Newly-built Olympiacos: Are they good enough to contend for EuroLeague title again? / News - Basketnews.com

BasketNews expert Augustas Suliauskas analyzes whether Olympiacos got better or worse this offseason so far and writes about a player the Reds are missing.

Credit: IMAGO/Contrast, Sputnik - Scanpix Credit IMAGO/Contrast, Sputnik - Scanpix

We often see teams that were one step away from the title come back with a vengeance a season later. Not changing much, simply regrouping. Adding one, maximum two players to strengthen their rotation.

Kostas Sloukas

Position:PGAge:33Height:190 cmWeight:95 kgBirth place:Thessaloniki, GreeceProfileNewsStatistics

The best example? The San Antonio Spurs title in 2014, a year after Ray Allen forced Game 7 with that improbable 3-pointer.

I thought the same is going to happen withOlympiacos Piraeus. Sergio Llull's dagger from the midrange ripped the hearts of the Greek team and its fans. Yet, nobody seemed willing to believe this team needed much change.

But then Sacramento Kings showed willingness in bringing EuroLeague MVPSasha Vezenkov. A bit later another cornerstone shocked the market.Kostas Sloukasdeclined to run it back with Olympiacos, instead signing with their arch-rival Panathinaikos Athens.

Suddenly, a team that built success on continuity in the last three years found herself in a situation where its two best players are no longer with them. Moreover, Vezenkov's and Sloukas' uniqueness makes them incredibly hard to replace.

So far, the Reds have brought point guardNigel Williams-Gossfrom Real Madrid and power forwardLuke Sikmafrom ALBA Berlin in. How does it change the identity of the team? Did they get stronger or worse? If the second one is correct, who would balance the equation?

Luke Sikma & His Impact

Olympiacos fans desired Mirotic to replace Vezenkov. And I get it, he's the biggest name in Europe at the power forward position. But Luke Sikma has been among the best, too. The only problem?

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