After the first transfer mania on the European market, I want to take a look at the current roster situation of the Euroleague teams. Of course, right now, you cannot tell how the teams will perform this season as the squads have not been fixed, but let’s take a first look at who did what in the market.
Maccabi Tel Aviv
The Israeli powerhouse and Euroleague finalist has already made some significant changes to its roster, with the most important perhaps the signing of new coach Effi Birenboim. The team has also lost some of its icons in Nikola Vujcic and Will Bynum, while big names leaving the team are David Bluthenthal and of course Terrence Morris.
On the recruiting side, the big names are still missing but the signings could be defined as thought-out moves. The backcourt will see some local names added in Dror Haggag, Jason Williams and especially Tre Simmons. In the paint, Yaniv Green, D’Or Fisher and the highly spectacular Rodney White will try to make Nikola Vujcic history. Still, the team is missing some quality starting point guards and much of the Yellows’ Euroleague future will be linked to such a signing.
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Olympiacos Piraeus
The Reds have made some tremendous signings so far. And for the moment, the new players look like the management together with coach has done some research beyond just checking out the names. Vujcic may be ageing, but he is still a great inside player on the European level. He will get some support from young Zoran Erceg in the paint.
But the addition of Theo Papaloukas was the deal thus far for the team from Piraeus. With his return to Greece, Theo gives the fans high hopes of a Final Four qualification after so many years. And the possible signing of NBA player Josh Childress would give Piraeus one of the most amazing backcourts in Europe.
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Unicaja Malaga
The team from Southern Spain is currently signing players, but they still don’t have a coach — something that has already caused Sergio Scariolo, who saw players arrive on his team that were not his choice, much trouble. And it doesn’t look like this will change for the new head coach.
Omar Cook and Robert Archibald are the two only players that will come to Malaga so far, but the management should seriously try to find a coach within the next few days in order to prepare the new season. Rumors say that Aito could be the new name on the bench, but this won’t be official until after the Beijing Olympics.
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Cibona Zagreb
The Croats have been extremely quiet on the transfer market so far, but this is not at all a surprise. With the limited financial possibilities in Zagreb, big names cannot be expected to come to Croatia and play in the Euroleague. At least with Velimir Perasovic the team has found a good successor to Ivan Sunara, who has left the team.
Robert Troha and Branimir Longin are the only names officially added to the roster to this point, but rumors that Cibona could sign some European veterans later in the market when the prices have dropped are circulating. With the current race to see who can write the most zeros on a paycheck underway, Cibona management naturally cannot keep up. Additionally, we may see also top talent Tomislav Zubcic with the professional team this season.
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Le Mans-Sarthe Basket
The French team is recruiting heavily for their final year of the three-year deal to enter the Euroleague after winning the French Championship in 2006. With new head coach J.D. Jackson, the club’s philosophy goes away from giving playing time to young French prospects, as guys like Nicolas Batum or Yannick Bokolo will leave the club to be replaced by Euroleague-experienced players.
Dee Spencer and David Bluthenthal will be the expected scoring leaders for the French team and should be good choices for a team that will compete to move to the next round. On the other hand, with Maleye N’Doye and Pape Badiane, Le Mans has two good defenders to help the aforementioned scorers in doing the dirty work. Another good signing in the paint and the core of the team is set.
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Air Avellino
The Italians are the Chorale de Roannes of this year’s Euroleague as they even struggle to find an adequate place to play home games. Except the signing of Chris Warren, new head coach Zare Markovski could only announce the addition of the Italian backup PG Daniele Cinciarini from Biella.
Market rumors tell of possible additions with more well-known Euroleague names, but management knows it cannot to offer the salaries that these players are currently asking for. So I think that Air Avellino won’t announce any spectacular moves in the future and will probably try some rookies coming out of college.
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