By M. Bahadır Akgün, Antigoni Zachari / info@eurohoops.net
Another Turkish Airlines EuroLeague season is in the books, and as the domestic leagues are also coming to an end in the coming weeks, the fun begins for the supporters of the competition and it’s none other than the free agency!
Teams will roll up their sleeves to prepare for the new season with more hope and will try to sign the best possible players for their respective teams.
Just like every year, Eurohoops is bringing its readers a series of the Top 10 free agents in every position, starting with the point guards.
Note 1: Players who have an option in their current contracts are not included on the list.
Note 2: The list has been formed in random order.
Note 3: Players who have fleed Russian clubs and signed with non-Euroleague clubs are included.
Paris Lee (AS Monaco)
Age / Country: 27 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 1 season – 36 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 36 games | 7.2 points, 1.4 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 7 PIR
Best Game: 19 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 26 PIR vs Olimpia Milano (Round 4)
Despite being a rookie both in Monaco and EuroLeague, Paris Lee did quite a good job this past season.
The US point guard, who started his European career in Belgium and continued with Brose Bamberg and Orleans, redeemed his good performances by signing with the 2021 EuroCup champions.
Lee, who increased his form, especially in the playoffs, had an important share in Monaco’s effort to force Game 5 in the playoffs series against Olympiacos.
According to Eurohoops sources, Paris Lee is expected to play for Panathinaikos next season, but he is included on our list since there’s no official announcement yet.
Nate Wolters (Crvena Zvezda)
Age / Country : 31 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 4 seasons – 101 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 31 games | 10.9 points, 2.6 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 10.5 PIR
Best Game: 21 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 steals, 22 PIR vs Zenit St. Petersburg (Round 18)
We have been watching Nate Wolters for years now, and he has accumulated plenty of experience both in EuroLeague and the NBA.
Wolters has proven that he can contribute at the EuroLeague level and that he can deliver consistent performances for an excessive amount of time, though at times he has had a few rough moments.
The experienced guard successfully met the scoring expectations that were set upon him with Crvena Zvezda this season and became a key player in the team.
It’s still uncertain whether we will continue to see Walters, who shot 35.8% from the three-point line this past season, in EuroLeague next year, but it wouldn’t be surprising if that happens.
Lorenzo Brown (UNICS Kazan)
Age / Country: 31 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 3 seasons – 88 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 24 games | 13.8 points, 3.6 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 17.3 PIR
Best Game: 27 points, 7 rebounds, 9 assists, 33 PIR vs Barcelona (Round 17)
Unfortunately, we are all witnessing the effects of the tragedy following the military invasion of Russia in Ukraine, and as a result, this also affected the EuroLeague with the suspension of Russian clubs.
One of the players affected by this decision was Lorenzo Brown. The American guard showed that he can deliver well even in a club with “less” ambitions following his run in Fenerbahce.
And just like that, he turned himself into a start on multiple occasions, starting 23 of UNICS’s 24 games this season and his performance peaked in Round 17 against Barcelona.
While his major problem with turnovers remains, Brown has proven time and time again that he can be an important ball handler and a scoring threat in underdog teams.
Sergio Llull (Real Madrid)
Age / Country: 35 / Spain
EuroLeague Career: 15 seasons – 340 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 31 games | 8.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 5.5 PIR
Best Game: 18 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 19 PIR vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Playoffs Game 3)
It’s impossible to think of Sergio Llull without thinking of Real Madrid, and vice versa.
Llull, who had been chasing the NBA for years, rejected all these offers and decided to continue his career in Real Madrid. With the effect of his advancing age, his role in the team seemed to have decreased, though especially after Thomas Heurtel was cut from the rotation, the Spanish star started to stay on the field for important plays again.
The veteran player once again showed how much of a star he can still be when the most critical part of the season comes, and he broke his season record in PIR twice in the three games he played in the playoffs.
It wouldn’t be wise to think that Llull, who pushed Real to the championship game this year, will leave the club. However, even if that happens, it’s safe to say that he will attract many deals and continue his career in the EuroLeague.
Chris Jones (LDLC ASVEL)
Age / Country : 29 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 2 seasons – 65 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 31 games | 13.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 14.7 PIR
Best Game: 27 points, 1 rebound, 3 assists, 30 PIR vs Fenerbahçe Beko (Round 17)
Chris Jones, one of the names given to EuroLeague by Frutti Extra Bursaspor Basketball, reached an agreement with Maccabi Tel Aviv in EuroLeague after his successful performance in Turkey in the 2019-20 season.
It’s hard to say that in Maccabi he was able to deliver exactly what was expected of him, but Jones found himself once again with the ASVEL jersey and showed that he can be regular at the EuroLeague level with the French club.
Jones, who often presents his versatile game to the appreciation of basketball fans, also contributes to rebounds despite his short physique. In that sense, this season, he managed to be one of the leading players in ASVEL’s upsets against strong rivals and became one of the top stealers this season.
Teams looking to get a steady defensive contribution from their short rotation will definitely keep a close eye on Jones’ performances.
Sergio Rodriguez (Olimpia Milano)
Age / Country: 36 / Spain
EuroLeague Career: 12 seasons – 329 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 34 games | 8.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 9.1 PIR
Best Game: 17 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 27 PIR vs Anadolu Efes (Playoffs Game 2)
Sergio Rodriguez is one of the players whose role has been decreasing as he’s growing older. Considered one of the legendary stars of the EuroLeague, Rodriguez is no longer in his old form, but his knowledge and experience of the game are still enough to make him an effective weapon.
He confirmed so in the second game between Anadolu Efes and Olimpia Milano in the EuroLeague playoffs this season. Rodriguez, who carried his team in the second game after a terrible first game performance, had his best performance this season in that game.
On the other hand, Rodriguez, whose perimeter shooting performance has decreased quite a lot this season, can turn into a significant weakness for his team on the defensive end. Still, it is clear that any team has a lot to take from him.
Malcolm Delaney (Olimpia Milano)
Age / Country: 33 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 5 seasons – 139 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 28 games | 9.4 points, 2.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 7.8 PIR
Best Game: 20 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 20 PIR vs Zalgiris Kaunas (Round 17)
The playoffs didn’t go as expected both for Olimpia Milano and Malcolm Delaney. The American guard was injured in Game 2 and couldn’t return to the series, which added up to Milan’s troubles.
Delaney had to deal with several injuries this season, which had an effect on his explosiveness and ability to penetrate the opposing defense, which is a factor to keep in mind. Still, he produced a respectable 32.8% shooting from the three-point line, making him an attractive target even at 33 years of age.
Wade Baldwin (Baskonia)
Age / Country: 26 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 3 seasons – 93 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 30 games | 14.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 15.5 PIR
Best Game: 27 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 37 PIR vs Maccabi Tel Aviv (Round 19)
It’s been a pretty interesting season for Wade Baldwin.
Baldwin, who made a statement with Bayern Munich last season, proved why coach Andrea Trinchieri believed in him after a disappointing run with Olympiacos in 2019-20
Baldwin stood out as one of the most popular players on the transfer market and eventually signed a deal with Baskonia in the previous offseason. Although his transition to the team wasn’t smooth, Baldwin flipped the switch in the middle of the season.
Baskonia didn’t make the playoffs this season, but the American guard reminded us that he can be a protagonist on any European team. His future with Baskonia is uncertain, but at 26, it is certain that he will attract many offers this summer.
Mike James (AS Monaco)
Age / Country: 31 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 8 seasons – 200 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 38 games | 16.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 5.8 assists, 18.1 PIR
Best Game: 24 points, 10 assists, 3 rebounds, 34 PIR vs Real Madrid (Round 3)
There’s no question about Mike James’ quality. He has shown time and time again that he can be an X factor, which, of course, increases his “stocks” on the transfer market.
James surprised a lot of people by signing with AS Monaco upon his return from the NBA, but nobody was surprised when he helped his team reach the playoffs, forcing Game 5 against Olympiacos.
Undoubtedly, his experience and leadership makes him one of the top free agent picks on the market.
Shane Larkin (Anadolu Efes)
Age / Country: 29 / Turkey/USA
EuroLeague Career: 5 seasons – 161 games
2021-22 EuroLeague Stats: 33 games | 14.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 18.9 PIR
Best Game: 26 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 36 PIR vs CSKA Moscow (Round 26)
A back-to-back EuroLeague champion, Shane Larkin for sure is another attractive name on the market.
His influence may not be depicted as much in the season’s stats, though his performance, especially in the playoffs, has been a catalytic one. Larkin is a player who’s not afraid to step up in big moments and deliver great results for his team.
It’s important to note that, after winning the EuroLeague title on Saturday, Efes has already initiated the talks about a contract extension, so it’s likely that Larkin remains Istanbul-bound. It remains to be seen whether the two sides will reach a new deal.