By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
The report from the local French newspaper “Le Progres” about ASVEL leading the EuroLeague for the Basketball Champions League and eventually for the NBA Europe project presented this path as a strategic choice by the club.
However, ASVEL is also already in danger of being expelled from the EuroLeague for not meeting the financial demands of having an A License.
Per Eurohoops sources, ASVEL has not been able to meet the minimum for player salaries as set by the new Financial Fair Play, which should be €5.85M, or 30% of the average defined revenue of the A licensed clubs.
According to the official data published by the French LNB, ASVEL’s salary cost is €4.55M, well below the number that the EuroLeague demands from its clubs/ shareholders.
This translates to EuroLeague sanctions for ASVEL and also gives the league the right to expel the club, or the shareholders could decide not to invite them to extend the license. The matter has already been discussed in the recent EuroLeague board.
So, one way or another, what’s certain is that ASVEL seems to be near its EuroLeague exit with the license of the club expiring this summer and no new contract signed yet.
Meanwhile, Tony Parker has publicly announced his intention to become a head coach in the NBA, a move that has intensified the rumors of his intention to sell the club, or at least a majority ownership share.