By Utkan Şahin and John Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
Keeping a close eye on the EuroLeague Free Agent market leads Eurohoops to present the Top 10 players still available. Crazy moves all around Europe’s premier competition have already been sealed from the beginning of the summer and EuroLeague might be close to its peak on terms of players ready for 2019-20 action.
However, our list of free agents still in the market proves that many quality options remain available for the 18 EuroLeague sides. All of our choices have previous EuroLeague experience and are ready to gain even more.
Marching towards August, clubs that have already strengthened their roster can further improve or other teams that seem to be trailing can get right back in the thick of it.
Both Shane Larkin and Sergio Rodriguez could have held prominent positions in the list. However, the former will stay with Anadolu Efes and the latter has a deal with AX Armani Exchange Milan.
Here are the top remaining free agents:
Norris Cole
Age / Country: 30 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 2 seasons – 43 games
2018-19 Stats: 15 games, 16.6 points, 4.6 assists, 2.7 rebounds, 15.2 PIR
Various teams including Olympiacos are interested in Norris Cole, but the Cleveland State alumni is still a free agent.
Defense might not be his strongest suit, but the two-time NBA champion’s ability to effectively dominate the ball makes his an attractive target for any EuroLeague side.
His EuroLeague experience includes 28 games with Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv and 15 with Buducnost VOLI. He has posted 12.5 points, 4.1 assists and 2.5 rebounds per game in those 43 appearances.
Keith Langford
Age / Country: 36 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 8 seasons – 143 games
2018-19 Stats: 25 games, 10.7 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 9.9 PIR
Two-times Alphonso Ford EuroLeague Top Scorer Trophy recipient, Keith Langford, is coming off a tough campaign with Panathinaikos OPAP. His injury prevented him from reaching his full potential, but still has a lot to offer to EuroLeague.
He will be 36 in mid-September. However, his experience of 143 EuroLeague contests with 16.3 points per appearance likely lands him leading spot in the list of many teams of Europe’s premier competition.
Any side in a need of an effective scorer will pursue the Kansas alumni down the stretch of the summer transfer period. ALBA Berlin and KIROLBET Baskonia are already among his potential suitors.
Kevin Seraphin
Age / Country: 29 / France
EuroLeague Career: 3 seasons – 49 games
2018-19 Stats: 27 games, 8.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 7.7 PIR
Various injuries held Kevin Seraphin back, but the 29-year-old French center is still a very good option for many EuroLeague sides that want to upgrade their frontcourt ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.
Seraphin was the 17th pick of the 2010 NBA draft and later played in 437 NBA games before making his way back to Europe via FC Barcelona Lassa a couple of summer ago.
The Spaniards went another way this year and let him go providing their EuroLeague opponents with the opportunity to snatch a quality addition.
In a total of 49 appearances in Europe’s premier competition, Seraphin has 9.6 points and 4.2 rebounds per match.
Axel Toupane
Age / Country: 26 / France
EuroLeague Career: 3 seasons – 70 games
2018-19 Stats: 26 games, 4.8 points, 1.2 rebounds, 0.5 assists, 3.3 PIR
Another Frenchman Axel Toupane is next on our list.
It has been two years since he returned to EuroLeague after 25 NBA games from 2015 to 2017. The 26-year-old swingman jumped to the opportunity with Zalgiris Kaunas, but did not enjoy similar progress with Olympiacos during the 2018-19 campaign.
He has been in the market for a while after exiting the Reds midway through April, but still has not narrowed down his next team. Toupane certainly wants to get back on track as soon as possible.
Malcolm Thomas
Age / Country: 30 / USA
EuroLeague Career: 3 seasons – 79 games
2018-19 Stats: 30 games, 8.6 points, 5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 12.1 PIR
Maccabi FOX Tel Aviv and Olympiacos are among his potential suitors for the upcoming EuroLeague season, but Malcolm Thomas is still a free agent.
The American forward/center is coming off a pair of EuroLeague campaigns with Khimki Moscow Region. He also was a part of Europe’s premier competition back in the 2012-13 season with Maccabi.
He never was a leading player for Khimki, but definitely showcased his abilities to dominate the paint whenever needed. He remains a good option for any side that wants to add depth to its roster.