Rolands Smits officially joins Zalgiris Kaunas on a two-year deal / News - Basketnews.com

Credit: ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix Credit ZUMAPRESS.com - Scanpix

Zalgiris Kaunas’ frontline will be strengthened by Latvian big man Rolands Smits. The 207 cm tall player, who celebrated his 27th birthday last week, has signed a two-year contract.

Rolands Smits

MIN:14.46PTS:4.24 (54.84%)REB:3.03As:0.54ST:0.35BL:0.05TO:0.7GM:37ProfileEuroLeague2021/2022

Smits has been playing for FC Barcelona for the last four years and reached the EuroLeague Final Four for two consecutive seasons.

The versatile Latvian, who can play at the power forward and center positions, has come off the bench under Sarunas Jasikevicius and has been the understudy of Nikola Mirotic, the EuroLeague MVP, occasionally playing as a center.

In the Spanish championship, Smits averaged 5.2 points and 2.9 rebounds, shooting at a 35.3% clip from long range. In the EuroLeague, his stats were similar: 4.4 points and 3.1 rebounds in an average of 15 minutes on the court.

Born in Valmiera, Smits moved to Spain at the age of 16 and started his professional career with Fuenlabrada. During his time there, Smits was named the best young player in the EuroCup during the 2016-2017 season, which brought him to the attention of Barcelona.

Smits has played for the Latvian youth national teams of all ages and made his men’s team debut in 2014 at the age of 19.

Zalgiris Kaunas

Position Player Status PG Mantas Kalnietis Signed until 2023 PG Lukas Lekavicius Signed until 2025 SG Karolis Lukosiunas Signed until 2023 SG Tomas Dimsa Signed until 2022 +1 SF/PF Edgaras Ulanovas Signed until 2024 SF Arnas Butkevicius (story) Signed until 2024 PF Tyler Cavanaugh Signed until 2023 +1 PF/C Rolands Smits Signed until 2024 C Joffrey Lauvergne Signed until 2022 +1 C Laurynas Birutis(story) Signed until 2024 Coach Kazys Maksvytis (story) Expired contract Tai Webster (will not return), Janis Strelnieks (will not return), Niels Giffey (will not return), Arturas Milaknis, Paulius Jankunas (retiring), Marek Blazevic (will not return), Regimantas Miniotas, Josh Nebo (will not return) Rumored to leave Joffrey Lauvergne, Arturas Milaknis, Regimantas Miniotas Interested Kevarrius Hayes (story), Caleb Homesley, Darius Thompson (story) Thank you for reading us! We have even more content for you.