Top EuroLeague free agents for 2024 include players like Walter Tavares, Will Clyburn, Mike James, Shane Larkin and many others.
The part of the season is approaching when the best European clubs will compete for the prestigious trophy, and the question arises: who will continue their careers in the EuroLeague, and where.
We are well aware that clubs with the highest ambitions in the EuroLeague already begin assembling the player mosaic for the next season in the final stages of the current one. Such was the case 12 months ago when it was already known that Facundo Campazzo would be checking his ticket for a flight from Belgrade to Madrid, and that Mathias Lessort and Ioannis Papapetrou would be flying from the Serbian capital to Athens.
For some names such as Nikola Mirotic or Tornike Shengelia, we weren’t certain until the last moment. There’s no doubt it will be the same this time.
Some names we will surely see in the EuroLeague next season and some individuals aspire to wear the well-known Jerry West logo on their jerseys playing in the NBA. For some, the Middle East also seems like a very real option.
Walter Tavares
It’s crystal clear to everyone how much the presence of the giant from the Cape Verde means to Real Madrid’s team. Since returning to the Old Continent from the NBA, he has been a significant part of two EuroLeague titles. It seems that this season he is playing at a much lower level than last year, but it’s evident that he is still one of the best centers in the competition.
The most realistic options are for Walter Tavares to either extend his contract with Real Madrid or continue his career in the NBA, where few teams have already expressed interest. If he opts to stay in the EuroLeague, the possibility of joining Panathinaikos should not be ruled out, as they have often been linked with the Cape Verdean giant. However, considering Mathias Lessort’s strong season, it raises the question of whether they would want to create unnecessary competition for the Frenchman.
Mike James
When someone is described as a “scoring machine” on the European basketball scene, it’s hard for the first synonym not to be Mike James. After years of wandering and disagreements with numerous coaches, it seems that he has found common ground with Sasa Obradovic in Monaco. The Serbian coach has spoken about how unrecognizable the American player has been this season and how he is the true leader of the team.
This season, he averages 18.7 points along with five assists and four rebounds. He has become the all-time leading scorer in EuroLeague history, leading his team to the playoffs and securing home-court advantage in the quarterfinals. According to reports from France, Monaco is preparing a new three-year contract worth nine million euros. Mike James recently stated that his next contract will be his last in his career. It’s hard to imagine anyone competing with the team from the Principality. Likewise, it’s hard to imagine Mike James being a player around whom an entire team will be built anywhere else.
Mario Hezonja
Mario Hezonja is one of those who, after returning from the NBA, quietly entered the Spanish capital through the side entrance. Unics Kazan served as a springboard, and after winning the MVP award in the VTB League, he came for what was rightfully his. He was very important piece of Real Madrid to another EuroLeague trophy playing significant role in that journey.
However, he has long shown signs of dissatisfaction, as discussed by Aleksandar Petrovic during the “ABA Talks” podcast. There was also a scene after winning the Spanish Super Cup, where the team celebrated on the court while he went to the locker room dissatisfied with his playing time.
Many clubs will compete to have Mario Hezonja put his signature on a contract with them. The breakup with Real Madrid is getting closer. As already widely reported on the Old Continent, Panathinaikos has decided to pack money bags and offer the Croatian a new chance. He briefly played in Athens during the 2020/2021 season, but the fact is that the rest of the roster then and now cannot be compared.
He also sparked the imagination of Partizan fans when the camera caught him singing along to the black and white anthem, but it’s more realistic to watch Hezonja in Panathinaikos jersey next year.
Shane Larkin
Shane Larkin has become synonymous with Anadolu Efes. He has been with the club since 2018 and has won the EuroLeague twice with them, a number that might have been even higher if it weren’t for the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite experiencing a large number of injuries throughout his career, especially in recent years, it’s clear that he still possesses the recognizable spark.
At the end of this season, he will be free to search for a new environment. By all logic, and considering the events on the court in Istanbul, big changes are looming. Xavi Pascual is already being mentioned as the next head coach. It’s expected that the roster will undergo significant changes as well.
According to rumours, one option could be Dubai, the new member of the ABA League and EuroCup, with indications that they will compete in the EuroLeague from the 2025/2026 season. They need someone around whom to build the team, and considering all circumstances, along with his veteran status, passing years, and his desire to be the “alpha” of any team, It wouldn’t be surprising if he moves to the Middle East for a big paycheck.
Staying with Anadolu Efes is certainly one of the possible options, although it wouldn’t be a huge surprise if he also signed with another EuroLeague club. Teams like Milano and Bayern are looking to make strides in the coming years, and a leader like Larkin could help them progress significantly in the standings.
Tornike Shengelia
Tornike Shengelia is known for having one demand when signing any contract – regardless of club competition schedules overlapping with FIBA qualifying windows, he wants to be free to play for the Georgian national team.
Looking back to last summer, Tornike Shengelia was on the verge of joining two clubs – Crvena Zvezda and Panathinaikos. At that time, photos were released showing him practicing in the jersey of the Belgrade team.ย In the end, Shengelia remained a member of Virtus, but it is unlikely to be the case this time around. He had one of the best seasons of his career, and a large number of clubs will be interested in his services.
According to Basketball Sphere source, Virtus will have hard time keeping Shengelia around as he could earn more money elsewhere. Panathinaikos will again be one of the options, and it seems that a quality power forward like him would be great fit in clubs like Barcelona, Olympiacos or Anadolu Efes who need additional strength in power forward position.
Nikola Kalinic
Nikola Kalinic has been one of the most significant components of every team he’s been a part of throughout all these previous years. Whether that’s at Crvena Zvezda, the championship-winning generation of Fenerbahce, his time at Valencia, or now in Barcelona.
The fact is that players who provide significant contributions at both ends of the court are rare in the market. Nikola Kalinic is precisely in that category. Barcelona has been “cutting the budget” for some time now, and according to our information from Spain, that could also be the case with the Serbian forward.
Whether he will agree to play for less money or opt for a change remains to be seen. If he decides to leave Barcelona, it wouldn’t be surprising if several EuroLeague teams decide to contact his agent. A return to Crvena Zvezda will surely be one of the options, considering the mutual love between them.
Keenan Evans
Keenan Evans will undoubtedly be one of the main stars of this transfer window. Considering the form he’s been in during this and the previous season, despite being sidelined for a longer period due to injury, the point guard from Zalgiris is a name in many EuroLeague coaches’ and general managers notebooks.
Just five years ago, he played for Igokea in the ABA League, and then, overcoming obstacles, Keenan Evans proved that he can compete at the highest level. He’s only 27 years old, and it’s clear that he’s now in the prime of his career. He averages 17.4 points and nearly four assists per game. He’s capable of tormenting any type of defense and has the quality to adapt to the situation.
What has “leaked” in the media is that Olympiacos is the leading candidate to sign the American player. According to some reports, the deal has already been finalized. However, Olympiacos has issued a statement denying the entire story. Whether this is just smoke and mirrors or they’ve genuinely decided that they don’t need the point guard will be heard soon.
However, Evans’ services will attract interest from half of the EuroLeague, and it’s possible to envision him virtually in almost every club that is financially capable to pay. And the figure certainly won’t be small.
Josh Nebo
Before the start of this season, it wasn’t clear whether Maccabi Tel Aviv would seriously count on the American player. They didn’t know what to expect from him, so they gave him a one-year contract with an option to extend. According to Israeli media reports, Josh Nebo will earn โฌ800,000 for the 2023/2024 season.
With his performances, he has shown that he is worth much more, making him a potential game-changer for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the play-in and playoffs if they reach that stage. Alongside Wade Baldwin, Josh Nebo has shouldered a significant burden and will undoubtedly want to capitalize on his fantastic performances.
It’s crystal clear that all EuroLeague teams in the upper echelon base their game on a good point guard and center. Josh Nebo belongs to a “small group” when it comes to centers with such athletic abilities and soft hands in the market. If Maccabi Tel Aviv doesn’t open its wallet, someone else will.
Milano and Partizan have had quite a few issues at the center position and definitely represent clubs that would benefit greatly from a player of Nebo’s profile, bringing instant progress on both ends of the court.
Iffe Lundberg
Three years ago, Iffe Lundberg climbed step by step to reach CSKA Moscow. He didn’t manage to establish himself there, so he moved on to the Phoenix Suns, becoming the first Dane in NBA history to do so, and then landed at Virtus.
What Basketball Sphere heard about him firsthand are only praises. He has exceptional work ethic, the ability to learn quickly, and a desire to progress. He possesses top-notch athleticism and doesn’t shy away from responsibility. We had the chance to see this in the Danish national team as well, which is somewhat expected. However, it was unexpected that amidst experienced veterans, including Marco Belinelli, Iffe Lundberg would take on responsibility regularly in clutch moments.
In this way, he has brought several wins to Virtus in close finishes. The primary question that arises is whether he can consistently perform at the highest level. His future engagement likely depends on this, whether it’s in Bologna or in another European city.
Will Clyburn
Will Clyburn has been dominating on EuroLeague courts for many years has never shied away from key moments in games. Recently, he played one such “hero game” against Fenerbahce where Anadolu Efes achieved extremely important win in a hunt for play-in spot.
“I am the best small forward in the EuroLeague, and I will remain so,” he declared after the game, earning him the MVP award for the round’s most valuable player. Considering that his contract is expiring, and as we’ve already mentioned about Anadolu Efes, big changes are on the horizon, it’s not out of the question that alongside Larkin, he may decide to change his environment.
Everything written about the point guard applies to Clyburn as well, so don’t be surprised by an exotic destination if he doesn’t stay in the EuroLeague. However, if he decides to stay, many top clubs will be interested.
James Nunnally
At the end of the previous season, Partizan expressed their desire to extend their cooperation with the American player. Negotiations lasted longer than planned, but James Nunnally signed a one-year contract.
Despite being in the later stages of his career, he is one of the few in the EuroLeague whose career stats belong to the prestigious “50-40-90 Club” (shooting percentages for two-pointers, three-pointers, and free throws). It’s clear that as such, he represents significant value on the market. Even at Partizan, we could easily see significant changes to the roster.
Head coach Zeljko Obradovic has years of experience working with him, and they won the EuroLeague together in 2017 with Fenerbahce. If the most decorated European coach sees him in his plans, it’s unlikely that he will change clubs. However, if the situation is different, James Nunnally will likely leave Belgrade.