How about Juan Carlos Navarro back to the Euroleague?
This is a tricky one, but it does seem very possible, though Mario Kasun and Roko Ukic need to be factored into the equation. Roko played a great season in Rome, where his team made it all the way to the finals before losing to Montepaschi Siena. We know that the Raptors drafted him in 2005, but do they really want or need him?
Ukic currently has a contract with FC Barcelona, the team that desires the return of Juan Carlos Navarro so badly. Kasun, who has already played in the NBA for the Orlando Magic, also has another year on his contract, but Barcelona is filled with centers and is rumored to be interested in Mark Gasol as well. So why not make a package deal in which Barcelona sends Kasun and Ukic to the Memphis Grizzlies to get Juan Carlos back?
It is a possible deal, but there are too many factors inluded to make this more than rumor:
UPDATE: There goes the gossip the Carlos could make €10 million for five years with Barcelona…
Willie Solomon will join Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Willie had a great season in Turkey this past year and was one of the top players in the Euroelague. Of course, anybody would want a guy like that. And if the coach wants you, the managers and team president will try anything to get that player. Now consider: This is Maccabi Tel Aviv, who just suffered a disappointing outcome in the Final Four – they really wanted to win that trophy but there was no way past CSKA. To match up with such a team, Maccabi must acquire players like Solomon; and don’t forget, Willie also thinks about the money, not only a nice team, which Maccabi has plenty of right now. The only thing that might scare off Maccabi fans at least: Willie likes to shoot – as a point guard.
Solomon to Maccabi:
Sarunas Jasikevicius leaves PAO and joins … CSKA.
Did you really think that CSKA Moscow would keep only the coach, Smodis and Trajan Langdon, while other teams try to assemble a team to beat CSKA? Not really, right? Especially with Moscow’s type of budget, you’d want to get another player that helps your team. Now wait: At what position does CSKA need help?
Let me think … man, this is hard to find out … how about shooting guard? Well, the team just signed Russian shooting guard Victor Keyru, so that isn’t open for more signings, but a point guard might be very helpful to CSKA. We all know that they have Papaloukas, but many believe he’s past his prime. Papaloukas might be a fine leader off the court and still a great player, but Jasikevicius could be just a perfect fit.
How would that work? Sarunas’ buyout price is €250,000 – pocket change for CSKA. They could even offer Sarunas a way better contract. Since Panathinaikos had a bad season and Sarunas was coming off the bench, they might look for another more point guard-like player.
Chances of Sarunas landing in Mosocow:
Terrell McIntrye will leave Siena.
Siena management has informed the press that they do not need to have Terrell next season. Well, I would not break up a team like Siena at all, but again a scoring point guard is not that hard to find. If you have read above that Panathinaikos is in need of a PG and if Sarunas is let go, this would be the next step for Terrell – at least when it comes to money.
Terrell McIntrye leaving Siena and joining PAO: