Zalgiris close to signing former No. 7 overall pick / News - Basketnews.com

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Zalgiris Kaunas is looking to bring a big name to the EuroLeague. Per BasketNews sources, Lithuanian champions are in advanced talks with NBA guard Emmanuel Mudiay.

Emmanuel Mudiay

Position:PGAge:25Height:196 cmWeight:91 kgBirth place:Congo (Republic of the)ProfileNewsStatistics

Denver Nuggets selected Mudiay with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft. In five years, he played for Nuggets, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz.

Mudiay, 25, played his highest-scoring season in 2018-19 when he averaged 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game for the Knicks.

He played his last NBA season in 2019-20. Mudiay averaged 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game for Jazz. The same year the current Zalgiris Kaunas head coach Martin Schiller worked for Jazz affiliate Salt Lake City Stars.

In season 2020-21, Mudiay didn't play a single game. He had offers from the G League and Europe but turned them down due to expectations to remain in the NBA.

Mudiay has overseas experience. Before making his NBA debut, he chose to go pro in China instead of college in 2014. 1.91 m guard averaged 18 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per 12 CBA games for Guangdong Southern Tigers.

Zalgiris Kaunas

Position Player Status PG Mantas Kalnietis Signed until 2023 PG Lukas Lekavicius Signed until 2022 +1 SG Steve Vasturia (termination expected) Signeduntil 2022 +1 SG Arturas Milaknis Signeduntil 2022 SG Tomas Dimsa (will be sent on loan) Signeduntil 2022 +1 SG Karolis Lukosiunas Contract option +1 SF Niels Giffey (story) Signeduntil 2022 +1 SF/PF Edgaras Ulanovas(story) Signed until 2022 PF Tyler Cavanaugh Signeduntil 2023 +1 PF Augustine Rubit (won't return) Contract option +1 C Joffrey Lauvergne Signeduntil 2022 +1 C Josh Nebo (story) Signeduntil 2022 +1 C Marek Blazevic Signeduntil 2023 Coach Martin Schiller Expired contract Thomas Walkup (not coming back), Marius Grigonis (not coming back), Patricio Garino (not coming back), Paulius Jankunas Rumored to leave Nigel Hayes (story), Augustine Rubit, Martinas Geben (story), Karolis Lukosiunas, Rokas Jokubaitis, Steve Vasturia, Tomas Dimsa (loan) Interested Emmanuel Mudiay (story), Jaka Blazic (story), Jaleen Smith

See all the EuroLeague transfer market news here.

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