Signing ideas for every EuroLeague team before deadline / News - Basketnews.com

Approaching the EuroLeague signing deadline, BasketNews explore the potential signing ideas for every playoff, Final Four, or title contender.

Credit: EuroLeague, NBA | BasketNews illustration Credit EuroLeague, NBA | BasketNews illustration

EuroLeague teams have less than 12 hours to make their final roster adjustments before the signing deadline, which will solidify their squads for the remainder of the season.

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv / Schedule

Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv FC Bayern Munich90-82 AS Monaco Maccabi Playtika Tel AvivThu20:00

There are currently 15 teams (theoretically) in contention for a playoff spot, with some having a better shot than others.

BasketNews has explored the league for hypothetical signings that could improve each team's chances of winning the championship, reaching the Final Four, or securing a spot in the Top 8.

EuroLeague signing deadline: Tyler Dorsey and other last-minute moves

#15 FC Bayern Munich (9-16)

To make the playoffs, FC Bayern Munich basically need to win all nine of their remaining games.

However, before they can work on creating any miracles, the German Cup champions must take things one step at a time. Their priority should be to acquire a player to replace January's MVP, Augustine Rubit.

The team has struggled on offense throughout the season, currently ranking 15th in offensive rating (according to BBallytics) over the last five games, during which they were only able to win once. Their 2-point shooting percentage is also ranked 17th (49.7%), and they have the lowest true shooting percentage in the league (53.6%).

Bayern have decided to go with the EuroLeague rookie Zylan Cheatham. Per BasketNews sources, he will come to Munich before the signing deadline.

#14 EA7 Emporio Milan (9-15)

Olimpia Milan is on the same page with Bayern, but Luigi Datome still believes there is a shot. That would make an incredible season turnaround, as Milan may have to win at least nine out of their remaining ten regular season games.

Since the arrival of Shabazz Napier, Milan has won all three of their recent EuroLeague games. Messina has noticed a slight improvement in their offense, now ranked 9th in offensive rating, a significant improvement from their 18th-place ranking in the first 21 games, as BBallytics' data shows.

Free throws this season

80%15,9Points made:15,9Accuracy:80,4%Place in standings:3Record max:31Record min:6Most made FTs:Dzanan MusaTeamEuroLeagueStatisticsSchedule

However, the team could still use some help in shooting the ball.

In their recent victories over Red Star, Panathinaikos, and Baskonia, Milan only managed to hit 30.9% of their 3-pointers, the 13th-best in the EuroLeague since Round 22. They also lack consistent 3-point shooting in the small forward and power forward positions due to injuries.

#13 Crvena Zvezda Medianbet Belgrade (11-14)

Red Star's playoff hopes have been jeopardized after a disappointing loss to ALBA Berlin on their home court. The Adriatic league champions have lost momentum at the worst possible moment, losing five out of their last six EuroLeague games.

Despite losing, Red Star's defense has remained solid, ranking them among the top 5-8 defensive teams according to BBallytics' defensive rating. However, their offense has been a significant issue, ranking third-worst in the competition.

To make matters worse, Red Star's offensive presence and energy have been lacking, making it clear they need a boost.

Fortunately, the club's biggest signing in history is finally set to join the squad. Facundo Campazzo will provide the team with much-needed offensive firepower and a morale boost during the critical stretch of the season.

The Argentinian magician has been warming up in the Adriatic league, where he has averaged 13.4 points and 6.9 assists per game, in addition to helping Red Star win the Serbian Cup.

Red Star needs to win at least seven of their last nine games, but with five matches at home, three of which are against their head-to-head playoff rivals, Campazzo gives the Serbs a glimmer of hope for a miracle.

#12 Virtus Bologna (12-13)

Virtus, the reigning EuroCup champions, are only one win away from breaking into the Top 8, yet nobody seems to be talking about them. With one more signing, Virtus could become an intriguing team that would shake things up in the competition.

Although Marco Belinelli has been putting up impressive numbers in the last seven games, averaging 14.3 points in just 19 minutes with a 66.7% true shooting percentage, Virtus still need some consistent elite help on the perimeter to be decisive in the long run.

Despite winning three of their last four games, Virtus' offensive rating (12th best) highlights the need for more offensive firepower.

#11 Anadolu Efes Istanbul (12-12)

The reigning back-to-back champions, Efes, have a strong team in every position. However, the uncertainty over Vasilije Micic's injury has left them searching for a guard acquisition in the market.

Adding depth to their ball handlers department would benefit the team, whether Micic remains on the floor or not.

This is especially important as two of their three backcourt stars, Vasilije Micic and Will Clyburn, lead the EuroLeague in minutes played.

Having reliable backup guards would reduce the burden on Micic and Clyburn and keep them fresh for the crucial games ahead.

#10 Zalgiris Kaunas (13-12)

Zalgiris Kaunas' presence in the playoff race is surprising, especially given their recent struggles. While they secured an impressive four-game winning streak without their star player Keenan Evans and his injured replacement Isaiah Taylor, the team has since hit a rough patch.

Their last five games have been disappointing, with the team showing the worst defensive rating and 17th offensive rating in the competition, per BBallytics. In addition, they have struggled with shooting, ranking 17th in shooting percentage.

Zalgiris' offensive success has mainly consisted of isolation plays and some lucky shots during crunch time. It's clear that they need more skill and talent on the offensive end, a need that has persisted throughout the entire season.

#9 Valencia Basket (13-12)

Valencia has quietly emerged as an unexpected contender in the playoff race, winning six of their last eight games.

Their offensive firepower has been particularly impressive during this stretch, as they have produced the third-best offense in the EuroLeague. Valencia has been lethal from beyond the arc, boasting the second-best 3-point accuracy (40.4%) and the best true shooting percentage (64.7%) in the league.

Despite their recent success, Valencia's defense has been a weak spot for them throughout the season. They have ranked among the top three worst defensive teams in the competition, and their 2-point shooting percentage allowed is second-worst at 57.7%.

Adding a player with a solid defensive mindset to shore up their defense could help them fill some gaps.

Nevertheless, Valencia's depth and the variety of lineups they utilize make them an intriguing team to watch in the playoff race.

#8 Maccabi Playtika Tel Aviv (13-12)

Maccabi Tel Aviv has been hovering around the Top 8 for some time, despite being perhaps the most inconsistent team in the EuroLeague. They have yet to win back-to-back games in 2023.

However, one thing that has remained persistent is their defense, which has consistently ranked among the bottom 3-4 teams in the league in their last five or ten games, according to BBallytics.

This has been a recurring issue for Maccabi this season, as they currently have the second-worst defense overall. Obviously, losing Alex Poythress and Austin Hollins until the end of the season didn't help at all.

But adding a defensive specialist to their second unit could alleviate some of these concerns and help them improve their defensive performance.

#7 Cazoo Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz (13-12)

If Baskonia's concerns about Daulton Hommes' knee this season are serious, then they have an easy decision to make.

While Hommes' impact may be difficult to measure by traditional stats, his analytical impact was huge.

Despite averaging just 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.5 assists in 19 minutes, Hommes had the second-best NET rating differential on the team, behind only Matt Costello (per BBallytics). With Hommes on the court, Baskonia outscored their opponents by 10.3 points per 100 possessions.

If Hommes cannot play, Baskonia will need someone who can fill his role and is willing to sacrifice for the team.

With plenty of players who can handle and shoot the ball, Baskonia should focus on finding a player who can bring a similar impact to Hommes on both ends of the court.

#6 Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade (13-12)

Partizan Belgrade are still searching for a last-minute acquisition to bolster its frontline depth. With Matthias Lessort and Zach LeDay playing significant minutes this season (they both make the EuroLeague top 6 in total minutes played), they require solid backup options.

Partizan has exhibited a unique ability this season, boasting the best offensive and worst defensive ratings after 25 EuroLeague games.

Thus, it's evident that a smart defensive-minded player could ease Zeljko Obradovic's stress levels when his main bigs take some much-needed rest.

#5 AS Monaco (15-10)

Monaco's backcourt trio of Mike James, Jordan Loyd, and Elie Okobo is already impressive, but they could benefit from having a frontcourt player who can stretch the floor.

This would create more space for the guards to score in the paint or knock down 3-point shots from kick-out passes.

Monaco currently lacks such a player. Their bigs connected 20 of 76 threes this season (26.3%), including Adrien Moerman, who is now gone.

The problem is that there weren't EuroLeague-ready big men with elite shooting skills available on the market in the past couple of months.

But if Sasa Obradovic wishes to improve their defense, he probably wouldn't mind adding a lock-down perimeter defender.

#4 Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul (15-9)

Fenerbahce Istanbul signed a multi-year contract with Tyler Dorsey, but there's something that Dimitris Itoudis would also love to fix.

Scoring shouldn't be a problem for Fenerbahce, with Scottie Wilbekin, Marko Guduric, Carsen Edwards, and others assisting Dorsey. But on the other end of the floor, there were loopholes recently.

Fenerbahce own the worst defensive rating in the last ten EuroLeague games. They're not doing enough to contest 3-pointers better, with their opponents making 38.5% of their shots beyond the arc.

They don't make their opponent's life easier offensively in general, allowing them to attack the rim by 62.4% true-shooting percentage (2nd worst in the league).

They neither blocked shots frequently (1.3 BPG, 17th in the league) nor protected their paint with the worst defensive rebound percentage (61.7%).

Tonye Jekiri has played his first game after an injury and might change the picture. But that's something that would be worth thinking about going forward.

#3 FC Barcelona (17-8)

It's not easy to identify weaknesses when talking about the top 3 EuroLeague teams, both in offensive and defensive ratings, in the last ten games. But even FC Barcelona has some areas for improvement.

After returning from his Achilles injury, Nikola Mirotic still needs time (naturally) to get into his zone.

And one of the most surprising Saras signings of the summer Oscar Da Silva still needs time to find consistency on the highest level.

Smart stretch four would probably receive a warm welcome in Jasikevicius' squad.

#2 Real Madrid (17-7)

After a shaky EuroLeague start, Madrid now rides as one of the hottest teams in the EuroLeague.

Real won 7 of 8 last EuroLeague games, including only a single loss in 2023, behind the best defensive rating in the competition.

The only thing they might be missing is... Jaycee Carroll. Or another shooter who could execute well in set plays, making their offense even more efficient.

Even during the winning streak, Madrid produced only the 7th best offense in the EuroLeague (per BBallytics), mainly due to an average 3-point shooting (35%, 10th place).

#1 Olympiacos Piraeus (18-7)

Introducing the most well-rounded team in EuroLeague. With the second-best offense and defense in the league, the Reds possess a rare balance that's hard to come by these days.

It's difficult to critique a team that's already so good. However, if we're talking about contending for the title, Olympiacos needs more consistency from one of their players, who was expected to be the top scorer.

That being said, the team's impeccable chemistry, built over the past couple of years, has led to some impressive basketball.

But when it comes to playoffs, opponents will adjust, and individual performance will be crucial. This is where Tyler Dorsey has shined in some stretches, creating shots on his own and turning seemingly impossible attempts into points.

Nevertheless, Canaan has the opportunity to prove himself to coach Bartzokas and show that he's worthy of trust. There's still time for him to step up and make an impact.

URBONUS podcast:

Subscribe to BN+ and get access to exclusive content.