By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
Sylvain Francisco talked to French newspaper “L’Equipe” about an eventful summer that led him to Panathinaikos after a deal with ASVEL and despite his initial wish to try his luck in the NBA.
The French guard openly spoke for the first time about his flirtation with the NBA, with the Chicago Bulls being his possible destination.
As he said: “Yes, in the NBA, there were openings, at least five or six teams, many on guaranteed two-year contracts. I had the opportunity with the Chicago Bulls, but the trade they wanted to make before stalled because in the NBA, everyone was waiting for LeBron’s decision. However, my deadline was until July 20 (ed.note: to activate his NBA out clause from ASVEL), and LeBron signed… four days later.”
“So, that’s where all the teams really started to transfer players, make more trades. It’s a shame,” Francisco admitted. “I was a little angry, let’s say. But it’s something I don’t have control over. In the end, it can be a blessing in disguise. I stay in Europe”
The financial situation in ASVEL, however, changed his destination from Lyon to Athens, something that ultimately doesn’t bother the player at all.
As he explains: “It wasn’t up to me to deal with this situation with ASVEL. So I let my agents take care of that. It was a bit hard, let’s say. When the French financial authorities come, and they are strict like that, it’s difficult. The project that was in place with ASVEL was very interesting. With the team we would have had, we could have done something in the first year, to then become a big team, reputable, capable of making the play-offs and the Final Four of the Euroleague”.
Francisco wanted a way out when it was obvious that Tony Parker’s plan was derailed: “When we knew that ASVEL was going to take time to make its budget, I told my agents: ‘we have to leave’. I think we spoke well with Tony; he was square on that. He worked a lot, wanted to be square, but there are some things you can’t control. The process took a little longer, and I thought it was time to leave”.
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