By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
La Laguna Tenerife’s strategy to strengthen their rotation for the season’s final stretch of the 2025-26 schedule has hit a significant roadblock. The club’s deal with veteran wing Kenny Williams was officially voided after the 29-year-old failed his mandatory medical examinations. Williams, who boasts a wealth of experience with 48 Basketball Champions League appearances, was expected to provide immediate perimeter depth and defensive versatility. Instead, the former NCAA champion with North Carolina returns to the free-agent market, leaving a gap in the Canary Island-based squad that the front office must now scramble to fill.
Head coach Txus Vidorreta now faces the arduous task of resuming the search for a late-season addition while the market of available talent thins. The timing is particularly sensitive as the team enters a critical phase of the BCL Season X, powered by Ameresco SUNEL. While Tenerife remains in a strong position, the lack of an extra body on the wing could test their endurance as they juggle domestic responsibilities alongside their European ambitions. Maintaining high intensity on both ends of the floor will require a fresh set of legs that can integrate quickly into Vidorreta’s complex system.
Currently sitting at a comfortable 3-1 record in the Round of 16’s Group L, Tenerife is well-positioned to advance, yet the voided contract prevents them from solidifying their standing as true title contenders. The objective remains a deep run into the Final Four, but achieving that goal requires a fully healthy and deep roster. As the transfer deadline approaches, the pressure is on the scouting department to identify a replacement who can mirror the veteran leadership and scoring punch that Williams was intended to bring to the island.
COMUNICADO OFICIAL | Kenny Williams no supera el reconocimiento médico y no formará parte de la plantilla 25/26
ℹ https://t.co/wo4EsZsbQW pic.twitter.com/9aiQOp1tYc
— La Laguna Tenerife (@CB1939Canarias) March 3, 2026
On the brink of elimination in the same group, ERA Nymburk announced the departure of primary offensive engine, Sir’Jabari Rice, who opted to join MoraBanc Andorra in Spain’s Liga Endesa. Rice was the undisputed centerpiece of the team’s campaign, lighting up the scoreboard with an average of 18.6 points per game for the Czech champions. This exit was coupled with the prior loss of Jhamir Brickus. At 1-3 in Group L, Oren Amiel’s side faces a steep uphill battle to remain relevant in the Champions League.
Kádr nymburských basketbalistů opouští jedna z opor Sir’Jabari Rice. Vedení českých šampionů umožnilo americkému basketbalistovi přestoupit do Andorry hrající prestižní španělskou ligu. https://t.co/droxi38zik pic.twitter.com/XBD3MC54Df
— ERA Basketball Nymburk (@basketnymburk) March 3, 2026
At 2-2 in Group K, back-to-back BCL champion Unicaja will have to navigate the coming month without the services of power forward Tyson Perez. The energetic big man is set to undergo conservative treatment for an injury to the Achilles tendon in his right foot, a recovery process expected to last approximately four weeks. While the news of a non-surgical approach is a relief for the Malaga outfit, losing Perez’s rebounding and interior presence is a blow to their frontcourt depth.
🏥 Parte médico de Tyson Pérez
💚💜 #YoSoyDelUnicaja pic.twitter.com/iv0jVYRrQC
— UnicajaCB (@unicajaCB) March 3, 2026