By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The NBA free agency will kick off on July 1st. Teams might be looking towards Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, and other available NBA stars, but Europeans will have their part in the proceedings as well. Eurohoops took on the hard task of picking the Top 10 European free agents without leaving out some honorable mentions that did not make the cut.
The list does not include two marquee names, Toronto’s Marc Gasol and Miami’s Goran Dragic. Both of them have elected to use their option and remain with the Raptors and the Heat respectively for one more year.
Nikola Vucevic
NBA teams: Philadelphia 76ers, Orlando Magic
2018-19 stats: 20.8 pts, 12 reb, 3.8 ast, 1.1 blk, 1 stl
The Orlando Magic definitely want to keep Nikola Vucevic around, but their desire might not be enough. On July 1st, the 28-year-old Montenegrin center will become a free agent and will be available for every NBA team.
Fresh off his first All-Star nod, Vucevic is able and ready to lead any NBA side to success. Last season, his seventh with the Magic, he helped his team clinch a Playoffs spot for the first time since 2012.
The USC alumni, 16th pick overall in the 2011 NBA draft, is a dominating force in the paint, offensively and defensively. Any team that secures his services, will certainly profit massively.
Ricky Rubio
NBA teams: Minnesota Timberwolves, Utah Jazz
2018-19 stats: 12.7 pts, 6.1 ast, 3.6 reb, 1.3 stl
Back in 2009, Ricky Rubio was the fifth pick of the NBA draft. Ten years later he is set to become a free agent on July 1st following his strong 2018-19 campaign with the Utah Jazz.
The Spaniard point guard was traded to the Jazz a couple of summer ago and has since improved offensively without letting his creative touch slide. Teams are already lining up to add him and he seems ready to pick the best option.
With 509 NBA matches under his belt including 11 postseason affairs, Rubio is an established NBA point guard able to contribute for any organization. His added experience only makes him an even more attractive target.
Bojan Bogdanovic
NBA teams: Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers
2018-19 stats: 18 pts, 4.1 reb, 2 ast
Bojan Bogdanovic has already played for three different teams in his first five NBA campaigns and might be up for his fourth even though the Indiana Pacers are planning to retain him. The reality is that the Croatian swingman is among the 2019 class of free agents.
Coming off his strongest NBA season yet, the 30-year-old will be able to talk with teams of his choosing after July 1st. His ability to help in different areas of the court will definitely be on the agenda of the sides that knock on his door.
Bogdanovic scored a career-high 18 points per Regular Season game last season and followed up with exactly 18 per match as well in the Playoffs. His steadily improving offensive touch is also showcased by his 42.5% from three-point range.
Jonas Valanciunas
NBA teams: Toronto Raptors, Memphis Grizzlies
2018-19 stats: 15.6 pts, 8.6 reb, 1.4 ast, 1.1 blk
Jonas Valanciunas was with the Toronto Raptors since the beginning of the 2012-13 season, but was traded a few months before his previous side won the NBA Championship. He missed out on the historic title, but is set to become a free agent following his short stint with the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Lithuanian big averaged 12.8 points and 7.2 rebounds in 30 games with the Raptors this past season and followed up with 19.9 points and 10.7 boards per contest with the Grizzlies. He certainly will be among the top targets for any NBA team looking to add size ahead of the 2019-20 Regular Season.
Tomas Satoransky
NBA teams: Washington Wizards
2018-19 stats: 8.9 pts, 5.0 ast., 3.5 reb
The Washington Wizards extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent Tomas Satoransky and will have the final say regarding where he’s going to play next season. If the Czech guard receives any offers from other NBA clubs, the Wizards can match them and keep him on board. Thus, it will all come down on what proposals will the player have and if Washington can afford to present an equal bid.
Satoransky comes off the most productive season of his three-year career. He saw his minutes increased and his role getting upgraded due to John Wall’s season-ending surgery and proceeded to register career-high averages in all statistical categories.
Nikola Mirotic
NBA teams: Chigaco Bulls, New Orleans Pelicans, Milwaukee Bucks
2018-19 stats: 15.2 pts, 7.4 rebs 1.2 ast
After spending the second part of the season with the Milwaukee Bucks and playing in a Conference Finals for the first time in his career, Mirotic will become an unrestricted free agent on July 1st. It’s rather doubtful that the Bucks will pursue continuing with the player since the team’s priority is retaining free agents Khris Middleton and Malcolm Brogdon.
Mirotic was acquired by the Bucks to provide some necessary floor-spacing for Giannis Antetokounmpo to be more able to run his game. His shooting skills could be appealing to any club looking a big guy that can stretch the court. According to Tony Jones of The Athletic, Mirotic is a “possibility” for the Utah Jazz.
Boban Marjanovic
NBA teams: San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, L.A. Clippers, Philadelphia 76ers
2018-19 stats: 7.3 pts, 4.6 reb, 0.9 ast.
“I should, almost 90 percent, stay in Philadelphia but that’s not known yet, just speculation. It was nice for me there, so why not,” Marjanovic said earlier in June. The Serbian center will have to wait a bit to find out he will remain a Sixers and play alongside best buddy Tobias Harris since the team’s focus is to re-sign Jimmy Butler. Possibly to a max deal.
Marjanovic has been commented not only for how he towers over his opponents on the court but also for his attitude. He’s the kind of player who will never complain about his role, even when he receives much less playing time than what he may deserve. In a team like Philadelphia with many strong personalities, his type of character is much-much needed.
Ivica Zubac
NBA teams: L.A. Lakers, L.A. Clippers
2018-19 stats: 8.9 pts, 6.1 reb, 1.1 ast.
It would make sense for the L.A. Clippers to keep unrestricted free agent Ivica Zubac. At 22 year of age, the Croatian center carries the experience of three NBA seasons and has plenty of potential left untapped and skills to be unlocked. Like, maybe 3-point shooting?
The Clippers actually loved landing him via a trade with the L.A. Lakers in February. Lakers legend Jerry West was reported to “laugh” at his former team sending them Zubac.
Zubac’s playing time with the Clippers was improved and so did his averages. He also earned the praise of his teammates. Like Patrick Beverley who said: “I didn’t know Zu was that good until he came over here. He’s a big piece of what we’re trying to do over here.”
Furkan Korkmaz
NBA teams: Philadelphia 76ers
2018-19 stats: 5.8 pts, 2.2 reb, 1.1 ast.
Furkan Korkmaz struggled with injury problems and further frustration due to the lack of sufficient playing time in his first two seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers. The Turkish wing had multiple G-League assignments and ended up totaling 55 appearances with the Sixers.
During the 2019 free agency, Korkmaz will look to exhaust all possible opportunities of landing a contract with an NBA team and rekindle his attempts of establishing himself in the league. A team that is looking for a long 3-and-D option to help off the bench may turn its gaze at what Korkmaz can bring to the table.
Mario Hezonja
NBA teams: Orlando Magic, New York Knicks
2018-19 stats: 8.8 pts, 4.1 rebs, 1.5 ast.
After spending one season in New York, Mario Hezonja feels quite at home with the Knicks. How much? Enough to say such things as “I’m ready to talk to [owner Jim] Dolan. If he gives me that call on July 1, we’re done,” per the New York Daily News.
Hezonja delivered in the last stretch of the 2019-20 when he was asked to operate also as a ball handler, and he might pick it up from there next season. He is definitely ready and willing to re-sign with the Knicks and possibly have more moments like that game-winning block on Lebron James. However, the team’s free agency priority will be to sign two superstars so the Croatian forward may have to wait after July 1st for that call.
Honorable mentions
Players like Kosta Koufos, Dragan Bender, Jonas Jerebko, Tyler Dorsey, Joakim Noah, Jose Calderon, Zaza Pachulia, Thabo Sefolosha will also be free agents on July 1st. They did not make our Top 10, but will attract attention from various NBA sides.
Koufos, 30, completed his eleventh NBA season averaging 3.7 points and 4.2 rebounds with the Sacramento Kings.
Bender, 21, pending restricted free agent, had 5 points, 4 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game in his third NBA campaign with the Phoenix Suns.
Jerebko, 32, joined the Golden State Warriors for his ninth NBA season and averaged 6.3 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists.
Dorsey, 23, split his second NBA campaign between the Atlanta Hawks and the Memphis Grizzlies. He notched 3.3 points per game before his trade and later added 9.8 points per contest.
Noah, 34, played in 42 games with the Memphis Grizzlies during his 12th NBA campaign. He averaged 7.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.3 blocks per match.
Calderon, 37, marked his 14th NBA season with 2.3 points, 2.3 assists and 1.2 rebounds per match with the Detroit Pistons.
Pachulia, 35, moved to the Detroit Pistons for his 16th NBA season and posted 3.9 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game.
Sefolosha, 35, went for 3.8 points and 2.5 rebounds per match in his 13th NBA campaign, his second with the Utah Jazz.