The NBA offseason is basically over and most of the luxurious roster spots on European and Chinese teams have been filled. That leaves us with a modest number of players that moved in late August. You are more than welcome to check out other major transactions of the busy offseason.
Brandon Jennings – Zenit (Russia)
With players re-signing in bunches in China, the European market has gained some traction recently. Without a doubt, the biggest news of recent weeks came from Russia. Nine-year NBA veteran Brandon Jennings decided to come back to Europe for the first time in ten years. He was one of the few high schoolers in recent decades that started their pro careers overseas, completely skipping the college circuit. This time around, Jennings won’t see Euroleague action. However, Zenit St. Petersburg is considered one of the main contenders to win Eurocup this season. The St. Petersburg side will obviously fight for a Euroleague spot through the Russian VTB League too.
This season might be crucial for Jennings. His stint in China was cut short due to his NBA comeback campaign. He earned a place on the Milwaukee Bucks roster through their G League affiliate but was limited to only 15 minutes per game. Brandon once again struggled with his shooting (37.5 field goal percentage) and wasn’t a factor in the playoffs. Can he bounce back in Russia? He’s got all the tools with needed experience playing overseas. However, he won’t be back in America soon as European season is stretched all the way to June. Don’t be surprised if he gets Eurocup or VTB League MVP, though. He’s got the skill.
Tarik Black – Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel)
Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv desperately wants to enter Euroleague playoffs this upcoming season. The signing of Tarik Black boosts their chances. The former member of Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets will test the European waters for the first time in his career. Black will be added to a frontcourt that already consists of Alex Tyus and fellow NBA veteran Johnny O’Bryant. Maccabi has enough firepower at the guard positions, so Black won’t be asked to carry a massive offensive load. His freakish athleticism will be enough to crash the boards and stop the likes of Jan Vesely and Kyle Hines.
Jamil Wilson – Torino (Italy)
Unlike many players on a two-way contract, Jamil Wilson was pretty solid in games for his main team. He averaged seven points per game for the Los Angeles Clippers and was considered one of the most efficient players in the category of two-way players. However, the Clippers released the forward in January to sign another notable two-way contract guy, Tyron Wallace. Wilson found a way to finish the season in Italy, the only European country he ever played in.
It’s also important to note that he will represent Torino for the second in time in his career. The team that is still buzzing in Europe lost some players this summer for various reasons, including Royce White, Tony Carr, and Tra Holder. Larry Brown received a great replacement in Wilson though. He should be an outstanding shooter in Europe.
Aaron Harrison – Galatasaray (Turkey)
With Fenerbahce gone quiet after acquiring major pieces, the Turkish market failed to produce any formidable news waves. Galatasaray was one of the few exceptions. The Istanbul powerhouse signed a Kentucky product who failed to find his niche in the NBA so far. Aaron Harrison went undrafted in 2015 and spent limited time in the G League before finally appearing under the spotlight in Dallas last season. It wasn’t necessarily a pleasant experience considering his gruesome shooting numbers (27.5 field goal percentage), but at least Aaron was a part of Mavericks rotation by the end of the season. He will definitely play a bigger role in Galatasaray alongside Nigel Hayes and Tai Webster, which will likely help along his career.
Mangok Mathiang – Cremona (Italy)
Mangok Mathiang is another undrafted journeyman from a major college program. The former Louisville Cardinal spent his first season in pros on a two-way contract with the Charlotte Hornets. He made it to the end of the season but appeared in only four NBA games. Mangok failed to produce any relevant numbers in the Las Vegas Summer League this past summer, which is why he was finally released by the Hornets. The Italian league is good enough competition to rejuvenate his career, especially for an undersized center that struggled with average NBA competition.
Marquis Teague – Jeonju (Korea)
Being an NCAA champion and a younger brother of respected NBA veteran isn’t enough to hold on to an NBA contract. Marquis Teague went through all possible shortcomings in his brief NBA career and was forced to play overseas multiple times. However, it was the G League where he found some kind of a rhythm with the Memphis Hustle. Memphis, the team that was one of the major disappointments last season, gave him an opportunity to appear on some NBA box scores. But unlike MarShon Brooks, Teague wasn’t able to produce any fireworks. Unsurprisingly, the next chapter of his career will unfold in a minor Asian league. It’s too early to call him a complete bust though.
Jeremy Evans – Darussafaka (Turkey)
The peak of Jeremy Evans’ career has nothing to do with competitive basketball. His creativity and extreme athleticism helped him to bring home the 2012 Slam Dunk contest trophy. But outside of his flashy dunks, Evans hasn’t possessed any advanced tools to stay relevant in the league. He never developed a middle-range shot, and his three-point game is pretty much nonexistent at this date. After six NBA seasons, he was released by Atlanta. Jeremy then signed a promising deal with Russian powerhouse Khimki, but soon after the start of the 2016-17 season, he was injured and never came back to action. His second shot at Euroleague should be more productive. Darussafaka will definitely need his athletic abilities to get an additional win or two.
James Webb – Bonn (Germany)
German Bundesliga is not considered a premium European domestic league. Nevertheless, the league has successfully produced exceptional homegrown talents. Dennis Schroder, Daniel Theis, Paul Zipser are just the top of the pyramid. American players in search of a comeback season are more than welcomed, too. Darius Miller is the latest successful case. James Webb wasn’t lucky enough to secure a contract with a Euroleague side, but he still will be tested in decent Basketball Champions League.
That’s it for round three of the NBA offseason overseas deals! Be sure to check out our Rumors Roundup to stay updated on every major move in overseas basketball.
