AS Monaco Pursues NBA Veteran Cory Joseph Amidst Euroleague Recruitment Ban
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Despite a recent recruitment ban, AS Monaco is reportedly on the verge of signing 13-season NBA veteran Cory Joseph, bolstering their roster wiht notable experience. The move comes as the Principality club navigates sanctions from the Euroleague and seeks to address a critical shortage of players.
The Euroleague confirmed last week that AS Monaco would be prohibited from recruiting players and coaches, a ban initially imposed provisionally on November 10. The sanction stems from “late payments,failure to provide the required documentation and lack of cooperation,” and includes a fine of 300,000 euros. While the club retains the right to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, it has, as of yet, remained publicly silent regarding the penalty.
Addressing a Roster Imbalance
according to reports from Greek media outlet athletiko, Monaco is aggressively pursuing Joseph, a 34-year-old point guard currently without a contract. The Roca Team currently has only 13 players registered for the Euroleague, significantly fewer than competitors like Red Star Belgrade (20 players), Hapoel Tel Aviv (17 players), and Panathinaikos (17 players). This disparity in roster size highlights a clear need for increased rotation within the Monaco squad.
“If they actually manage to sign the Toronto native, it is because they have managed to settle their debt with the Euroleague,” a source close to the negotiations stated. The prosperous acquisition of Joseph hinges on Monaco resolving its financial obligations to the Euroleague.
A Proven NBA Career
Joseph brings a wealth of experience to the table, having been selected 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in the 2011 NBA draft – the same year Kyrie Irving was the No. 1 pick. He was a member of the spurs’ championship-winning team in 2014 before returning to his hometown team,the Toronto Raptors,in 2015.
His NBA journey continued with stints at the Indiana Pacers,Sacramento Kings,Detroit Pistons,and Golden State Warriors. Most recently,Joseph played for the Orlando Magic last season,but the team did not retain his contract this summer. Throughout his NBA career, spanning 866 regular season games and 87 playoff appearances, Joseph has averaged 6.7 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.4 rebounds,with a career-high 33 points scored in January 2017 against the Brooklyn Nets.
Expanding Monaco’s NBA Pipeline
The potential signing of Joseph would continue a trend of AS Monaco attracting established NBA players. The club has recently attracted NBA talent like Kemba Walker and Daniel Theis. The club appears to be strategically targeting players with established NBA resumes to elevate its competitiveness in both the Betclic Elite and the Euroleague.
The next few days will be crucial in determining whether Monaco can finalize the deal with Joseph and overcome the obstacles presented by the Euroleague ban. However, the club’s proactive recruitment efforts suggest a determination to build a strong and competitive team, even in the face of adversity.
Hear’s a substantive news report answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions:
Why: AS Monaco is pursuing Cory Joseph to address a critical roster
