The top 50 free agents of the EuroLeague and the four basses

The 2022/23 EuroLeague season came to an end on Sunday night (21/5), with Real Madrid triumphing over Olympiakos at the Zalgirio Arena. On Lithuanian soil, basketball fans saw a high-level spectacle, while the players of the League’s organizations had discussions after discussions with agents in view of the next season.

The national championships are entering their final stretch and apart from the trophies, the next contract, the next stage of their career is also on the minds of many players. This year’s market has a lot of talent, the pool from which teams will draw athletes is huge and the SPORT24 highlights the top 50 free agents.

This pool will probably include several more basketball players who have an asterisk next to their names (options of their own or of the teams they play for), but for now, their future is not clear and that’s why we leave them out of the discussion. This category includes athletes such as Isaiah Kanan – Alec Peters of Olympiakos, for whom the Piraeus will have to decide by mid-July.

Non-EuroLeague players are not listed, such as those who stood out in the VTB League (Darryl Macon, Nikola Milutinov, Jalen Reynolds, Toma Ertel, Louis Lampeiri, Marcos Knight, Jalen Burford) or in the EuroCup and Basketball Champions League.

The guards that stand out

From Maoto Lo to Rodrigue Beaubois to Dante Exum, the list of available guards is long. It’s just that many free agents probably won’t change teams or countries. Kostas Sloukas, for example, will hardly leave Olympiacos, while it will be a huge surprise if Sergio Rodriguez does not sign a new deal with Real Madrid.

In addition to those you have already read, free will be Elijah Bryant of Anadolu Efes, Pieria Henry of Baskonia, Kyle Curic of Barcelona, ​​Darun Hilliard of Maccabi del Aviv, James Nunnally and Kevin Pader of Partizan, Rudy Fernandez and Real Madrid’s Nigel Williams-Goss, Virtus’ Milos Teodosic and Kyle Wims, Villeurbanne’s Retin Obasohan, Fenerbahce’s Carsen Edwards and Bayern’s Corey Walden.

The half-heights that make the difference

In positions 2-3 there are also athletes who will leave their teams only by… a miracle, with Kostas Papanikolaou being the most characteristic example. Armani Milano’s Savon Shields is a game-changer, as is Baskonia’s Rokas Giedraitis.

Free and beautiful are Red Star’s Ognien Dobrich, Panathinaikos’ Mateus Ponitka, Real Madrid’s Adam Hanga and Armani Milano’s seasoned Gigi Datome.

Tall for every taste and every wallet

The position that offers the most options is that of the center. Many can play in 4-5, some in 5-4, but certainly teams can have first goals and several alternatives.

Free from Alba Berlin (eliminated in the quarter-finals of the German league) are the multi-tool Luke Sikma, Ben Lammers and the beast Christ Koumaji. Timor Pleiss (Anatolu Efes), Donatas Motiejunas (Monaco), Steven Enoch (Basconia), Filip Petrusev (Red Star), Sertac Sanli (Barcelona), Mike Tobey (Barcelona), Othello Hunter (Bayern), Augustin Rubit (Bayern) are players who can find a contract.

And the list goes on: Devin Booker (Fenerbahce), Josh Niebo (Maccabi Tel Aviv), Joel Boloboi (Olympic), Tarik Black (Olympic), Giorgos Papagiannis (Panathinaikos), Matias Lessor (Partizan), Jacques LeDay (Partizan), Jordan Miki (Virtus), Mam Jaite (Virtus), Ismael Bako (Virtus), Akile Polonara (Zalgiris), Ben Bedil (Red Star), Kyle Hines (Armani Milano), Bryant Dunston (Anatolu Efes) are all free agents.

The four basses

We’ve left for last four cases of players who won’t be too expensive, can ideally fill out the rosters of teams looking to make a championship, and offer specific things with their style of play.

Alba’s Luis Olidi is a valuable forward for the 3-4. He is only 25 years old with significant experience, he is long (2m.05), while this year he shot 39% on three-pointers and had 8.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per 22:19 in 27 games.

Monaco’s Yacouba Ouattara is unlikely to leave Monte Carlo, but surely at 31 he will want a bigger role than the 11 minutes he played this year. Great defender, tough guy, shooting 41.4% from three in two seasons in the EuroLeague.

Nicolas Brussino of Gran Canaria is 30 years old, 2m.00 tall and this year he recorded 9.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per 22:13 in 20 EuroCup matches. Shooter (39.4%), opens the court impressively as a substitute forward.

Petr Corneli did not have an important role at Real and at 28 he is looking for something more. He averaged 5.8 points per 14:33 in 33 EuroLeague games, is 2’11, plays both the 4 and 5 and shot 39.5% from the perimeter.