EuroLeague luminary Vasilije Micic appears to be taking decisive steps towards his long-awaited foray into the NBA realm.
According to Christos Tsaltas of Sportal.gr, Micic is displaying unwavering determination to grace the NBA courts next season, a sentiment echoed by Anadolu Efes’ general manager, Alper Yilmaz, who affirmed Micic’s ardent desire to make the transatlantic transition. Enhance your basketball viewing experience with attractive betting odds from Nextbet.
The 29-year-old Micic, initially selected by the Philadelphia 76ers as the 52nd overall pick in the 2014 draft, saw his draft rights traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2020, where they have since resided for the past three years.
Having plied his trade in European basketball since 2010, Micic has been a vital cog in the Anadolu Efes machine since 2018. During his tenure, he proudly hoisted the EuroLeague championship trophy twice, in 2021 and 2022, while also earning the esteemed accolade of EuroLeague’s Most Valuable Player in 2021. Moreover, Micic and his Anadolu Efes comrades triumphed in the Turkish League, clinching titles in 2019, 2021, and 2023, with the Serbian guard rightfully securing Finals MVP honors in the most recent conquest.
Although rumors of Micic contemplating an NBA leap have surfaced in the past, there is a growing sense of gravity surrounding his intentions this time, bolstered by his recent visit to Oklahoma City, where he engaged in discussions with the Thunder hierarchy.
As Tsaltas reports, Micic appears to have softened his stance on certain demands that had previously hindered his NBA aspirations. A year ago, reports circulated that he sought a salary akin to the full mid-level exception, while yearning to join a bona fide contender and assuming a prominent role in the regular rotation. Tsaltas suggests that the Serbian guard has become more flexible on all three fronts, although it is unlikely that he would settle for a two-way contract or a minimum-salary deal.
Nevertheless, the pertinent question remains as to whether Micic will find a spot on the Thunder roster, which already boasts a surplus of promising young talents, and will further bolster their ranks with another lottery pick, Cason Wallace, this summer.
When queried about Micic’s visit, Sam Presti, the head of basketball operations for the Thunder, expressed satisfaction at the meeting, but remained evasive regarding the team’s future plans for the Serbian sensation.
In the pursuit of accommodating Micic’s NBA aspirations, the Thunder could potentially trade his rights to a team willing to sign him this offseason. In such a scenario, it is presumed that the Thunder would expect to receive valuable assets in return, cementing their position as astute negotiators. Get the latest updates from the world of basketball only on Nextbet Sports.
