Kevin Punter reportedly chose Barcelona over Panathinaikos / News - Basketnews.com

Kevin Punter has decided to accept Barcelona's offer for a two-year deal. The American guard, who had a great campaign with Partizan, rejected Panathinaikos' slightly more lucrative contract.

Credit: ABA League j.t.d./Emilija Jovanovic Credit ABA League j.t.d./Emilija Jovanovic

On the same day FC Barcelona fans learned that Sarunas Jasikevicius will no longer be the team's head coach and that Roger Grimau will take his place, another important development is about to take place.

Kevin Punter

MIN:27.89PTS:16.08 (58.62%)REB:2.08As:2.51ST:1.03BL:0.11TO:1.27GM:37ProfileEuroLeague2022/2023

The Catalan club has a deal in place with Kevin Punter for the next two seasons, according to EuroHoops' Stavros Barbaroussis. Per Jose Ignacio Huguet from El Mundo Deportivo, the player has received Barca's offer and chances are he will take it, although he hasn't yet agreed.

Barca had been on the trail of the former Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade guard for some time, but the club's delicate financial situation placed him far beyond its reach. Punter was also the object of desire for Real Madrid but everything suggested that he was going to end up at Panathinaikos, who had also presented him with a two-year, €3.6 million offer.

That same amount (about €3 million gross per year) is what Barca is offering him now, also for two years. However, due to the heavy taxation in Spain, it will bring about €1.7-1.8 million net annually to the athlete's account. Per El Mundo Deportivo, the departures of Sarunas Jasikevicius and Nikola Mirotic paved the way for Barcelona to be able to afford Punter's signing.

In his second season with Partizan, his first as team captain, the 30-year-old shooting guard was the mainstay of his team's great EuroLeague campaign. After many years out of the competition, Partizan reached the playoffs and came very close to eliminating Real Madrid, who would end up taking the title.

He finished the season averaging 16.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.5 assists on 49.1% shooting from 2-point range, 44.3% from beyond the arc, and 91.7% on free throws.

3-pointers this season

40%10,2Points made:10,2Accuracy:40,3%Place in standings:3Record max:17Record min:3Most made 3FGs:Nicolas LaprovittolaTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

On the other hand, Greek media report that Punter's side has already informed PAO of their intentions and that the Greens are now exploring other options to bolster their backcourt. One of them might be Tyler Dorsey, in case Fenerbahce decide to render the Greek-American guard a free agent.

FC Barcelona

Position Player Status PG Rokas Jokubaitis Signed until 2023 +2 PG/SG Nicolas Laprovittola Signed until 2026 PG/SG Tomas Satoransky Signed until 2026 SG Cory Higgins Signed until 2024 SF Nikola Kalinic Signed until 2024 SG/SF Oriol Pauli Signed until 2024 SF Alex Abrines Signed until 2026 PF Nikola Mirotic Signeduntil 2025 PF Sergi Martinez Signeduntil 2024 PF/C Oscar da Silva Signed until 2025 C Jan Vesely Signed until 2025 C James Nnaji Long-term contract Coach Roger Grimau(signed until 2025) Expired contract Kyle Kuric, Sarunas Jasikevicius (will not return), Sertac Sanli, Mike Tobey Rumored to leave Nicolas Laprovittola, Nikola Mirotic (story), Cory Higgins, Nikola Kalinic, Sertac Sanli, James Nnaji, Mike Tobey Interested Sertac Sanli (story), Kevin Punter (story)

More Barcelona transfer news:

Kevin Punter reportedly chose Barcelona over Panathinaikos Roger Grimau takes over FC Barcelona Sarunas Jasikevicius leaves Barcelona Barcelona reportedly work toward extending Sertac Sanli's contract Nikola Mirotic's future: the perfect fit and most likely landing spots Barca reportedly to implement significant budget cut for basketball section Nikola Kalinic denies rumors about agreement with Crvena Zvezda Like what we are doing? Support us by becoming BN+ member.