The season of Openjobmetis is coming to an end: with salvation in our pocket and the playoffs unattainable, the last match (in Pistoia, Sunday 5 May) will only serve to crystallize the final ranking of the red and whites, who are aiming for a more honorable placement to have a better chance of accessing the next one Fiba Europe Cup.
In fact, however, summer is already taking center stage in the sense that there has already been widespread discussion among fans and professionals of who (and how) could remain in the red and white starting from the prized piece Nico Mannion who, in case of permanence, would “condition” the construction of the entire roster both from a technical and economic point of view.
NICO AND THE OUTPUTS – The case Mannion Moreover, he is the best known: the 23-year-old point guard has a contract until 30 June 2025 with exit clauses for the NBA and the Euroleague. If, therefore, he receives a proposal from teams of these two competitions, an exit from the agreement is foreseen (with, obviously, financial compensation for Varese). If, however, there were other suitors, a goodbye would be in order negotiate as happened with Oliver Hanlan last February: whoever knocks on Scola’s door will have to do so with an important sporting proposal for Nico and with a check which, we imagine, will have to be quite substantial.
WARNING – Let’s now see what the contractual situation of the other men in red and white is with a warning to keep in mind. And that is that the company has never precisely indicated the terms of contracts: in the press releases they sometimes talk about a “multi-year agreement” (and sometimes not even that), without specifying what the clauses are that regulate it. For these we can make hypotheses or take those of other newspapers at face value, but it is good to remember that the precise situation is in the hands of the management.
Ulaneo e Woldetensae
TWO DEADLINES – In the current Openjobmetis squad there are two players who will be free on 30 June, unless negotiations for a new contract are started in the meantime. The first is Tomas Woldetensaewho had signed a two and a half year agreement upon his arrival in Varese. Probable change of shirt for the Bolognese winger: so far there have been no rumors of a renewal, his season has been below expectations (and OJM’s play hasn’t helped him) and he will turn 26 on April 30th, so his minutes will no longer count for the Italian awards so dear to society. Tomas could look elsewhere for a relaunch also on a national level and being Italian he is still tempting on the market: Trento could be a hypothesis for his future.
The other expiring player is Skylar Spencer, taken in December due to the obvious inadequacy of Willie Cauley-Stein, the player who was supposed to be Varese’s totem. Spencer, who ended up in Mexico, performed his duty well by ensuring defensive protection in the area but in his case too there was no question of renewal. It is possible that he will take it into consideration when going on the market.
FOREIGNERS – On paper the situation is similar for three out of four foreigners: the captain Sean McDermott and ongoing additions Michael Gilmore and Hugo Besson they have also signed for next year with the last two taken specifically with a formula that gives continuity to the group. Then, there is Gabe Brown who signed for longer last summer: two years guaranteed and an option expiring on June 30, 2026.
The staff will have to carry out a series of technical evaluations a bit for everyone even if the players have convinced (judgment suspended for Gilmore, here recently and used discontinuously). Possible that the general indication both to confirm the Frenchman and the two Americans net of interest from other teams: Varese can enforce existing contracts and therefore – what we said for Mannion – request financial compensation in the event of “assaults” from the outside. For various reasons (McDermott is an excellent all-rounder for Europe, Brown has room for improvement, Besson has NBA goals and is a community player) everyone has a certain appeal on the market.
Davide Moretti
ITALIANS – The man with the best defined situation is Leonardo Okeke. The Monza pivot is on a two-year loan from Olimpia Milano, a period of time that was used – precisely – to get him back on track after the injury in April ’23 and then used fully next season. And so it will be done.
The other Italian big man, the 25 year old Scott Ulaneo, he has another year with Varese at figures already established with the club having the possibility of terminating.
The agreement with another valuable piece of Openjobmetis is also multi-year, Davide Moretti who is holding a “1+1” contract, i.e. with a situation already defined for 2024-25 but also with the possibility of changes in direction. The impression regarding Moretti’s permanence is that they matter several factors: from who will be the coach (the technical relationship with Bialaszewski doesn’t seem very “solid”) to participation in a cup, to the positions in the role. Teams with good budgets (Reggio, Sassari?) could appear but the impression is that there will be time to talk about it.
AND THE COACH? – Only Luis Scola has in mind with certainty the name of the person who will sit on the bench from August. Looking at the contracts, Tom Bialaszewski he is protected by a three-year contract – two years guaranteed – but the impression (and the rumors coming from various quarters) is that we are moving towards a change, with the Buffalo coach who could also return to Milan. The most solid hypothesis at the moment is that of a promotion of Herman Mandole, very loyal to Scola and also in the technical teams of Argentina (which will not go to the Olympics: free summer) which he trained as head coach in the last international “window”. Marco Legovich, current first assistant, his contract expires and he could return to coaching in A2 himself.
