By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Asked about another potential addition to the Olympiacos roster, following the signing of Monte Morris on Wednesday, head coach Giorgos Bartzokas reacted with a huge smile.
“Mercy!” he said, laughing, replying to a question on reports about the Reds also looking into strengthening the paint ahead of the next challenges in the 2025-26 journey. “You have been asking me for so long. Now we’ve got him, and you are continuing?”
“We’ve been looking for a player for a long time. We wanted to get a player with the characteristics that this player has, a playmaker who is a floor manager. We wanted another player like that because we believe we have a lot of scoring on the perimeter with the players we have, but our big guys and forwards are all good offensive players. And we need another player who will guide us, who will pass to the open player,” he mentioned in a media session at the Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, before a trip to face FC Barcelona in Palau Blaugrana on Friday.
“Those are characteristics that Morris more or less has,” continued 60-year-old Bartzokas, “Now we have to see, of course, in what kind of condition he’s in because he’s had over a month to play, I think, since he played the last game with the Pacers, and he definitely needs some time. But, OK, we know that and we’re expecting it.”
“I think every addition will help us. He was chosen by our coach, along with the club. To tell you the truth, I don’t have a very clear picture. We remember him five or six years ago when he was in Denver. We will help him, and I’m sure he will help us too,” said 30-year-old forward Sasha Vezenkov on his new teammate.
Entering Round 15 of the EuroLeague Regular Season, the Greek side carries an 8-5 record, which is tied with Fenerbahce Beko in seventh place, 1.5 games away from leader Hapoel IBI Tel Aviv.