By Nikos Varlas/ varlas@eurohoops.net
As Eurohoops reported one week ago, Thomas Heurtel is the new addition of the Turkish team. The final announcement is a mere formality for a contract between the club and the player until 2017 which also includes an NBA out in summer 2016.
The financial difficulties of Laboral Kutxa forced the team to sell one of its best players and after the visit to Istanbul of the club for the game against Galatasaray, there’s also a deal between Anadolu Efes and Baskonia. So no matter if Laboral Kutxa gets to the Top16, Heurtel will go to Istanbul for a deal which in total will pay him 2,5 m. dollars. Under Euroleague rules Heurtel will have the right to play with his new team after the end of the regular season, that’s why the official announcement is expected at the end of December before the start of Top16.
With his addition and the return of Krstic and Osman, Anadolu Efes has the potential to became a real contender for the Euroleague title, having one of the most complete and young rosters in competition. It remains to be seen if Baskonia will add an other player, or if newcomer Mike James is practically the replacement of Heurtel.