By George Orfanakis / info@eurohoops.net
There may not be any game action during the summer, but basketball fans don’t mind at all since the reinforcement of clubs is pretty interesting in itself.
Coaches, in collaboration with the teams’ managements, want to correct everything that went wrong and additions to and removals from the roster are deemed necessary on most occasions.
Eurohoops presents in no particuliar order 10 top-class centers that saw their contracts expire and who will have to renegotiate with their teams or look elsewhere for the next stop in their career…
Ante Tomic
Stats: 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 62.1% in three-point shooting
Ante Tomic is the center with the best technique in the entire EuroLeague and this specific element makes him stand out. After 6 years in Barcelona, the contract between the two parties expires. Of course, the two sides will sit at the table and the scenario of them continuing together is becoming more and more likely.
The Croatian has enormous experience with 220 games in the competition, while he’s coming off a pretty good season with an average of 9.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 62.1% in two-point shooting. Tomic can also function as a playmaker in the paint since his basketball IQ helps him read situations quickly and create for his teammates.
At a time when undersized centers have become fashionable, the 31-year-old player combines skills that have begun to disappear. He prefers to post up, to collaborate with the point guards or pass out to the weak side. On the other hand, he lacks strength and athletic qualities and has trouble against more agile big men.
Jason Thompson
Stats: 5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.1 PIR
When Fenerbahce reached a deal with Jason Thompson, Zeljko Obradovic was definitely expecting more from his player. The American, however, was late in adapting to the club’s demands and never found a rhythm in his game that would allow him to perform according to his true abilities.
If he stays in Europe, Thompson is expected to have a much better season as he now knows how the game is played and the European philosophy. His very strong body and good positioning help him make up for his lack of technical skills, while he attempts several mid-range shots with an overall 53.3% in two-point shooting.
Thompson can have a complementary role in any EuroLeague team, with the creative talent of smaller players influencing his performance to a significant degree. He rarely creates plays for himself but if he gets the ball close to the basket with good conditions, he will finish the play successfully.
Thomas Robinson
Stats: 8.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 9.1 PIR
Khimki made a bang with the signing of Thomas Robinson in the summer of 2017 but an injury problem changed everything. More specifically, on November 24 the American suffered a broken hand against Fenerbahce and was out for almost 3.5 months.
Despite the great misfortune, Robinson had enough time to show part of his skills, completing the season with 8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds. In fact, there were games where he dominated, justifying the 313 NBA games under his belt but also the fact he was drafted fifth overall in the 2012 Draft by the Sacramento Kings.
It’s a given that a healthy Robinson can offer great solutions inside the paint in terms of scoring, rebounding and defense. If he chooses to stay in the EuroLeague, it will be very interesting to see which clubs the player will attract and how big the offers are going to be.
James Augustine
Stats: 9.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 66.7% in two-point shooting, 14.4 PIR
James Augustine is a EuroLeague-level player and Malaga’s disqualification from the top European competition opens the exit door for him.
The American is a free agent and is expected to attract a lot of interest as he combines offensive talent, experience and consistency for a number of years. The season that was completed was very good for him, contributing in scoring (9.2 points) and rebounding (6.7), while special mention has to be made of the 66.7% in two-point shooting, which is the 5th best performance in the EuroLeague.
At 34 years of age, Augustine remains an exceptional character and a tried and tested solution for any level. His bio includes stints in Valencia, Khimki, CSKA Moscow, Malaga and soon another name is expected will be added.
Stats: 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds, 58.9% in two-point shooting, 13.9 PIR
Vladimir Stimac’s athletic qualities may not be abundant but his combativeness and his excellent positioning help him win a lot of battles close to the basket. The Serbian center, however, will not continue in Ergin Ataman’s Anadolu Efes and will have to look elsewhere for the next stop of his career.
The first half of the season went amazingly well for Stimac who got one double-double after the other and earned his playing time. In fact, he was the EuroLeague MVP in Round 6 when he led Efes to victory on Barcelona’s home court with 22 points and 8 rebounds.
The sign in front of the season that ended is deemed positive for Stimac, who is a free agent and who will definitely get offers from several European clubs. Besides, in the last 4 years he has been playing in the EuroLeague with 4 different teams.
Latavious Williams
Latavious Williams cannot be judged for the season that just ended since his injury problem only allowed him to play in 4 games in the colors of Valencia. In short, it’s like the 2017-2018 season… never happened.
The American center proved to Unics Kazan that he can provide important solutions by taking advantage of his athletic qualities. He loves to play above the rim and pick and roll collaborations with the playmakers of his team, but his fitness remains a question mark after a problematic season.
The player we enjoyed in the 2016-2017 season deserves a position on the roster of several EuroLeague teams, with his price tag being affordable for most clubs.
Mathias Lessort
Stats: 8.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 10.7 PIR
He’s just 23 years old, scarily athletic and with a bright future ahead of him. Crvena Zvezda struck gold with Mathias Lessort in the summer of 2017 but their disqualification from the EuroLeague next season “forces” the player to make use of his option in order to leave.
At a time when undersized centers are taking the world by storm, the French center seems like an ideal solution for all the teams of the competition. His ability in the pick and roll, the dynamic screens, the way he moves on the court and mostly his strong finishes make things a lot easier for coaches.
To a lot of people, Lessort is reminiscent of Patric Young, with the two centers actually having similar characteristics in terms of their build and game style. The latter managed to get a much better deal after only one season in Europe and the same is expected to happen with Lessort as well.
Adreian Payne
Panathinaikos signed Adreian Payne with the aim of giving the team the push it needed in order to qualify for the EuroLeague Final Four. The American center played in 12 European games, while Xavi Pascual chose to “axe” him from the playoffs of the Greek championship. As is readily understood, this sample is not enough to judge the player in full.
Even so, Payne had enough time to prove he’s a particularly athletic big man who specializes in the game above the rim and who needs a creative guard on his side for pick and roll and alley-oop collaborations. His technique needs to be improved but, if needed, Payne can put the ball on the floor or threaten in the post. In the NBA, we saw him shoot from mid- and long-range, something he didn’t show us in Europe, while his 55% from the free throw line is not representative of his skills.
On the defensive end, his large wingspan and fast feet help in hedge out defenses but also in controlling the… air traffic close to the paint.
In general, Payne is a center who can provide solutions mostly in offense and secondarily in defense. His price tag is not prohibitive almost for any EuroLeague team.