Baskonia negotiates with Alex Len after failure in Madrid

Baskonia is actively working on signing Alex Len to address an evident shortcoming in their paint. As confirmed on Thursday by the newspaper El Correo, the Basque club has already contacted the Ukrainian center and discussions are progressing well. At 33 years old, Len represents an opportunity to strengthen an area of concern for Paolo Galbiati and his coaching staff.

The Vitoria-Gasteiz team is facing a complicated situation in its frontcourt. Kenneth Faried is the only natural center available in the current roster. This limitation forces Galbiati to consider unorthodox alternatives: versatile forwards like Tadas Sedekerskis or Rodions Kurucs could fill that position in an emergency, but the club prefers to avoid resorting to these solutions unless absolutely necessary. The arrival of Len would radically change this outlook.

An NBA veteran with European experience

Len is a player with extensive experience in elite basketball. Standing at 2.13 meters tall, the center born in 1993 was selected fifth in the 2013 Draft by the Phoenix Suns from the University of Maryland. His NBA career spanned twelve seasons, accumulating 704 games played in the best league in the world.

His return to Europe came last winter when he signed with Real Madrid. However, his time in the Spanish capital didn't turn out as expected. In the shadow of Walter Tavares and Usman Garuba, Len struggled to prove his worth. In 23 Euroleague games, he averaged just 3.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks in a little over nine minutes per game. An injury at the end of the season prevented him from participating in the 2026 Euroleague Final Four, held in Athens.

A new role in Vitoria-Gasteiz

At Baskonia, Len would have a completely different role. Rather than being a complementary piece, the Ukrainian center would become a central figure in the project. The Basque roster includes heavyweights like Damion Baugh, Chris Duarte, Clement Frisch, Markus Howard, Stefan Joksimovic, A.J. Lawson, Kobi Simmons, Matteo Spagnolo, and D.J. Stewart Jr. A robust team that needs to solidify its interior to aspire to compete in the Euroleague.

Signing Len would not only be a quantitative boost but also a qualitative one. His accumulated NBA experience and knowledge of the European game position him as an immediate solution to Galbiati's problems under the basket. Moreover, his arrival would relieve pressure on Kenneth Faried, allowing for a more balanced rotation at the center position.

A demanding schedule ahead

Baskonia has no time to waste. The Basque team faces a tough debut in the 2026-27 Euroleague. On September 24, in the first round of the regular phase, they will host the reigning champions, Olympiacos, at the Fernando Buesa Arena. Three days later, on September 27, they will start their journey in the Liga Endesa by visiting Recoletas Salud San Pablo Burgos.

This tight schedule makes resolving negotiations urgent. Len would need to quickly adapt to Galbiati's systems and connect with his new teammates. The advantage is that he is already familiar with the Euroleague from his experience in Madrid, which would accelerate his integration into the Basque project.

The reasons for an opportunity

For Len, Baskonia represents a second chance in Europe after his disappointing experience in Madrid. Transitioning from being a marginal piece to an important player in a competitive team system could revitalize his career. At 33 years old, such opportunities are rare, and the Ukrainian center has enough experience to understand the value of such a wager.

From Baskonia's perspective, the risk is limited. A veteran with defensive capability and experience in the paint can add stability to a rather young roster in some aspects. His arrival would not only strengthen the team but also send a clear message about the club's ambitions for the upcoming season.

Negotiations are ongoing. If everything progresses as it appears, Alex Len could soon become a key addition to the Basque project in a season that promises to be demanding both in the Euroleague and the Liga Endesa.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Baskonia negocia con Alex Len tras fracaso en Madrid