Baskonia faces the season with an interior deficit despite six signings

Summer in Vitoria began with uncertainty after the elimination in the quarter-finals of the ACB League and doubts regarding Paolo Galbiati's continuity. Finally, the Italian coach retained his position, but the management faced a profound remodeling of the roster. Three fundamental pillars—Forrest, Luwawu-Cabarrot, and Diakite—left the project, which forced the search for alternatives in the market. The renewal of Kobi Simmons ensured the presence of a top-level point guard, although the team's structure remains incomplete in the interior positions.

An Incomplete Transfer Market

Baskonia has brought in six new faces to the Vitoria team. In the point guard position, in addition to retaining Simmons, Damion Baugh joined, a guard with good references making his European debut. In the shooting guard and small forward positions, they signed Markus Howard and DJ Stewart, who stands out after his time in the Eurocup. Chris Duarte is also in the perimeter, although his experience with Unicaja raises doubts about his performance in European competition. The most eye-catching move was the incorporation of AJ Lawson from the NBA, a Canadian expected to be an offensive and leadership reference, filling the gap left by Luwawu-Cabarrot. For the interior positions, Kenneth Faried and Alex Len were signed as pure centers, along with Rodions Kurucs at power forward.

However, the team's structure presents significant shortcomings. After the signings of Faried and Len, it seemed the club had solidified its interior play. However, Len's foot injury during his first practice changes everything, hinting at a long-term absence. This setback forces a reconsideration of the strategy, as the profile of a small, mobile interior player that Galbiati utilized last season is lacking, similar to Diakite or Omoruyi, players who combined versatility with movement on the court.

The Urgency for a Versatile Signing

The team urgently needs an addition in the four-five position, a versatile interior player capable of playing both positions with offensive ability. Faried is not able to exceed twenty minutes of play, leaving a rotation shortfall. Kurucs and Sedekerskis, although they have talent, do not provide guarantees to face the nearly 80 games Baskonia will play if they qualify for the Copa and ACB League playoffs. Additionally, Sedekerskis arrives with uncertainties: he was important two years ago but was sidelined for six months last season and is now still dealing with discomfort, making him another question mark to resolve.

The arrival of homegrown player Joksimovic adds a note of hope. The Slovenian shooting guard-small forward will turn 18 in November and is expected to become a star. His presence allows Baskonia to enjoy young talent in Europe as long as he remains in the old continent, aware that the NCAA has been offering multimillion-dollar contracts for this type of profile for three years.

A Team That Needs Time

If there is a team that especially requires three more weeks and half a dozen official matches to be evaluated, it is Baskonia. Faried has just arrived and has had little time to adapt. Len has practiced very little before his injury. Kurucs and Howard have been injured for half of the preseason, so everything is still to be configured. Clement Frisch, informed of a possible loan, now sees his future in the air with Len's situation. This accumulation of uncertainties creates a scenario where the team needs patience to find its true dimension.

The Starting Five and Its Doubts

Simmons, AJ Lawson, Duarte, Kurucs, and Faried make up the probable starting five in these early days. It's an interesting group that combines scoring, shooting, and experience, but doubts persist about the real level they can showcase. Duarte represents a significant disappointment after his time with Unicaja, although the Euroleague could offer him a chance of redemption. Faried, despite his background, has limitations on minutes. Lawson, for his part, arrives as one of the most interesting and established names from this European summer coming from the NBA, being the main offensive attraction of the project.

Baugh, another ex-NBA player, needs to prove his potential in his European debut. Spagnolo has shown flair and quality in his appearances. Howard, when at his best, is a reliable shooting guard. In the small forward position, Stewart brings more physicality and a different approach than Duarte after standing out in the Eurocup. Kurucs, when healthy, is an excellent offensive and defensive complement.

The four position raises the greatest doubts. Kurucs and Sedekerskis are not enough to face the demands of nearly 80 games if the team qualifies for the Copa and playoffs. The same issue exists in the five position, where Len’s injury has left the team numerically deficient. Unless two more signings arrive or Len’s injury turns out to be just a scare, the first two months of the season are expected to be particularly challenging for Baskonia, a team undergoing a longer acclimatization process than desired.

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