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By: Nick Gibson / @euro_adventures
Time to catch up with the Euroleague Lockin’s latest signings. Let’s get to it.
Ioannis Bourousis, Olimpia Milano via Olympiacos
Admittedly a flawed statistic, the Euroleague’s index rating is, at the very least, a starting point when throwing together an argument for the Euroleague’s “most efficient” player. And on a per minute basis, nobody came close to Ioannis. Now the fine folks in Milano will pay him a large sum of money to put a leather ball through a nylon net frequently enough to win some games and avoid a second straight year of relegation. Make that wild card count, big homie.
Raul Lopez, Bilbao via Khimki Moscow
It’s been quite a decade for the diminutive Spaniard. Taken four picks before Tony Parker in the 2001 NBA Draft, Lopez has hung around despite problems with his rodilla (that’s a knee), and has a 20o8 Olympic Silver and 2009 Eurobasket Gold to show for it. And when Jose Calderon got hurt just weeks before the World Championships in 2010, Sergio Scariolo called on Lopez and his leadership to fill the void. It’s not a stretch to call Raul the most trusted Spanish guard of the 2000s, and Bilbao needs a tablespoon of Raul’s know-how to help them extend their stay in Chez Euroleague.
Sonny Weems, Zalgiris via Toronto Raptors
All this Deron Williams talk is sexy, SportsCenter stuff, but the NBA everyman could be the biggest beneficiary from all this lockout business. Take Sonny Weems. He’ll switch gears from role player in Toronto to key ingredient in Kaunas, and he’ll get a salary spike to boot. Not a bad deal, Sonny. Not bad at all.
Maciej Lampe, Caja Laboral via Unics Kazan
If Kwame Brown had a magic Lampe, he’d wish for half of Maciej’s talent. Unfortunately for Kwame, I doubt Vitoria would part with even a tenth of it. Before Stanko could even pack his bags for Istanbul, Maciej came careening down from Kazan to step into the paint. I mean, what’s the alternative? Ask Mirza Teletovic to toughen up? Adidas lied. Impossible is something.
David Lighty, Cantú via Ohio State Univeristy
Shouldn’t Jon Diebler be the one in Europe right now? Oh well. His loss.
The updated Dotted Line Up awaits. Feast thine eyes. Then comment thine asses off.
| Rank #colspan# | Player #colspan# | Team #colspan# | He's here because... #colspan# | Last DLU #colspan# |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ioannis Bourousis | Olimpia Milano | Can't wait to see him play extended, consistent minutes. The most efficient big in Europe is about to get a big test. | - |
| 2 | Milos Teodosic | CSKA Moscow | The EL's most clean cut franchise adds the Shooting Stoner to a backcourt that just lost a pair of legends in Trajan Langdon and JR Holden. Good thing Milos' brain doesn't process pressure. | 1 |
| 3 | Maciej Lampe | Caja Laboral | Ever since he vanished from Maccabi's roster two seasons ago, I've been itching to see him in the EL again. He's primed to explode. | - |
| 4 | Sonny Weems | Zalgiris | Props to Sonny for making the leap, and props to Romanov for welcoming the Raptor with open arms. Think Weems has any idea what he's gotten himself into? Not a chance in Hell. | - |
| 5 | David Lighty | NGC Cantú | The new kids on the block get proactive and pluck one of college's most well-rounded, pro ready swingman. Me like. | - |
| 6 | Raul Lopez | Bilbao Basket | The ACB finalists finally have a new face on the bench, and it's one of experience. It's also one, however, of considerable age and injury. | - |