The 2023-24 Euroleague season is on the back burner for most fans currently, which means Euroleague transfer rumors are too. Competitive basketball is back in the form of the FIBA World Cup which through just three days of action has already delivered some incredible moments.
France has already been eliminated, Germany looks awesome, the Dominican Republic is poised to steal everyone's hearts, and Luka Doncic is being Luka Doncic.
Simply put, international basketball fans have a place to get their fix which means the rumor mill is churning out slop at a much lower rate.
Teams were still active this week though, and front offices are still looking for ways to improve their team.
Here's a round-up of notable transfers, rumors, and news in Euroleague from the week.
Euroleague Transfer Rumors: Alexey Shved could be teaming up with Milos Teodosic again.
After missing last season's Euroleague playoffs and losing the Adriatic League title to arch-rivals Partizan, Crvena Zvezda Meridianbet has had a busy summer.
Luca Vildoza and Facundo Campazzo departed for Panathinaikos and Real Madrid respectively, so in came Milos Teodosic, Shabazz Napier, Adam Hanga, and Yago Dos Santos.
They joined Nemanja Nedovic and have built a very deep and offensively talented backcourt, a stark contrast to last season where their options were limited.
Zvezda might not be done bulking up their backcourt. They are apparently in advanced talks with Russian sharpshooter and former Minnesota Timberwolves guard Alexey Shved.
Shved appears to be eyeing a return to the Euroleague after spending last season with CSKA Moscow.
Shved is certainly still a quality player - he averaged 16.6 points and 7.8 assists per game last season - but he's probably surplus to requirements for Zvezda given all the business they've already done this summer.
Shved was also in talks with Olympiacos, and that fit makes more sense for next season. Hopefully, we have a final decision on his future soon.
Euroleague Transfer Rumors: Anadolu Efes continues to bolster their backcourt with Justus Hollatz and maybe Jean Montero
Following Doğuş Özdemiroğlu's long-term injury with the Turkish national team, Anadolu Efes decided to waste no time in filling his roster spot and went out and signed Justus Hollatz from Cedevita Olimpija.
Only 22 years old, Hollatz spent last season in Spain with Rio Breogan where he averaged 7.94 points and 3.29 assists per game. Counting Özdemiroğlu, he's Efes' third guard signing of the summer, joining Darius Thompson in the quest to fill the void left by Vasilije Micic who left for the NBA and signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Efes may be adding another young Liga ACB guard as well, they were linked with Jean Montero from Real Betis. Montero is off to a solid start for the Dominican Republic at the FIBA World Cup, so it won't be a surprise if other teams besides Efes express interest in him before the start of next season.
Montero averaged 17.6 points and 4.3 assists per game for Betis in ACB play last season, and he has returned to Gran Canaria following this loan and has a release clause of 500,000 euros.
Montero is reportedly open to new opportunities away from Gran Canaria. Maybe that's with Efes, or another team if he keeps playing well at the FIBA World Cup.
Euroleague Transfer Rumors: Fenerbahce all but cut Nick Calathes and Nemanja Bjelica from the team
Fenerbahce has had an underrated summer and currently looks poised for a Final Four run after pushing Olympiacos to the brink in last season's Euroleague playoffs.
They've retained almost all of their key players from last season while adding Raul Neto, Yam Madar, Georgios Papagiannis, and Sertac Sanli among others.
This is a very good team, and they're definitely excited for the season ahead. Unfortunately, two notable players from last season's squad are on the outside looking in: Nick Calathes and Nemanja Bjelica.
"We have conveyed to both Nemanja Bjelica and Nick Calathes and their managers that we are not thinking of them in our planning this year," Derya Yannier said to Fenerbahce TV.
This is not surprising, and it will be interesting to see where both players land. Calathes was linked to Partizan but they did end up signing P.J. Dozier which could mean they no longer have interest.
Bjelica is likely in a trickier spot. He's now 35 years old and only appeared in 8 games for Fenerbahce last season due to injury. He could be worth gambling on for the right price, but is Bjelica willing to take a below-average salary to make a deal with a quality team happen?
We'll find out, but both he and Calathes have very murky futures.
Euroleague Transfer Rumors: Arturs Zagars helped Latvia knock out France, what does his future hold?
Arturs Zagarz was a top-ranked European prospect a few years ago. The Latvian point guard signed with Joventut Badalona in the summer of 2017, a known stepping stone for some of Europe's best talent.
He never got comfortable and was also struck with the injury bug. Zagars played in over 20 games for Lithuanian side Kedainiai Nevezis last season and that was only the second time in his career he's appeared in over 20 senior games.
Injury struggles pushed Zagars off of most people's radar, but his FIBA World Cup performances alongside good numbers in Lithuania last season have him garnering attention again.
There are definitely a few teams considering making a move for Zagars, who is still only 23 years old, but any Spanish teams will be put in a tough spot if they try to sign him since Badalona has his Tanteo rights which means they could match any offer a team makes.
Badalona could be interested in bringing him back themselves following Kyle Guy's departure to Panathinaikos.
No matter where Zagars ends up, it's great to see him enjoying basketball again.
Euroleague Transfer Rumors: Virtus Bologna adds two-time Euroleague champion Bryant Dunston
On the opening day of the FIBA World Cup, Italian team Virtus Bologna announced the addition of two-time Euroleague champion Bryant Dunston.
Dunston is 37 years old but brings a lot to the table as a veteran, rebounder, play-finisher, rim protector, and overall team defender.
Even in his mid-to-late 30's he was a crucial part of Anadolu Efes' back-to-back Euroleague titles and is a welcome addition for Bologna who have lost two centers this offseason: Ismael Bako and Mam Jaiteh.
Dunston is their sixth signing of the summer, joining Jaleen Smith, Ognjen Dobric, Devontae Cacock, Achille Polonara, and Bruno Mascolo.
Dunston wasn't the only notable news for Bologna this week. General Manager Paolo Ronci did an interview with Radio Nettuno Bologna where he discussed the possibility of former Phoenix Suns point guard Iffe Lundberg leaving the team.
Dunston was a nice move, even with his age, and it seems likely that we haven't heard the last of Bologna for this summer.
