Alessandro Gentile, one of the Euroleague’s top wing players, is determined to sign an NBA deal this summer, preferably with the Houston Rockets.
The Rockets hired Mike D'Antoni as head coach this offseason and his presence makes the team more appealing to Gentile.
The Rockets own the draft rights to Gentile, a 6-foot-7 perimeter player who was the No. 53 overall pick by Minnesota in 2014.
“My goal is to play in the NBA next year,” Gentile told The Vertical. “I really hope this can happen. For me, Mike D’Antoni is like a legend in Italian basketball, an example for everyone. For him to coach me would be very, very nice.”
Gentile wants to negotiate a deal to join the Rockets. Houston has significant interest in bringing him over this season, but is likely to preserve salary cap space for the start of July free agency before committing to a contract with Gentile, league sources said.
“I have had a chance to grow up in the last year, playing as a captain for an important team like Milan and winning two championships as a leader of the team,” Gentile told The Vertical. “That’s all helped me to improve. The moment is right for me. I’d like to have the chance to try and play in [the NBA].”