Zalgiris Kaunas 2019-20

[MrRager]

After Urbonas and Miklovas podcasts, the best I could get from rumours:

PG Goss, Lekavičius, Jokūbaitis
SG Grigonis(SF), Walkup, Westermann(PG)
SF Ulanovas, Milaknis
PF -------, ------(C), Jankūnas(C)
C Landale, Geben, Kavaliauskas

Any Motum fans? Could be possible, because his contract with Efes is done.

I'd like:
PG Goss, Lekavičius, Jokūbaitis
SG Grigonis(SF), Walkup, Westermann(PG)
SF Ulanovas, Milaknis
PF Moultrie(C), Kuzminskas(SF), Masiulis
C Landale, Geben/Biutis, Jankunas (PF)

4 foreigners - not too much.

[LuDux]

Saying goodbye to top scorer in quarterfinals is brave strategy

[MrRager]

Saying goodbye to top scorer in quarterfinals is brave strategy

I kinda agree on that, but if Saras sees the things this way, who are we to judge? The man know what he wants.

[Straight forward]

Žalgiris made a stupid move allowing Westermann to control the option on second season. Bad season in CSKA, injuries. Basically the same happened in Žalgiris. If his threes wasn't falling, I would call it nearly horrible season. Even his decision making wasn't all that impressive and came very fragmentally. Šaras wants 2 creative guards in the court at the same time. Last season he found a perfect due in Micic and Pangos, but this season Zalgiris wasn't able to do the same. Walters is pretty good, but he lacks facilitating qualities. So overall only Grigonis was clearly a great signing by Zalgiris this season in the backourt. Westermann's worst scenario happened, IMO, Walters too one dimensional, Walkup's a scrub at offence (only his great D, great personality and being 100% system player saved his ass for all season in Žalgiris).

I don't see Walkup staying. What will he do? He can't play SG, no I can't figure how Urbonas and his fellows found that he can play SG. He literally can't. At the point they will have Lekavicius, Westermann and probably a starting line-up level foreigner (as Walters gone).

I would surely say good buy to Westermann (but it's not up To Zalgiris, right?) and Walkup and unwillingly but Walters as well.

[Prancūzėlis_ZLD]

I think you're little harsh on Westermann (just above, and also on another comment previously)... Not long ago, it was still not sure if the guy would have to lose one of his leg after amputation, so of course he doesn't have (yet) the same mobility as he used to have during his first season with Žalgiris. If you look at the context (once again, he was not far from stopping his career and even not being able to play basketball at all at amateur level), his season was pretty interesting, and even better than anyone could have expected when he came back to Kaunas.
Now if there had not been this context (and the doubts coming from it), he wouldn't have signed at all with Žalgiris (too expensive) and it's complicated to say that "Žalgiris made a stupid move allowing [him] to control the option on second season", because if not that, he probably wouldn't have joined the team and maybe just waited for another contract in Lyon (and ASVEL would have offered him something at some moment in the season).

I won't say Westermann has been awesome during all the season, and I'm the first one to "blame" him on some stupid playmaking sometimes. Yet he did a good (enough) season, especially in this context and especially in some important games. Do you prefer Walton Jr? Do you prefer Sabeckis ? I think Žalgiris totally needed Léo to reach the playoffs.

Now, for next season, if he stays, what would be his salary, and what kind of player could be better for Žalgiris with the same kind of salary? This is not that easy... And the bet for Žalgiris is to expect that he will be better next year, far from his injuries (after what happened to him before this season, this is reasonable to expect that for next season)

[Nemanja]

Žalgiris made a stupid move allowing Westermann to control the option on second season. Bad season in CSKA, injuries. Basically the same happened in Žalgiris. If his threes wasn't falling, I would call it nearly horrible season. Even his decision making wasn't all that impressive and came very fragmentally. Šaras wants 2 creative guards in the court at the same time. Last season he found a perfect due in Micic and Pangos, but this season Zalgiris wasn't able to do the same. Walters is pretty good, but he lacks facilitating qualities. So overall only Grigonis was clearly a great signing by Zalgiris this season in the backourt. Westermann's worst scenario happened, IMO, Walters too one dimensional, Walkup's a scrub at offence (only his great D, great personality and being 100% system player saved his ass for all season in Žalgiris).

I don't see Walkup staying. What will he do? He can't play SG, no I can't figure how Urbonas and his fellows found that he can play SG. He literally can't. At the point they will have Lekavicius, Westermann and probably a starting line-up level foreigner (as Walters gone).

I would surely say good buy to Westermann (but it's not up To Zalgiris, right?) and Walkup and unwillingly but Walters as well.

Westermann this season failed, too much turnovers,too much shoots for3p ,too little drive.Walters by their profile he isnt for Zalgiris .For example,Strelnieks could be excellent solution for Zalgiris,by rumours Lekavicius will back ,could be like,could be good choice .Walton is preetty ruthless choice,Davies leaves,I think Balvin for exaple could replaced them .Zalgiris have some very talented players like Masiulis ,Valinskas and Birutis ,seems like they dont get enough chances .

[Straight forward]

Prancūzėlis_ZLD, Žalgiris hasn't signed Leo to see "how far the player who nearly lost his foot (really?) can go", they signed a player who was expected to be the same Leo as he was in previous season with Žalgiris (at least in the second half of this season). And he never was. His feet work is awkward, he even looks like limping at some moments and needs plenty of time to gather some speed. I doubt his feet work can be the same again. In 06/07 Leo was a good defender who could guard multiple positions and was more steady facilitator, he could control the team and those traits allowed him to cover his inconsistent scoring (permanent trait). Now he is not a good defender, can't stay in front of quick guards, can't really control the team in daily basis as he lacks quickness and explosiveness. Still has the IQ and gutsiness, thus he gave few wins for Zalgiris in the clutch, but overall his production was much lower than expected, IMO.

Nemanja, I doubt Masiulis is ready for EL. Probably needs at least one more year away from Zalgiris to be physically ready, but I might be wrong. The thing is that Masiulis doesn't really have his identity as a player, he does a little bit of everything, but not a specialist at anything. Doesn't have a got to move or anything special that would make his life easier in EL. To me, he's much like his father was, but softer and worse rebounder, defender. In a long run he should crack Zalgiris rotation, but I;m not holding my breath. Birutis eventually should reach back-ups center spot, but after an injury and sitting out on the bench, he needs to be loaned. I don't think Valinskas is coming back to Zalgiris ever again. He's just not good enough - not a great system player, flourishes in uptempo, unconstrained offence (anti-thesis of Žalgiris O), streaky shooter, average defender (comparison, Adas Juškevičius).

[Prancūzėlis_ZLD]

Prancūzėlis_ZLD, Žalgiris hasn't signed Leo to see "how far the player who nearly lost his foot (really?) can go", they signed a player who was expected to be the same Leo as he was in previous season with Žalgiris (at least in the second half of this season).

I beg to differ or it means he hasn't been honest with the staff, or the staff was too naive (which i doubt). There was a reason why Westermann was still free at the time he signed his contract with Žalgiris. And there was also a reason why he finally agreed to this kind of contract (money). If this had been the same Léo as at the end of hiss previous season, he would just have been too expensive for the team, this is a known fact (and I'm pretty sure everyone in Žalgiris staff was aware of it and this was totally a bet to sign him, and this bet was not that bad considering the context, because basically, it was not sure at all that he could have this productivity this season.

And yeah he avoided amputation from just a few hours. He gave an interview (in french) in Lequipe (https://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/Articl...-ampute/893465) that had been retranscripted in lot of french media last year.

In my opinion, this is also something that can explain why his footstep is less good or why he can struggle in defense sometimes. That, plus the lack of competition of course, and this is why I tend to think he is supposed to be better next season.

I can't find the amounts anymore, but there should be an easy way to illustrate everything :
Salary for Westermann with Žalgiris for 2016-2017 = ?
Salary for Westermann with CSKA for 2017-2018 = ?
Salary for Westermann with Žalgiris for 2018-2019 = ?


I don't remember what was said when Leo signed his current contract just before the start of the season and what were the official expectations, but I'm still pretty sure this was a kind of bet.

[Straight forward]

In terms of a contract, I agree, but I was talking about expectations performance wise. Zalgiris came to this season as final 4 team which surely has PO ambitions. You don't give spot to anyone, Zalgiris needed serious players to build around. The way I see it was more of a favour from Zalgiris to Leo than wise versa. The guy who didn't have any offers from other El's team, let alone top 8 teams, some doubt he can play ball as you say, ended up at Zalgiris. Be it cheap contract or not, it doesn't really matter, Zalgiris was risking with this. They added three new guards and absolute enigma health and quality wise Westermann. He was't projected as some role player, tiny spot filler, Zalgiris was risking signing him for serious job. They could invest their money, time and work to a much bigger upside projects, IMO.

[ZalgirisFanForLife]

I liked Leo this year, but somehow I don't really want him in next years roster. The main thing is his D. He lacks quickness and speed. But I almost have no doubt he will stay. Another rumour in lithuanian forum, that Chasson Randle could be that black (I know, really racist, but thats the info) PG, that we already signed. Landale and Randle - two weird players to cover left spots. Can't really see, how they could work out, but maybe a couple next signings will make sense.

[MrRager]

I liked Leo this year, but somehow I don't really want him in next years roster. The main thing is his D. He lacks quickness and speed. But I almost have no doubt he will stay. Another rumour in lithuanian forum, that Chasson Randle could be that black (I know, really racist, but thats the info) PG, that we already signed. Landale and Randle - two weird players to cover left spots. Can't really see, how they could work out, but maybe a couple next signings will make sense.

Would Chasson Randle sign the contract in Europe so early, without waiting for offers from NBA? I mean the guy had pretty decent season statistics wise, given the limited minutes.
I know the post you are talking about, I think it was just a load of bullcrap from a guy pretending to be an insider.
Another reason why I don't think it will be Randle, is that we will most likely have Lekavicius returning to the team, I doubt that Saras would be pleased with two small PGs (185cm). Also, Landale could be a replacement for Kavaliauskas, not Davies. Especially given the uncertainty of Kuzminskas situation - he might be signed as a PF, imagine Landale and Kuzia as the starting players in the frontline - no chances. I believe in that case we would another athletic PF/C foreigner.

[Mindozas]

Chasson Randle is hardly a PG, he is more a combo. I think he could fill Wolters shoes, a player who is sharp while playing 1on1, but with better 3pts shot. We lack that badly. Let's say Leo, Lekavicius, Grigonis, Walkup and Randle would look quite ok as a backcourt. Jokubaitis should be given plenty of time in LKL, let's say some 20min on average, no matter the result, who cares if we'll finish with 4 losses or some 8. But of course, regarding Chasson this is just a wild rumour, maybe without any background, however by myself few days ago was thinking about a player who would suit Saras philosophy and would have European bball experience, I remembered Randle either.
The PF I liked this season was Nigel Hayes from Galatasaray. Good shooter for a PF which suits Saras, good rebounder, fine court vision, defense is ok too, quite young guy, seems like has good personality. I think he could become a great PF in Europe with years to come

[ZalgirisFanForLife]

Yeah, I agree with both, Randle and Hayes. Another combo that comes to mind - Trae Golden. Pretty good shooter, but I would prefer Randle, I think it could be a gem. I forgot about Hayes, I actually was looking at him on winter, pretty much a guarantee player, that will bring you everything you need from PF. Would be a great pick up, but I see other teams from EL or even NBA, who could want him. Very decent stats.

[markkanen]

So, Davies, White and Wolters are out for the next season? We need one great player on PF or C, how many minutes in Euroleague Jankunas or Kavaliauskas can play? And we have Birutis, and this Landale, he is average player with almost none defensive qualities at all.

Something like that:

Randle, Leka, Leo
Walkup, Grigonis
Milaknis, Ulanovas
Kuz(?), ?, Jankunas
Landale, ?, Kavaliauskas

[Mindozas]

Yeah, I agree with both, Randle and Hayes. Another combo that comes to mind - Trae Golden. Pretty good shooter, but I would prefer Randle, I think it could be a gem. I forgot about Hayes, I actually was looking at him on winter, pretty much a guarantee player, that will bring you everything you need from PF. Would be a great pick up, but I see other teams from EL or even NBA, who could want him. Very decent stats.

I'm usually kinda sceptical about players from teams like Avtodor, Kalev, Astana, cause there they plays pure run'n'gun wild basketball, with short possessions, lot of shooting, little or none defense. It's not that hard to have a good stats for a bit more individually skilled player, but other thing - could he play in system. I didn't see this Trae Golden guy, only know his name, so won't dig deeper, maybe he is good enough. But Saras and co does lot of scouting, so they'll pick the right option

So, Davies, White and Wolters are out for the next season? We need one great player on PF or C, how many minutes in Euroleague Jankunas or Kavaliauskas can play? And we have Birutis, and this Landale, he is average player with almost none defensive qualities at all.

Something like that:

Randle, Leka, Leo
Walkup, Grigonis
Milaknis, Ulanovas
Kuz(?), ?, Jankunas
Landale, ?, Kavaliauskas

Well, Davies also looked questionable in France before joining Zalgiris and it took almost all season for him to blossom Landale looks like has some skills, shooting range, maybe there's smth in him which could lift him to higher level. He is quite young too. But it's just a name so far which appeared in media. No guarantees that it's true. The most reliable guy regarding Zalgiris is Miklovas from basketnews, he said nothing about the names. Regarding Jankunas and Kavaliauskas, I kinda hardly see both veterans in squad for next season, Jankunas will stay for sure, so Kavaliauskas might leave. One of Geben and Birutis should join, but I doubt that any will take back-up center role right away. But this frontcourt puzzle so far is a bit too hard to get together