Eurohoops Update: 5 Americans in Euroleague who can make the NBA jump next season

In recent years, there has been an increase of U.S. ex-pats returning from stints in Europe to realize their goal of returning to the NBA and making an impact. Some, such as P.J. Tucker, Chris Copeland, Gerald Green and Danny Green, have even been able to make big impacts on their teams after honing their craft in Europe.

With only one week left in the Euroleague regular season before the Top 16 round begins, here is a look at some of the top performing Americans in the Euroleague who have a chance to jump ship to the NBA next season.

It should be noted that some guys were excluded from this list, such as Andrew Goudelock, Sonny Weems and Keith Langford, since their contracts and market value in Europe is too high for them to reasonably consider returning to the NBA. Since NBA teams have a limit to how much they can contribute to a player’s overseas buyout, it is unreasonable to expect top players to take huge pay cuts in their prime, when their European salaries could come close to the NBA’s mid-level exception.

1. Kyle Hines, 6’6”, PF/C, 1986

Team: CSKA Moscow (Russia), College: NC-Greensboro

In his second year with the highest budget club in Europe, Hines has continued to show that he is the best defensive big man in the Euroleague. Standing at just 6’6”, Hines has almost single-handedly changed what European teams look for in an American big man. Hines quickly made his way from 2nd division in Italy, to starring under American coach Chris Flemming in Bamburg, to back-to-back Euroleague champion in Olympiacos, before his current stint with CSKA.

Despite being way undersized for the center position, Hines has incredibly quick and strong legs that allow him to keep his ground on post defense, seamlessly defend on switches and put him in the mix for every rebound and loose ball. It is very typical to see Hines keep his man out of the paint to prevent a paint touch on one possession, then see him stop the other team’s point guard on a switch on a pick-and-roll on the next possession.

He doesn’t have the skill-set that would allow him to be a traditional four man in the NBA, but his knack for getting points from hustle, offensive rebounds and energy plays give him enough value offensively to prevent him from being a liability on defense.

Hines could perhaps be a great fit on Brooklyn, where center Brook Lopez has the size, but the skill-set and mentality of a forward. With owner Mikhail Prokhorov obviously in the know in Russia, it wouldn’t be surprising for Hines to be considered as a possible dirty work guy to play next to Lopez, as Hines’ two-year contract with CSKA expires this summer.

2. Devin Smith, 6’6”, Small Forward, 1983

Team: Maccabi Tel-Aviv (Israel), College: Virginia

Fresh off a Euroleague Championship with Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Devin Smith is continuing to excel in his fourth season with Maccabi. With a knack for making big plays in the momentum period of the game, Smith has consistently been a top contributor at every stop of his 10-year European career.

While he will already be 32 next summer, Smith is the type of “3 and D” contributor that most playoff contenders are looking for off the bench. He is an excellent finisher in transition, and consistently punishes defenses with his off the ball movement. Most importantly, Smith has that winning spirit that teams need to come out of close games. Whether its knocking down a crucial 3-pointer, or getting a steal for a fast-break dunk, Smith knows how to make timely plays when his team needs them most to help will his team to a W.

In all likelihood, Maccabi could make a push to keep Smith for the final stage of his career, as he has been the consummate teammate and has established himself as one of the more important players in the club’s history. However, should Smith, who already has taken a Euroleague title and has loads of accolades from his time overseas, decide that he wants a taste of the NBA before he rides off into the sunset, there should be a wealth of title contenders considering his services.

3. James Anderson, 6’6”, SG/SF, 1989

Team: Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania), College: Oklahoma State

A former first-round pick by San Antonio, Anderson decided to take his talents to Lithuania this year to step up his game with Lithuanian powerhouse Zalgiris. Despite having a “career year” with the lowly 76ers last season, Anderson knew if he wanted to have a fruitful NBA career, he would need to get the reps playing meaningful minutes on a competitive team.

Currently 7th in the Euroleague in scoring with 16 points per game, Anderson has been showing that he can be a leader for a team that is one win away from a Top 16 appearance in Euroleague. While he produces almost exclusively with his outside shot, he’s at 38 percent on 5.4 3-point attempts per game, he has shown some fine tuning to his all-around game this season with an expanded role, averaging 6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game with 1.7 turnovers per contest.

Just 25 years old, the best days of Anderson’s career are ahead of him, and it would be very likely to see him get another shot in the league in a year or two.

4. Jamel McLean, 6’8”, Power Forward, 1988

Team: Alba Berlin (Germany), College: Xavier

McLean may have caught the spotlight on U.S. soil in the preseason, when he hit a buzzer beater to defeat the Spurs in the preseason, but those following his career in Europe were hardly surprised. After two solid years in Belgium, McLean signed in Telekom Basket Bonn, where he teamed up with super assist man Jared Jordan for two seasons on a playoff contender in the super strong German League.

After his two years with Bonn, one of Germany’s premier clubs, Alba Berlin, who plays in the famous O2 arena in Berlin, snatched McLean up and he’s emerged as one of the top performers in the Euroleague. While McLean may not have the height or outside shot that many modern 4s possess, he is incredibly quick, and has a very high basketball IQ. His 65.2 percent field goal percentage in Euroleague is as much an indicator for his shot selection, as it is for his excellent touch around the rim, and knack for transition baskets.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQxX1SXICeY

Though McLean may not have go-to scoring skills, he has the mobility, character and willingness to do the dirty work that would make him a valuable contributor to many teams. It may be possible that a Turkish or Russian team may come up with an offer too valuable for McLean to consider a return to the U.S., but McLean’s play this season has certainly put his name thoroughly in the mix for some jobs this summer.

5. Olaseni “Shane” Lawal, 6’10”, Center, 1986

Team: Banco De Sardegna Sassari (Italy), College: Oakland/Wayne State (D2)

Lawal has had an interesting journey in his six-year overseas career, playing in the second and third division in Spain, the second division in Italy and even in Kazakhstan before making his way to Sassari, a top club in the Italian league.

Lawal can jump like a pogo stick and has very active hands, making him a terror as a help defender who picks up lots of blocks and steals. His quick legs allow him to run the floor very well, and while he has a very limited offensive game, he rarely tries to do things that he is not capable of and mostly focuses on finishing on lobs and offensive rebounds.

Lawal is similar in the mold to Jarvis Varnado, whom several NBA teams tried to give a look in the NBA. However, personality and character are one of the main differences between these two shot-blocking bigs. While Varnado would shy away from contact and has a reputation in Europe for being timid, Lawal thrives off contact, and aggressive play only brings out the best in him. Similarly, Lawal had to make the climb from the absolute lowest ranks of professional basketball to get to the top level of Europe, and has so far been able to knock down every stumbling block in his path.

While Lawal may ultimately be too skinny for the center position in the NBA, the fact that he even has played his way in the mix considering where he started out is incredibly impressive. Stories like Shane Lawal’s are the type that get every minor league player fired up, knowing that if you consistently give it your all, anything is possible.

MORE EUROHOOPS COLUMNS:

HERZONJA BREAKS OUT, SARIC AND JOKIC DOMINATE
SERBIAN FAN KILLED IN TURKEY; OMAR COOK SETS ASSISTS RECORD
GOUDELOCK SETS 3-POINT RECORD; OSMAN STANDS OUT FOR EFES
SARIC COMES ALIVE; ANDERSEON STANDS OUT FOR ZALGIRIS; MACCABI IN TROUBLE?
SPANOULIS AND TEODOSIC LIGHTING UP EUROPE; SARIC? NOT SO MUCH

AJ Mitnick is an American living in Israel and working as an assistant coach in the Israeli Basketball Winner League. A graduate of IDC Herzliya, Mitnick is an assistant coach with Bnei Herzliya, following three seasons with Maccabi Rishon-Lezion. Follow him on Twitter.