Former first overall pick Andrea Bargnani is back on the free agent market, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando, who writes that Spanish team Baskonia has officially parted ways with Bargnani. The two sides agreed to a two-year contract back in 2016, but have reached a buyout agreement that will bring the deal to an early end.
Injuries impacted Bargnani’s ability to contribute to Baskonia in 2016/17, limiting him to just 15 Euroleague games and 14 contests in Spanish League play. When he was able to get on the court, he was a decent role player for Baskonia, joining fellow former NBA players like Shane Larkin, Rodrigue Beaubois, Tornike Shengelia, and Josh Akognon among the club’s leading scorers.
Although he’s still just 31 years old and is only a year removed from appearing in 46 games for the 2015/16 Nets, Bargnani seems unlikely to seek a return to the NBA when he gets healthy.
The former Raptor, Knick, and Net, who was the first player off the board in the 2006 draft, averaged a respectable 14.3 PPG in 550 career regular season NBA games, but saw his minutes cut back significantly during his final season in the Association. His best chance at a regular role going forward would be on a European club.
We first learned over the weekend that Bargnani and Baskonia were discussing a buyout.