NBA strikes again: Olympiacos face the risk of losing two of their best players / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: Vezenkov: Getty Images Dorsey: Olympiacos BC Credit Vezenkov: Getty Images Dorsey: Olympiacos BC

This past season was an absolute success for Olympiacos. The Greek powerhouse returned to the top of European basketball with a great EuroLeague season, culminating in the Final Four in Belgrade with almost 10.000 of their fans following the team.

Points this season

48%80,0Points made:80,0Accuracy:48,3%Place in standings:5Record max:101Record min:67Best scorer:Aleksandr VezenkovTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

It was natural that the expectations for the upcoming season would have been even higher. But despite the extension of coach Bartzokas, who signed a new contract until 2025, the Greek powerhouse is now facing the serious risk of losing two of their most important players, Bulgarian forward Sasha Vezenkov and American/Greek guard Tyler Dorsey.

Right before the NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings and the Cleveland Cavaliers made a trade. Cleveland sent the draft rights to Vezenkov, who the Brooklyn Nets initially drafted in 2017, and cash considerations to the Sacramento Kings in exchange for the 49th pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.

Usually, these trades are concluded with some cash or future second-round picks moving from one side to the other. Still, the fact that the Kings asked for the rights to Vezenkov made it pretty clear that Sacramento was interested in bringing the Bulgarian forward to the NBA.

A few days after the trade, Vezenkov himself confirmed the fact that he knew that the Kings were on his tracks during the season.

"I know that the Kings watched me during the season," Vezenkov said. "They saw my games, so I'm happy that my rights went to a team that really wants me and appreciates me."

In the summer of 2021, Vezenkov signed a contract extension with Olympiacos until 2024. That contract extension led him to a superb season, in which he averaged 13.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal per game while shooting 37% from 3-point. The power forward was also named into the All-EuroLeague First Team.

Tyler Dorsey

MIN:24.17PTS:12.82 (51.67%)REB:2.34As:1.97ST:0.5BL:0.11TO:1.79GM:38ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

But Vezenkov's contract also included an NBA buyout, which is affordable for most of the NBA teams, less than one million dollars, a couple of sources told BasketNews.

That type of buyout doesn't represent a real obstacle for the NBA teams, and if the player is willing to make the jump to the NBA, the risk is pretty high for the Greek side.

Not that a bigger buyout would necessarily protect the European teams, just look at Facundo Campazzo's situation. The Argentinian point guard had a huge buyout in his contract with Real Madrid, around 6 million euros. Still, Real let Campazzo pay his buyout in different installments, paving the way for his departure.

Vezenkov's future is still uncertain. It's not guaranteed that he will leave Olympiacos this summer to join the Kings, but the interest is definitely there on both sides, and his departure would represent a huge blow for the Greek powerhouse.

But after such a strong season and with his 27th birthday incoming, this probably looks like the best time for Vezenkov to consider the possibility of making the jump to the NBA.

As we analyzed on our website in a recent article, the Bulgarian forward would also be a nice offensive fit for the Sacramento Kings' system, especially as a three-point threat on the corners.

But the potential departure of Sasha Vezenkov is not the only issue that Olympiacos has to face these days. Another key player of this past season, American/Greek guard Tyler Dorsey, might leave the team to join the NBA.

Sure, Dorsey's situation is a bit different from Vezenkov's. The American/Greek guard is a free agent since he signed a one-year deal the past summer. He always could go back to the NBA after landing in Europe three years ago.

Olympiacos is trying anything in their power to keep the player in Greece for at least another season, but with EuroLeague rivals also trying to make a move on the player, especially Fenerbahce, and Dorsey's never hidden ambition of returning to the NBA, the task is a difficult one for sure.

Dorsey already had a private workout with the Dallas Mavericks, who still have a roster spot for next season. Dallas wouldn't probably be the best option for Dorsey in terms of playing time, but it's not impossible that other teams might enter the mix in the next few days.

Money-wise, the American/Greek guard could make around $1.8 million if he signs for the minimum. But that's the gross salary, in terms of net profit, he'd make around $1 million, an amount of money he could easily increase in Europe, where he could get around $1.5 million net, either in Greece or signing in some other country.

But there's an aspect that is often ignored when it comes to the NBA. After playing for some years in the league, players develop the right to a pension that they'd start to earn after celebrating their 62nd birthday.

Dorsey needs to play another season in NBA to develop the right to the minimum pension provided by the NBPA, which is around 57k per year. It doesn't look like a lot of money, but for many former NBA players, that's basically their only source of income during their old age.

The pension can get to a maximum of 90k per year, especially if certain academic criteria are met. Not every former player maintains a high-level lifestyle when his career ends, not everyone becomes an NBA coach or assistant, and many former players also make poor financial decisions with their money, so the pension from the NBPA becomes almost essential for some of them.

If Dorsey indeed lands an NBA contract for next season, that pension will also become a reality for him, which has to be weighed in his decision.

Olympiacos, in the meanwhile, are making some moves too. They've already reached an agreement with big man Joel Bolomboy and power forward Alec Peters should be next.

The Greek powerhouse is also keeping an eye on Nick Calathes' situation. The Greek point guard might leave Barcelona after the arrival of Tomas Satoransky, but first, he needs to find an agreement to terminate his contract with the Catalan club, which is not easy since Calathes makes more than €2 million in Spain.

But despite these other moves, the risk of losing both Vezenkov and Dorsey is something that Olympiacos cannot rule out at the moment.

While the Greek side would have the ability to find good potential replacements for those two players, it's also true that, as of right now, it'd be almost impossible to find better players than Vezenkov and Dorsey on the market.

Another confirmation that the NBA remains a big threat for the European teams, it doesn't matter if they're big or small.

Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.