3. Vasilije Micic (Anadolu Efes): The 6-foot-5 Serbian guard has his draft rights retained currently by the Thunder. While some have speculated he could make the jump to the NBA, his agent, Misko Raznatovic, denied having talks with any clubs for next season at this time. Still, Micic has drawn the attention of NBA teams with his play. “He’s almost an elite passer,” one NBAscout told HoopsHype. “He’s a good shooter, both on and off the dribble. He’s not athletic but has enough strength after his first step to get at the rim once he gets a runway. He’s very smart. His basketball IQ is off the charts.”
Anadolu Efes Rumors
You’ve said that you’ve had some offers from the NBA during the past summer, but Anadolu Efes’ role satisfied you the best. Did you have a guaranteed offer from an NBA team that you came close to signing with? Shane Larkin: I had a multi-year guaranteed deal in the NBA. It was good money, similar money to what I was going to be getting here in Efes, but things just didn’t work out the way that we wanted them to and now I’m back in Efes. I’m happy to be here and I’m happy to have another opportunity to win a EuroLeague championship. It would’ve been a great opportunity, but things didn’t work out. It’s all good and I’m back in Efes where I love to be. Back in a country where I love living. I love my life, love my situation here in Efes, love being in Istanbul. We’re now going to make the best out of this season and try to get what we’ve been chasing for the last three years.
No Philly: Vasilje Micic staying in Turkey
Anadolu Efes will count on Vasilije Micic for the upcoming 2020-21 season, Micic’s agent Misko Raznatovic confirmed on Twitter.
Shane Larkin signs new deal in Europe
Anadolu Efes star Shane Larkin signed a new two-year contract with the club, according to Eurohoops sources. The 27-year-old American, who also received Turkish citizenship this season, has an NBA out option for 2021 in the contract. Larkin will earn a total of $7.7 million (3.7 + 4) from Efes in the next two seasons.
Larkin was one of the driving forces behind Efes‘ recent success and has been putting on a historic season. He averaged 22.2 points 3.1 rebounds 4.1 assists over 25 EuroLeague games this past season while also challenging a few record-grade performances.
Larkin is currently a free agent. Before the coronavirus pandemic, he and Anadolu Efes were negotiating a new contract. He signed a two-year deal worth $7.7 million with Efes in late April 2020, a contract he is trying to restructure. He wants to make it clear he is “100,000 percent fine” staying in Turkey and is willing to stay for the remainder of his career. For Larkin, the true feeling of comfort, of happiness, lies in belonging, in feeling wanted.
Vasilije Micic believes that during the last two seasons with Anadolu Efes he proved that he can join an NBA team with a role that will be significant enough to keep him on the court for possibly more than 20 minutes a night. “This is my style of play. I could play fewer minutes, play a smaller role but I think that during my career in Europe I have already gained the status of a player that shows I could play a role that is longer than 20 minutes, which is what might be waiting for me in the NBA,” Micci said in an interview with 15min.lt.
