoops compiled a list with the Top 10 shooting guards who will be free agents this summer.
Note: Players with options in their contract are also included. Here’s the full FA list.
2019 EuroLeague Free Player Market: Top 10 Shooting Guards
Billy Baron (Crvena Zvezda)
Age : 29
Years of EuroLeague Career –
Statistics: 16 games: 12.9 points, 2.8 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 13.2 PIR (EuroCup)
Best Game: 20 points, 3 assists vs Galatasaray (week 10 match)
Billy Baron has left a mark with Crvena Zvezda this past season, leading the team in EuroCup and the ABA League championship.
This summer Baron will once again be a free agent. He can come to EuroLeague by re-signing with Zvezda or by signing with another EuroLeague team. Who wouldn’t want a key player like him on their team?
Michael Roll (Maccabi Tel Aviv)
Age: 30
EuroLeague career: 2 seasons – 58 matches
Statistics: 29 games: 9.1 points, 2.7 assists, 2.2 rebounds, 8.7 EFF
Best game: 23 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds vs Real Madrid (week 16 match)
Since his first transfer to EuroLeague, there has been criticism that Roll’s talent or level is not enough for it, though that’s not what brought him here. In both of his seasons in EuroLeague, he had over 40.0% in triples and makes a perfect fit for a team that’s looking for an avid shooter.
Needless to say it’s always a pleasure to watch such clever players in EuroLeague.
Nihad Dedovic (Bayern Munich)
Age : 29
EuroLeague career: 8 seasons – 110 matches
Statistics: 30 matches: 9.9 points, 2.7 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 10.0 EFF
Best Game: 18 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists vs Milano (Match 18)
The Serbian player, who has fallen back in Bayern’s rotation in the last two years, has helped the German team to have a good run in EuroLeague this season.
When we look at his performance throughout the season, he has strengthened his body for a new contract in the summer period. He stayed in Bayern when he had the right to leave after a bad performance last summer, but now he can sit at the free agency table.
Keith Langford (Panathinaikos)
Age : 35
Years – EuroLeague career: 8 seasons – 143 games
statistics: 25 matches 10.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 9.9 EFF
Best Game: 33 points, 3 rebounds vs Baskonia (week 9 match)
After a 1-year break, he returned to EuroLeague with Panathinaikos, though it was a bumpy season for Keith Langford.
In the first half of the season, the American star was part of Panathinaikos‘ group of players awaiting retirement. And it wasn’t just his age. Langford was incompatible with the team. With the signing of Pitino, the experienced guard made a good contribution in the second half of the season.
This summer he will be free. His career seems difficult to continue in Athens. The most important question is this: Is there still fuel left?
Matt Janning (Baskonia)
Age: 30
EuroLeague career: 5 seasons – 124 matches
Statistics: 28 games: 10.1 points, 1.8 assists, 2.1 rebounds, 8.4 EFF
Best Game: 20 points, 4 assists vs Anadolu Efes (week 10 match)
Although the last part of the EuroLeague season ended badly for him due to injuries, Matt Janning actually spent the best season of his career.
The departure of Beaubois gave Janning more responsibility on the offensive end with the long-lasting adaptation of Hilliard, he managed to average double-digit numbers.
Erick Green (Fenerbahce Beko)
Age / Country : 27 / US
EuroLeague career: 4 seasons – 102 games
Stats: 28 games 5.6 points, 0.8 assists, 0.8 rebounds, 5.0 EFF
Best Game: 17 points, 2 rebounds vs. Olympiacos (week 20 match)
Erick Green, who spent last season in Valencia as a champion could not find what he was expecting in Istanbul.
He joined Fenerbahce in the middle of the season. Both he and the team had difficulty in adapting. Given that his style was also a bit different than what Obradovic would expect, there were some ups and downs, though towards the end of the season he seemed to finally fall in place with the rest of the guys.
Fabien Causeur (Real Madrid)
Age / Country : 31 / France
EuroLeague Career: 8 seasons – 193 matches
Statistics: 35 matches 5.8 points, 1.4 assists, 1.7 rebounds, 5.5 EFF
Best Match: 18 points, 2 rebounds vs CSKA Moscow (semifinal match)
The season was disappointing for Fabien Causeur, one of Euroleague’s most underrated players. Doncic’s departure and Campazzo’s breakthrough, in combination with Sergio Llull’s return didn’t leave much room for the French man. It remains to be seen if he can find a team to fit his needs ahead of the new season.
Darrun Hilliard (Baskonia)
Age / Country : 26 / US
EuroLeague Career: 1 season – 34 matches
Statistics: 34 matches 9.4 points, 1.1 assists, 2.9 rebounds, 6.9 EFF
Best Match: 16 points, 3 rebounds vs CSKA Moscow (Playoff 2. match)
A player who spends his entire professional career in America may not be easy to adapt to European basketball. In fact, no matter how talented he is, this adaptation may never happen.
As in all American players, Hilliard will keep the NBA in a corner of his mind. There will be other teams of EuroLeague who will want to acquire him is he is meant to stay in Europe.