The next season begins to be something to suspect for the still current champion of the euroleague. Efes, in the middle of the fight to enter the quarterfinals after a bad year that could drag them out of the positions of honor, thinks about 2023/24. He is now 10th, with a 16-16 balance, in the standings, but ambitious plans to continue a legacy like the one built by Ergin Ataman’s team are made with time. And the possibility of a rout next summer leaves gaps to cover.
Matteo Andreani puts a name on the table: Facundo Campazzo. The Argentine player would be one of the management’s assets if Vasilije Micic, MVP of the last two Final Four (in which Efes was the winner), goes to the NBA.
The Red Star signed Campazzo when he was cut in the North American league by the Mavericks. There he joined Luca Vildoza, a compatriot, and Nedovic, Martin, Bentil or Petrusev -with Dusko Ivanovic as coach- to try to raise those from Belgrade to the places of honor. He did it with a contract in which he received 1.8 million in the first year and has 2.5 million secured for the second, with an exit option that is estimated at only 50,000 euros. The options are very open for the Córdoba base, whether or not he likes it there.
“Efes will be a very strong competitor”, says the information, if Micic is one of the exits. The cycle can be terminated if the triplet is not achieved, something that is quite far from being a reality given the progress of the team. Ataman could leave in the same way to try other challenges, but focusing on the squad, Micic and Larkin are the two stars to watch out for. The now Turkish passport base has had disagreements with the coach about his role after starting the course with an injury that forced him to speed up in winter to get in tune. The Serbian has assumed all the responsibility that has been charged to him, averaging 16.2 points in the continental tournament, and at 29 years old he is at the optimal point to make the leap to the NBA if the offer he wants arrives. After twice rejecting his trip to the United States, where the Thunder have the rights to him, 2023 may be the right time. Campazzo, given this roster turmoil, would be one of the players with the best chances due to his status as one of the best point guards in the Euroleague.
