By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The Basketball Champions League is buzzing with energy as clubs solidify their rosters ahead of the upcoming Qualification Rounds and the subsequent Regular Season, bolstering their squads with marquee veteran acquisitions and developmental extensions.
Leading the headlines is Promitheas, currently preparing for the Qualification Rounds in Samokov. The Greek squad is expected to seal the addition of Giorgos Kalaitzakis soon. Bringing depth and experience to the rotation, the 27-year-old forward boasts 13 NBA appearances from his stints with the Milwaukee Bucks and Oklahoma City Thunder during the 2021–22 Regular Season. Since his time in North America, the journeyman forward has split his professional tenure between Greece, Germany, and Lithuania, making this impending transfer his debut in the BCL.
On Friday afternoon, Trabzonspor formally welcomed veteran guard Isaiah Canaan. The official announcement confirms previous speculation regarding the 35-year-old’s arrival, reinforcing the club’s perimeter shooting. The Turkish contenders face a demanding continental assignment directly in Group A of the Regular Season, where they are slated to clash against defending champion Rytas, Nanterre 92, and Sabah.
Other outfits gearing up for the Qualifiers are also locking down young domestic talent. The Landau Lions chose continuity by securing their future, extending the contract of promising 19-year-old Rasul Mammadzada for one more year on Saturday. Concurrently, Portugal’s Benfica bolstered its long-term rotation, penning Okechukwu Okeke to a two-year contract on Friday.
The two tournaments in Samokov will last between September 14 and 20, with the tip-off of the Regular Season following on October 6.
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