The Jazz and Nets are expected to be active bidders for Serbian star Milos Teodosic this summer, relays David Pick of Eurobasket.
Sources tell Pick that Utah’s interest is particularly strong because coach Quin Snyder once served as an assistant with CSKA Moscow, Teodosic’s current team.
Teodosic is expected to seek a three-year deal worth $25MM to $30MM. The Nets have about $27MM in cap room this summer, so they could easily fit the 30-year-old on their roster, while the Jazz will have other priorities in free agents Gordon Hayward, George Hill and Joe Ingles.
Andrey Vatutin, president and CEO of the Russian team, discussed Teodosic’s future in an interview with Pick. CSKA Moscow is shooting for another Euroleague title this weekend, which could cap off Teodosic’s playing career in Europe.
“I cannot discuss candidates to replace a player that hasn’t left or might re-sign with CSKA,” Vatutin said. “Milos is unique. He is as unique as Nando De Colo, Viktor Khryapa and all of my players. But if an NBA team makes him an offer — it will be impossible to compete with.”
Vatutin adds that he has friendships with GMs in “Brooklyn, San Antonio, Denver, Oklahoma, Houston and others,” but that won’t affect where Teodosic might end up.
“Teams that want to scout Milos are able to do so with or without CSKA’s assistance,” he added. “I think the teams that have concrete interest in Teodosic weren’t mentioned in the media.”
The Kings were listed last week as a possible contender for Teodosic, who can play either guard position, but that rumor was later retracted. A report last summer said Utah and San Antonio would be his preferred destinations.