The transfer period in the EuroLeague is about to begin, which is a good opportunity to look at the best players becoming free agents this summer.
In this article, we will present top 5 players which market value is estimated to be between 1,500,000 euros and 2,000,000 euros. The player values we mention are not official but are based on the sources of Basketball Sphere.
Tornike Shengelia
Tornike Shengelia had his best season in career at Virtus, but the loss to Milano in Game 4 of the Serie A finals is likely to be his last match in the Bologna club’s jersey.
The Georgian power forward may have been the best player in his position in the EuroLeague, and many clubs will be interested in his services this summer. There’s no doubt that Virtus also has a strong desire to keep him, but it will be difficult to afford it financially after some sponsorship issues.
Shengelia’s realistic value is between 1.5 and 2 million euros, and there’s no doubt that investing in this player could be the difference between a successful and an unsuccessful season for some clubs.
Shabazz Napier
Shabazz Napier has had an extremely turbulent season, as he hasn’t shown his best performances either in Belgrade or in Milano. Of course, he left a somewhat better impression in the Italian team’s jersey, but even that doesn’t seem sufficient for Ettore Messina to make every effort to keep him for the next season.
Napier finished the EuroLeague season averaging 10.9 points and 4.1 assists. In the case of this American player, statistics do not tell always the whole story, so his future in Milano solely depends on how and if Messina sees him in the new system.
At the end of the day, the former Crvena Zvezda player has a good enough basketball resume that, even if he leaves Italy, he won’t have trouble finding a new club.
Nicolo Melli
Nicolo Melli will also be a free agent this summer, following a season that did not align with his salary. Although he is not in his prime playing years, the Italian was still expected to be one of Milano’s leading players, which an average of 7.3 points and four rebounds per game does not confirm.
On the other hand, Melli has the status of a good Italian player, which is not easy to find on the market when you are in Milano’s position. The current perspective suggests that the most realistic scenario is for the Italian to extend his cooperation with the club.
Regardless of his form, Nicolo Melli is still considered a player who knows how to play big games and win titles. Having an Italian player with Fenerbahce, the New Orleans Pelicans, and the Dallas Mavericks on his resume is valuable for the team.
Will Clyburn
Will Clyburn has been valued at over 2 million euros in recent years, but this could change this summer after he missed many games due to injury and recently turned 34.
When he signed with Anadolu Efes, the expectation was that he would help Shane Larkin and Vasilije Micic secure a three-peat. Not only did this not happen, but they didn’t even make the playoffs. In this campaign, the Istanbul powerhouse was not part of the EuroLeague top 8 once again, and changes are expected.
One likely change will be parting ways with Clyburn. He remains one of the best small forwards in the EuroLeague and would undoubtedly change the dynamics of many teams. Due to mentioned factors, his value has dropped below 2 million euros, and many clubs could take advantage of this.
Nikola Kalinic
Nikola Kalinic is unlikely to stay with Barcelona at the end of the season, as both sides agree that it is best for the player to seek a new club.
An average of 7.3 points per game along with 3.8 rebounds best illustrates the role of the Serbian basketball player in the ranks of the Catalan powerhouse this season.
According to media reports, there are at least five interested clubs wanting to sign Kalinic this summer. It is clear that the Serbian player will have no trouble finding a new club once he leaves Catalonia. Crvena Zvezda is frontrunner, but he didn’t sign anything yet.