In this brand new edition of the International hoops rumors roundup, we’re going to analyze the major moves that happened overseas during the recent few weeks. Additionally, we are going to examine what could happen in the coming months in the main competitions in Europe and in the rest of the world. As usual, let’s start with the Euroleague, wherein the last few weeks several former NBA players have found a new home.
Euroleague
After losing the race to land Scottie Wilbekin, Turkish side Anadolu Efes finally found their starting point guard for the next season by signing former Boston Celtic Shane Larkin, as we anticipated a few weeks ago. The point guard, who averaged 4.3 points per game in NBA last season, signed a one-year contract with the Turkish side worth around 1.8 mln euros, a source told Def Pen Hoops. After finding their point guard, Anadolu Efes signed their new big man and another former NBA player: German center Tibor Pleiss, who spent the 2015-16 season with the Utah Jazz. Pleiss spent last season with Valencia Basket in ACB. With Anadolu Efes, he will be coached again by Ergin Ataman, who already mentored him with Galatasaray a few years ago. The German big man signed a one-year contract with an option to extend the deal for another season.
Russian powerhouse CSKA Moscow was able to navigate the rumors and made a couple of under the radar moves. Coach Dimitris Itoudis found a new stretch forward in former Phoenix Sun Alec Peters, who signed a one-year deal. Then, they added former Milwaukee Bucks big man Joel Bolomboy, signing him to a three-year contract. Bolomboy, who has Ukrainian passport, has been a target for CSKA Moscow in the last few years and coach Itoudis was enthusiastic about his addition:
“We’ve been following Joel for quite a long time. It is important that he also wishes to play for the Russian national team and develop as a player in the CSKA environment.”
The summer has been full of rumors for Turkish side Fenerbahce. After the departure of their main sponsor, Dogus, the new president of the team, Ali Koc, admitted that the team has still a debt that needs to be repaid. The amount of the debt is still unclear. With a financial situation like this one, Fenerbahce lost both Brad Wanamaker and James Nunnally, who signed deals in the NBA with the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves, respectively. For their PG position, Fenerbahce decided to sign Tyler Ennis to a two-year deal. Ennis spent last season with the Los Angeles Lakers, averaging 4.1 points and 1.9 assists per game. Greek side Panathinaikos brought back former Sacramento Kings lottery pick Georgios Papagiannis, who signed a five-year deal with the Greens. After a disappointing experience in NBA, Papagiannis hopes to revitalize his basketball career in the team where he grew up as a prospect.
Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv took the NBA route and signed big man Johnny O’Bryant, who spent most of last season with the Charlotte Hornets. Now, Maccabi is looking for another big man and a wing. One of their targets is Darrun Hilliard, a source told Def Pen Hoops. Hilliard played 14 games with the San Antonio Spurs last season and began his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons.
For Darussafaka, another Turkish side who will compete in Euroleague next season, the last few weeks have been terrible. The team formerly coached by David Blatt lost one of the main additions of their summer, Jordan Loyd. The guard has signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors and opted out of his deal with the Turkish team. Stanton Kidd, another key contributor in last seasons Eurocup success for Darussafaka, may leave the team for the NBA. The Utah Jazz would love to sign the wing to a two-way contract, but Kidd has another year left on his contract with Darussafaka. The two sides are currently negotiating, a source told Def Pen Hoops. Cuban wing Howard Sant-Roos has moved to Greek side AEK Athens, opening another hole in Darussafaka’s roster.
Eurocup
After weeks of conflicting rumors, Galatasaray started their transfer market with a big bang. In just a couple of days, the Turkish team announced the signing of New Zealand point guard Tai Webster, who recently played a great season in Germany, as well as American/Greek big man Zach Auguste and Hungarian wing Jaka Klobucar. But Galatasaray’s summer is far from over. According to Def Pen Hoops sources, the Turkish side is now expected to finalize deals with two former NBA players: guard Aaron Harrison and forward Nigel Hayes. Harrison played nine games with the Dallas Mavericks last season, while Hayes played for three different teams in his rookie season: the Lakers, Raptors, and Kings.
Russian side Lokomotiv Kuban is building a very competitive team and just a few days ago they made another major addition with the signing of former Brooklyn Nets guard Isaiah Whitehead. In the past few weeks, Kuban also signed veteran forward Dorell Wright, Polish swingman Mateusz Ponitka and big men Jamel McLean and JaJuan Johnson.
Another very competitive team for the Eurocup title is Croatian side KK Cedevita, who made a couple of very interesting moves in the last few weeks. Cedevita signed American guard Justin Cobbs, who recently played a solid season in France. Additionally, Spanish power forward Pablo Aguilar, American wing James Bell, who won Eurocup with Darussafaka last season, and Brazilian big man Augusto Lima joined Cedetiva. With Spanish head coach Sito Alonso on the bench, KK Cedevita has quickly become one of the most intriguing teams for the upcoming Eurocup season.
Last but not least, another former NBA face has joined a Eurocup team. We’re talking about big man Jeff Withey, who signed a one-year deal with Turkish side Tofas Bursa.
Chinese League (CBA)
Rumors have been swirling around in China throughout the last few weeks. Rumors say that NBA big man Trevor Booker is expected to sign a deal with Shanxi Brave Dragons after spending eight seasons in the NBA. Another former NBA player, Jared Sullinger, has re-signed in China for another season, staying at his current club, the Shenzen Leopards. Former Indiana Pacers guard Joe Young will get his first experience overseas after signing a one-year deal with Chinese side Nanjing Tongxi Monkey King. Young averaged 3.9 points per game with the Pacers last season. Additionally, Adreian Payne is expected to sign a deal with the same team as Joe Young.
NBA veteran Brandon Bass will remain in China next season. The big man re-signed with Liaoning, where he averaged 21 points and 9.5 rebounds per game last season. One of the most coveted free agents in the European market, former Hawk Malcolm Delaney, has also penned a deal in China with Guangdong. Delaney turned down proposals from Turkish sides Fenerbahce and Anadolu Efes, a source told Def Pen Hoops. After several rumors about his future, former Lakers draftee Andrew Goudelock will play in China next season. He signed a one-year deal with Shandong Golden Stars, the team announced.
That’s it for international hoops free agency roundup number three. Stay tuned for another installment as more news rolls out overseas.
