After the Euroleague season is over, you can carefully look at the future.
A lot will depend on where Alba will play next year. Euroleague? Eurocup? Champions League? Or even NBA?
Since this will probably not be clarified until June, but it depends on how big/good the squad will be, I would only like to talk about the previous players and whether I would like to see them again next year at Alba.
I don’t think I have to write much about the season so far. The championship is theoretically still possible, but it would be a success to achieve the play-offs. In the El you were broken off again. Overall, probably the worst season in club history.
PG:
You went into the season with four PG, all of which will still have a contract next year. But I can’t imagine that we will see more than two of them next year.
I think Spagnolo (2026) and Samar (2026) will be gone. Spagnolo is an exciting player, but not yet pg enough for the 1 and the shoot is missing for the 2. Unfortunately, Samar never got his feet on the floor.
Hermannsson (2026) had really good games in which he played the team, but unfortunately also weak appearances and an overall not particularly good defense.
MDW (2027) is a good defender, has shown approaches, but six points per game are too little for a PG, especially if he is the “replacement” for Brown (even if it was not brought exactly because of this). One always believes that he has to be able to do more than he shows, but the year is almost around and the switch was not really fitted. Nevertheless, I would keep it for a year.
My wish: keep Hermannsson and MDW. Spagnolo and Samar go.
SG:
Thomas (2025) is a strong shooter that was very important for the team. In my eyes, he is still not a real leader. You can also ask yourself whether you can/does not want to do such a high -proof shooter, which is nowhere above average. I would rather go back to the type Smith. It was not much worse from the triple line, but much more complete.
Procida (2025) has great systems and in the past few weeks under Calles he has stabilized again in my eyes. Nevertheless, he (like Spagnolo) is not yet a plus player.
Mattisseck (2026) … Phew. Defense, intensity, mentality, own plant. But unfortunately also stagnating for years. I don’t know if a change to a smaller team (measured at the current level of the table) would be good for him. At Tadda you had the feeling that he really had something to be/to be clear somewhere. I could imagine that a change could help both sides. On the other hand, you shouldn’t forget what you have about it: with 25 already a lot of experience, commitment and actually a solid threesome.
My wish: stand up here completely
SF:
I wrote it a few weeks ago: I have found it difficult to watch Olinde (2026) for some time. Much to complain/flop. In addition, there has been no step forward over the past few years. A 2.06m SF must also have a post-up game at some point.
DELOW (2027) can do everything and also has room for improvement. But now he also has to make the jump to the top performer. In my eyes, he still has to develop constant go-to-options on the offensive. But probably the “set”.
Bean (2026) has now completely convinced me. Not on the 4, but on the 3rd will never be the go-to-guy, but is incredibly important for the team.
My wish: DELOW and Bean for the 3 next year.
PF:
I find Schneider (2025) better than he is made here frequently. I recognize a development over the past few years. He will probably no longer be a JT, but as a back-up for the BBL and Big number 5 in the EL in my eyes absolutely ok. You just have to know what to expect.
Rapique (2028) showed really good approaches, was also physically ready for EL and was not afraid. It’s a shame that he will go well.
I have not really understood the obligation of Baker II (2025). For me more fellow runners with here and there good approaches, but nothing that makes him really exciting in my eyes.
My wish: Schneider and Rapique (unfortunately rather not) remain.
C :
Wetzell (2025) for me much better than he is made. Maybe not the Starting-El-5 but definitely a very solid player with the “right” pass. Unfortunately he will go.
McCormack (2025) started really well, but then unfortunately subsided. Nevertheless, of course, a very interesting player.
Kessens (2025) brought what you could expect. Experience, defense, solid game. Depending on what the market looks like and where you play, I could imagine an extension.
My wish: McCormack and Wetzell (unfortunately not) remain.
When I look at this now, I am with six to eight players who can stay in my eyes. That is about half. In my view, this fits that the compilation of the team was the problem and not the individual players.
In any case, you would need a starter with caliber on the 2 and 4. In general, quality was missing at the top this year.
I would give calles a chance.
At the request of a single user (@Exil-Berlin) I wrote the contract terms again in brackets.
The following contracts expire:
Thomas
Procida
Schneider
Baker
McCormack
Pillow
Without not knowing more, here are only the stats of the double licensors from the ProB:
Nufer 199cm, 2006, SG, 7,2 ppg, 2,5 rpg, 1,1 apg
Dörries 209cm, 2006, PF, 9,9 ppg, 3,3 rpg, 0,9 apg
Grosber 198cm, 2006, PG, 9,8 ppg, 4,2 rpg, 2,5 apg
For comparison:
Rapique played 16.1 ppg, 5.7 RPG and 4.1 APG last year (2023/2024). Nobody is in their performance class from the numbers. However, he was already a year older in the season.
