Zalgiris are moving aggressively to secure the long term future of Azuolas Tubelis, as the Lithuanian champions are preparing a record breaking contract that would keep him in Kaunas for years to come, according to BasketNews sources.
The deal in progress is expected to be a three year agreement that would effectively block any move to another EuroLeague club until at least 2028, while still including NBA exit clauses during the summer periods.
Tubelis had a breakout EuroLeague season, averaging 12.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and a 12.7 PIR in 23 minutes per game, while his impact increased even further in the playoff series against Fenerbahce, where he posted 17.2 points and 18.2 PIR.
His performances attracted strong interest from several EuroLeague powerhouses this summer, with clubs reportedly ready to offer significant buyouts, but Zalgiris are now close to making him the highest paid player in club history in order to keep him in Lithuania.
Alongside the Tubelis situation, Zalgiris are also working on extending Sylvain Francisco, while continuing discussions around potential moves involving Jonas Valanciunas. At the same time, both Marius Grigonis and Marek Blazevic are also reportedly close to new agreements for next season.
