VARESE – The deadline for submitting the application was Sunday, June 30th. Nico Mannion’s exit from contract in favor of Euroleague teams. Does this mean that the Red Mamba will automatically still be tied to Varese (remember that there is also an exit for the NBA by July 30)? Absolutely not. Added to this is the news that the Warriorswho hold the rights overseas, they extended the qualifying offer in Mannion. What does it mean? Is Mannion (Camilla Bettoni in the photo) closer to Varese? Clarity needs to be made to avoid confusion. In the meantime, on the team front, after Moretti and McDermott, there is something to be done the greeting of Tomas Woldetensae, who will go to Naples.
What is the qualifying offer
The qualifying offer of 1.87 million euros allows the Golden State Warriors to maintain the rights to Nico Mannion especially if there was an NBA franchise interested in signing him. That is, if an NBA team arrived that wanted to sign Mannion, the Warriors (the team that, as with father Pace, had chosen him in the 2020 draft with the number 48 position and that made him debut in the 2020-21 season) have the possibility of equalizing it. A sort of right of first refusal or similar to the famous right of first refusal of the Spanish Liga ACB. The most probable hypothesis is that by signing a qualifying offer a Mannion, Warriors want to keep Nico in Europe for another year to “make him mature” and make him more ready for a return to the NBA. Does this mean he will remain “to mature” in Varese before returning to Golden State? Not in your dreams.
The Paris Basketball Possibility
The eyes of Paris Basketball would also have fallen on Nico Mannion, new entry in the EuroLeague. The Parisian team is dealing with a transfer intrigue that is no laughing matter. Tuomas Isalothe coach who led Paris to success in the EuroCup (and the year before Telekom Bonn in the Basketball Champions League), expressed his desire to become part of a coaching staff NBA, that of the Washington Wizards. This would lead to the exit (or at least the desire to exit, given that they are still under contract) of the two guards Nadir Hifi e TJ Shorts (as reported by market insider Orazio Cauchi on the pocket play, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Bayern Munich would have obtained information). Well, one of the names most considered by the Parisian front office to replace them would be Nico Mannion. Among other things inside a basketball system that most resembles Moreyballapplied to Varese, which, needless to say, fits the Red Mamba like a glove.
Asvel and Partizan hypotheses
In addition to the nuanced one of Bahcesehir in EuroCup (who however re-signed Tony Taylor), are there Two more EuroLeague options for Mannion. The first is theAsvel Villeurbanne (the former team of Poz and his historic assistant Edoardo Casalone), which could guarantee him interesting spaces net of some exits from the roster. The second is the Partizan Belgradewhich however would have offered him a position essentially as a third playmaker. Hypotheses certainly open and still possible, but at this point, once the deadline of June 30 has passed, they will necessarily have to go through Luis Scola to negotiate a possible buyout on other economic parameters (the price established by the agreement by June 30 would have been approximately 200,000 euros).
And Varese?
Varese still keeps alive the hopes of confirming Nico Mannion. Much will depend on the performance of the Red Mamba at the Pre-Olympic Tournament in Puerto Rico, which will put him in the spotlight from all over the world. And on the offers that will arrive at his agency. This the opinion of Massimiliano Bogni, journalist of Backdoor Podcast and Sport Mediasetto whom Malpensa24 asked for an opinion. “A restricted free agent (Mannion’s current position after the qualifying offer of the Golden State Warriors) is more difficult to approach in the season by EuroLeague teams than a unrestricted free agent and therefore for a team like Varese it is much better to aim for a restricted free agent who will not be considered for NBA rosters rather than foreigners free from contract”. And Paris? “In my opinion, Varese has more “sense of urgency” than Paris would have, Paris having more time and space to make offers later”.
Greetings from Thomas Woldetense
After David Moretti e l’affare McDermottit fell to Tomas Woldetensae say goodbye to the team with a very emotional post on Instagram. The Bologna winger will go to Gevi Napoli. Tomas was a much loved player in Varese, especially in the first half-season when he arrived from Chieti and had dressed in the running the Openjobmetis shirt, that of Johan Roijakkersso to speak. Then some good performances, lots of ups & downs, but still a person who is never banal and a player who gave everything for the red and white jersey.
And now let’s make room for the umpteenth rebuilding
Waiting to unravel The Nico Mannion Affairmany players from last year gone, Moretti and McDermott bought out, now in Varese it’s time to face yet another one rebuilding of the team. It is clear that “Nico yes/Nico no” means many resources that are tied up or can be released and, at the same time, fewer and fewer high-level Italians still available on the market, a crucial aspect in a 5+5 format, the one chosen by Varese. The Varese front office now has to find the players for the future team. Because, at the moment, there are many exits to record and only one entrance, that of Justin Gray.
“Nico Mannion? It can stay.” Zach Sogolow believes in it and makes Varese dream
Mannion Varese market exit – MALPENSA24
