Unicaja de Málaga seeks center in a complex market

During the presentation of the temporary signing of Matt Thomas, Juanma Rodríguez addressed the Málaga media and detailed the current situation of Unicaja Málaga regarding the transfer market. The sports director explained that the search for a center responds to a real need of the team, although he acknowledged that the competition for available players is fierce.

“Just as Matt Thomas has said he will take it day by day, we are doing the same,” Rodríguez assured, establishing a parallel between the team’s work philosophy and that of the new signing. The head of the sports direction of the Málaga team emphasized that “it is a quite complex and complicated situation because not only Unicaja Málaga is looking for a 5, there are many other teams and even teams that start the season poorly or underperforming will surely also be looking to sign.”

A market where we are not a priority

Rodríguez was particularly clear in explaining the position of Unicaja Málaga in the current panorama of European basketball. “We are in a situation or scenario where we are not a priority for the players because there are other competitions or teams,” the sports director admitted bluntly. This reality influences the transfer strategy of the Málaga club, which must compete with larger teams and those with greater financial resources.

Despite these limitations, Unicaja maintains a vigilant attitude in the market. “We are going to be in the market looking for the best opportunity at all times and evidently now we are a bit short with 2 centers,” Rodríguez explained. The absence of Tyson Pérez due to injury forces the team to seek immediate solutions. “The third who could have been Tyson is not available, and Amine Noua will try to help,” the sports director added.

Two competitions, two different regulations

The situation becomes even more complicated when considering the participation of Unicaja Málaga in two different competitions with distinct regulations. “We are not only looking for a player, but also having 2 competitions with different regulations and deadlines,” Rodríguez explained. This aspect requires the club to carefully study each movement in the market. “It is a matter that we need to handle with care, be prepared, and study it well,” emphasized the sports director.

Unicaja does not limit its search to possible cast-offs from the NBA or Spanish teams. “We are monitoring the entire market in general, not only possible NBA cast-offs, but also the large squads in the Euroleague,” Rodríguez stated. The club constantly monitors players who are not getting playing time on their current teams. “We inquire about the situation of those who are not getting playing time,” noted the head of the sports area.

Yankuba Sima: just an inquiry with no progress

One of the names that has resonated the most in connection with Unicaja Málaga is that of Yankuba Sima, a former player of the club who is currently linked to Valencia Basket. However, Rodríguez was clear about the state of negotiations: “We have simply asked about his situation but there is no progress.”

The complexity of a potential deal with Sima lies in the involvement of multiple parties. “For this, there has to be an agreement among the parties, and in this case, there are 3: Valencia Basket with a player under contract, the player, and Unicaja Málaga,” Rodríguez explained. The sports director was firm about the prospects of this operation: “For now, we have simply asked, we have indicated that we could be interested, but there is no further progress.” Rodríguez even clarified that “at the moment it is not something we are considering quickly, rather it is a situation we will see as we go.”

The restrictions on spots in the Basketball Champions League

Beyond the search for centers, Unicaja Málaga faces a structural problem arising from the injuries of national players. The Málaga team currently has three national players occupying injured spots: Tyson Pérez, Yannick Nzosa, and Alberto Díaz. This situation leaves Txus Vidorreta with only three national players available in optimal conditions: Jonathan Barreiro, Nihad Djedovic, Willy Hernangómez, and Melwin Pantzar.

In the Liga Endesa, Unicaja must include a minimum of four national players in its lineup, so this situation does not have an immediate impact. However, the Basketball Champions League poses a completely different scenario. In the European competition, Unicaja Málaga must have five national player spots in its roster to comply with BCL regulations.

This restriction forces Txus Vidorreta to make complicated decisions. The coach will have to call up a player from the youth academy to complete the mandatory five spots, which implies leaving out one of his players who does not qualify as a Local Form Player. A situation that adds pressure to the management of the roster at a time when the team is already seeking reinforcements in key positions like center.

Unicaja Málaga therefore faces a complex landscape that combines the search for improvements in the market with the regulatory limitations of its two competitions. The philosophy of the club, as Rodríguez explained, involves maintaining patience and constant vigilance in the market, seeking the best opportunity at all times without rushing decisions that could jeopardize the structure of the roster.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Unicaja de Málaga busca pívot en un mercado complejo