2024-07-10 13:55:16
Alexander Vezenkov does not want to play in the NBA, but in Europe.
This is clear from an analysis on the site raptorsrapture.com, which is titled “Why Toronto’s new player wants to leave and why the Raptors can’t let him go.”
As is known, the rights of Vezenkov went to the Canadian team after an exchange with his former team “Sacramento”.
However, the Bulgarian ace does not seem to want to continue in the NBA, but wants to return to Europe. According to the media in Greece, Vezenkov has already agreed to return to “Olympiakos” – the team from where he left for his adventure in “Kings”.
The problem facing Alexander Vezenkov now is that he can’t just walk away and sign in Europe. He is not a free agent, and that applies to both his NBA contract and his ability to sign in Europe. Just as NBA teams often have to “buy out” a player’s contract in Europe to bring him to the NBA, Vezenkov has to be released from his contract here in order to play for Olympiakos. Unfortunately for Vezenkov, Toronto doesn’t seem inclined to just let him go.
The Bulgarian signed a three-year, $20 million contract with Sacramento last summer and played his NBA debut season with the Kings. After his rights were acquired by Toronto, the 28-year-old Bulgarian still has a contract worth $6.6 million for the upcoming 2024/2025 season, plus an option for another year worth $6.9 million.
The Canadian edition reminds precisely of Alexander Vezenkov’s current contract and continues: “The Raptors have no reason to simply give up on him and this money. The other option is a contract buyout, and that may be the most likely outcome at this stage. Vezenkov agrees to give up most or all of his salary for the 2024/2025 season. Toronto declines the option for next year and waives him. In addition to almost certainly taking a pay cut for Vezenkov to join Olympikos instead, he would also take the risk of another team stepping in and trying to force him to play.