Edy Tavares' contract extension talks with Real Madrid reportedly reveal big gap / News - Basketnews.com

Edy Tavares and Real Madrid are currently negotiating a contract extension. However, the two sides seem to be far from reaching an agreement.

Credit: AFP-Scanpix Credit AFP-Scanpix

Walter Tavares' current contract with Real Madrid expires in June 2024. However, the first contact on a possible extension that was carried out a few weeks ago, has resulted in a considerable distance between the two parties, according to Marca.

Points this season

48%84,0Points made:84,0Accuracy:48,0%Place in standings:4Record max:105Record min:60Best scorer:Dzanan MusaTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

The center from Cape Verde considers that he's underpaid considering how the current situation in the European basketball market stands, and, especially with relation to his status as the most dominant big man in the EuroLeague.

Tavares earns 3.5 million euros gross, although after taxes the net sum is reduced to 1.8 million. There are numerous stars from the continent who are above that figure, but few or none have the same impact on the game as Real Madrid's center, who aspires to have this contribution recognized in financial terms.

In 2024, Tavares will be 32, which means that he'll have at least 3-4 more years of quality basketball ahead of him. That's one of the main reasons why he's willing to sign what may be one of the biggest contracts of his career.

On the other hand, he knows that there are clubs in Europe that would open their doors to him and where, due to better tax conditions, he could almost double his net salary.

Since his first contract extension in June 2019, Tavares has grown as a player. In addition to his defensive skills, he has been improving on the offensive end as well, in addition to developing into a reliable passer that can facilitate Madrid's offensive flow.

This season, he's averaging 10.5 points, is the EuroLeague's second-best rebounder with 7.2 boards per game, he leads the blocks category with an average of 2.5, and his PIR amounts to 16.7 points.

It is clear that Tavares would not lack succulent offers should he become available. There is a lot of time left to try to bring the two sides together, Marca notes, but at the same time, the club has to look at other cases as well. Gabriel Deck and Dzanan Musa have also signed deals that expire in 2024.

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