By Antonis Stroggylakis/ info@eurohoops.net
Barcelona coach Sarunas Jasikevicius said that while the team isn’t actively pursuing making a transfer right now, he doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility of a new acquisition.
“Now, I’m not concerned with reinforcements,” Jasikevicius said in an interview with AS. “We are working with the players we have and we are doing well. We do not rule out a signing, but we are not looking urgently either.”
Apart from the blockbuster signing of two-time All-EuroLeague First team guard Nick Calathes, Barcelona didn’t add any other new player in the 2020 offseason. The Blaugrana instead opted to upgrade the status of youngsters Sergi Martinez and Leandro Bolmaro who received a spot on the senior team.
Bolmaro, a 2020 Draft prospect, mentioned that he won’t be moving to the NBA next season and will be fully dedicated to establishing himself with Barcelona, after signing a multiyear extension with the Catalan powerhouse.
There’s still an obvious gap on the team’s frontline following the departure of former team captain Ante Tomic. Australian center Jock Landale, who had a notable debut EuroLeague campaign under Jasikevicius on Zalgiris Kaunas last season, was rumored to be considered by Barcelona but the player is targetting an NBA contract.
Barcelona is headed to 2020-2021 aiming to win its first Spanish ACB championship title since 2014 and at least reclaim a spot in the EuroLeague Final Four after five straight absences from the tournament.
“The truth is that the players will say that I put a lot of pressure on them,” Saras said on pressure. “But it is what I also put on myself. And that’s what they should think about: doing things well, working to the maximum … I plan to give my best.”