FIBA Basketball
ESP - Navarro considers NBA move
BARCELONA (ACB) - Spanish international Juan Carlos Navarro could finally be about to leave Europe for the NBA. The Winterthur Barcelona shooting guard, who was voted most valuable player of the ACB this
BARCELONA (ACB) - Spanish international Juan Carlos Navarro could finally be about to leave Europe for the NBA.
The Winterthur Barcelona shooting guard, who was voted most valuable player of the ACB this season, said: "The NBA is a door that I don't shut.
"I have been at Barca for many years and for the first time this year, I am considering the possibility of going to the NBA."
Navarro, a 1.91m guard who turns 26 on June 13, will enter the FIBA World Championship in Japan in August as one of the hottest players in Europe.
His performances this season led Barca into the Euroleague Final Four.
Last year in Belgrade, he was voted to the EuroBasket All-Tournament Team after Spain reached the semi-finals.
Navarro is attempting to spark Barca in their best-of-five ACB play-off semi-final showdown with Tau Ceramica this week.
He has been on the NBA radar for several years but has chosen to remain in Europe.
Close friend Pau Gasol of Spain has been a huge hit in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies and this season, Jose Manuel Calderon played for the Toronto Raptors.
Spaniard Raul Lopez looked to be on his way to a solid NBA career with the Utah Jazz before it was cut short by injury and he returned to the ACB to play for Akasvayu Girona.
His team-mate and fellow Spanish international Fran Vazquez was an NBA lottery pick by the Orlando Magic last summer but elected to remain in Spain after receiving a more lucrative contract.
Navarro has a 10million euro buyout clause with Barcelona, and club general director Zoran Savic has already stated the club "would not reduce that figure by one euro."
"It's very complicated and I have to think about it, but not now, once the season ends," Navarro said.
"The problems are my clause, and my family."
Gasol would welcome his former Barcelona team-mate in America.
"Since the day I left to join the NBA, I have tried to push him (Navarro) to come," said Gasol.
"The more Spaniards in the NBA, the better it will be for our basketball."
PA Sport
The Winterthur Barcelona shooting guard, who was voted most valuable player of the ACB this season, said: "The NBA is a door that I don't shut.
"I have been at Barca for many years and for the first time this year, I am considering the possibility of going to the NBA."
Navarro, a 1.91m guard who turns 26 on June 13, will enter the FIBA World Championship in Japan in August as one of the hottest players in Europe.
His performances this season led Barca into the Euroleague Final Four.
Last year in Belgrade, he was voted to the EuroBasket All-Tournament Team after Spain reached the semi-finals.
Navarro is attempting to spark Barca in their best-of-five ACB play-off semi-final showdown with Tau Ceramica this week.
He has been on the NBA radar for several years but has chosen to remain in Europe.
Close friend Pau Gasol of Spain has been a huge hit in the NBA with the Memphis Grizzlies and this season, Jose Manuel Calderon played for the Toronto Raptors.
Spaniard Raul Lopez looked to be on his way to a solid NBA career with the Utah Jazz before it was cut short by injury and he returned to the ACB to play for Akasvayu Girona.
His team-mate and fellow Spanish international Fran Vazquez was an NBA lottery pick by the Orlando Magic last summer but elected to remain in Spain after receiving a more lucrative contract.
Navarro has a 10million euro buyout clause with Barcelona, and club general director Zoran Savic has already stated the club "would not reduce that figure by one euro."
"It's very complicated and I have to think about it, but not now, once the season ends," Navarro said.
"The problems are my clause, and my family."
Gasol would welcome his former Barcelona team-mate in America.
"Since the day I left to join the NBA, I have tried to push him (Navarro) to come," said Gasol.
"The more Spaniards in the NBA, the better it will be for our basketball."
PA Sport