NBA training camp is almost here and EuroLeague training camps are all but over as some teams have already played season openers. EuroLeague rosters are mostly set, but NBA rosters aren't and won't be for about a month. As NBA teams make their final cuts, EuroLeague teams will keep an eye on who gets left out for the 2023-24 season and see if they can swoop in and lure them to Europe's premier club basketball competition.
We decided to rank the five best remaining NBA free agents for EuroLeague teams. However, it's worth pointing out that all these moves are hypothetical and not backed by any actual EuroLeague interest unless stated otherwise. We also left out players who seemed very unlikely to come over. This decision was arbitrary but had some logic. Before we get into who did make the list, here are some of the key names we left out and why.
Blake Griffin, the former All-NBA forward likely has very little interest in playing anywhere but the NBA and will probably get a final roster spot as at least a locker-room presence with some team before the season begins.
Goran Dragic, aged 37 and a European basketball star, has already said he wants to finish his career with the Miami Heat. The Miami Heat do not play in EuroLeague. Austin Rivers is only 31 and is another free-agent guard. It would be a shock if he decided to head overseas given his media role with The Ringer, and he will probably sign on the veteran's minimum somewhere before the season starts.
Michael Carter-Williams, Juan Toscano-Anderson, and JaMychal Green were also all left out for similar reasons. Make no mistake, EuroLeague teams should be trying to sign them if they decide they're interested in heading overseas but it would be surprising if any of them did.
Perhaps the toughest decision to lead out was former New York Knicks wing Kevin Knox. Just 24 years old, the Kentucky alum has severely struggled in the NBA but has had some great moments. He scored 31 points against the Sixers and is a career 34 percent 3-point shooter on nearly 900 attempts. EuroLeague could be a wise move for the youngster, but we left him out because he will probably opt for the G League if he can so an NBA team can snap him up at any given moment.
But enough about who didn't make it, here's who did.
Potential NBA to EuroLeague transfer: 5. Kendrick Nunn
This is an easy one. Kendrick Nunn has some interest in playing in EuroLeague. Not a lot, but some. The former Miami Heat guard who last played for the Washington Wizards has been linked to Greek club Olympiacos all summer. The Reds lost Kostas Sloukas and Sasha Veznkov this offseason and are in desperate need of a scoring punch.
This is what set their sights on Nunn, but the Oakland alum has decided he wants to see the entire NBA offseason through before making the jump overseas. Olympiacos doesn't have time for that, and they may not have the money for him either. They signed Nigel Williams-Goss, Nikola Milutinov, and Luke Sikma earlier this summer. They also just paid a 500,00 euro buyout to Zalgiris Kaunas for Ignas Brazdeikis. If they are still able to afford Nunn after all of this, which is not cheap, it would be financially impressive for them.
Nunn ended last season for the Washington Wizards where in 31 games he averaged 7.5 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.7 rebounds per game. He is a career 36 percent three-point shooter on over 900 attempts. Olympiacos could be back to contenders if they can bring him in. If they can't, other EuroLeague teams should make inquiries as well.
Potential NBA to EuroLeague transfer: 4. Will Barton
Will Barton is one of the veterans we decided to keep on this list because, well, it would be cool. Barton is a pure scorer, he's averaged 11.2 points per game across 10 seasons in the NBA. Even at 32 years old the prospect of him bringing his scoring prowess to EuroLeague is very exciting.
For starters, Barton is a very solid shooter especially from deep. On over 2,500 3-point attempts in the NBA Barton has shot 36 percent. He would feast on spot-up opportunities for any team that could snap him up. He's had seasons in the NBA where he averaged more than 15 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game.
Several EuroLeague teams like Olympiacos, Virtus Bologna, Valencia, Zalgiris, and others could use a veteran and polished scorer. If Barton is interested in coming over, and for the right price, he would be the best option for many of these teams. It would be surprising if Barton did decide to come over. At his age and with his NBA experience, he will probably opt to wait and see if a roster spot opens up during the season or float on 10 days for a little while before giving overseas basketball a serious look.
Potential NBA to EuroLeague transfer: 3. Terrence Ross
Terrence Ross is the second player on this list who has been linked to a EuroLeague club this summer. Ross, aged 32, and last played for the Phoenix Suns, reportedly received an offer from Partizan Belgrade earlier in the summer to see if he had any interest. He politely declined, and Ross himself reported this story on a Twitch stream. Ross followed up on this story a couple of weeks later and stated that if he were to play in Europe it would be in Serbia. His wife is Serbian, and they visit her home country regularly.
Terrence Ross would be one of the most exciting moves of the summer, and the fourth former NBA lottery pick to come over, if he decided to play in EuroLeague this season. Nine years ago he scored a career-high 51 points while playing for the Toronto Raptors and he was also the 2013 NBA Slam Dunk contest champion.
The final price would probably be the main sticking point. Partizan added two other wings this summer in Ognjen Jaramaz and Mateusz Ponitka, who joined James Nunnally, Kevin Punter, and Zach LeDay. Partizan also signed P.J. Dozier who is a point guard but could defend wings at his size. Ross might be surplus to requirements, but he'd be a good problem to have in Partizan's quest for a EuroLeague championship.
Potential NBA to EuroLeague transfer: 2. Justise Winslow
Justise Winslow has had an interesting NBA career. He was the tenth overall pick of the 2015 NBA draft, selected by the Miami Heat. He made All-Rookie second team thanks to impressive defense and some notable offensive performances such as dropping 20 points in a win over the Denver Nuggets in March.
He entered his sophomore season as a starter but was plagued by injuries. He initially had wrist issues and then had to get surgery to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder which ruled out him for the rest of the season from January onward. Winslow never recovered after that, and injuries have continued to nag him throughout his career. Shortly after being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies, he struggled with a hip injury and last March with the Portland Trailblazers he underwent season-ending left ankle surgery.
If Winslow is ready to play, EuroLeague might be a good option. Few players are required to play lengthy minutes game after game and Winslow could try to find a situation where his recovery between games is emphasized. This will allow him to get the reps he needs and help his team be successful. His play style would be interesting to watch too. Winslow is around 6-foot-7 and solid, he could get away with playing the four and maybe even some small ball five in Europe. He's also a decent passer, who has flashed solid ball skills during his NBA career. His Swiss army knife approach to basketball could translate well.
Potential NBA to EuroLeague transfer: 1. Bismack Biyombo
We're going to close these rankings with another NBA veteran Bismack Biyombo. The 6-foot-8 spring center from the Democratic Republic of Congo has spent the last two seasons with the Phoenix Suns. Some people's first thought when you mention Biyombo's name is Eric Collins famous call from when Biyombo shot a three when playing for the Charlotte Hornets a few seasons ago.
It's funny, but worth remembering that's not Biyombo's game. While undersized, Biyombo is an old-school bruising big man. He never gives up on a rebound on either end of the floor and is still a good second and third jumper at his age, paired with incredible strength. He sets brutal screens and is still more than capable of putting opponents on a poster.
His play style is very similar to that of Matthias Lessort who left Partizan for Panathinaikos this summer, and players of his mold such as Alex Tyus, Brant Dunston, Othello Hunter, Marcus Slaughter, and others have found great success in the EuroLeague. Maybe an NBA team could snap up Biyombo before the season starts but if not, he'd be scary in EuroLeague next season.
