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The Toronto Raptors have waived Sasha Vezenkov after agreeing to a buyout in which he gave up his entire $6.6 million salary for the 24-25 season. The Raptors acquired Vezenkov in a trade with the Sacramento Kings in June.

Vezenkov plans to sign a four-year deal with Olympiacos in Greece. Vezenkov is represented by George Roussakis and Mark Bartelstein.

In 42 games with the Kings last season, Vezenkov averaged 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes. Vezenkov was the 57th overall pick by the Brooklyn Nets in the 2017 NBA draft and his draft rights were acquired by the Kings in June 202. 

Via Keith Smith/Spotrac

Really wanted to go to Europe I guess! For his sake, I hope Olympiacos is giving him more than the amount of money he just burned.

the_process wrote:Really wanted to go to Europe I guess! For his sake, I hope Olympiacos is giving him more than the amount of money he just burned.

Do Europe salaries go that high for players of his caliber?

Revived wrote:

the_process wrote:Really wanted to go to Europe I guess! For his sake, I hope Olympiacos is giving him more than the amount of money he just burned.

Do Europe salaries go that high for players of his caliber?

He likely received compensation in another form. Things like this are never publicized.

Revived wrote:

the_process wrote:Really wanted to go to Europe I guess! For his sake, I hope Olympiacos is giving him more than the amount of money he just burned.

Do Europe salaries go that high for players of his caliber?

No idea, but the idea that overseas teams (most likely) can blatantly pay with outside sources probably helps?

Revived wrote:

the_process wrote:Really wanted to go to Europe I guess! For his sake, I hope Olympiacos is giving him more than the amount of money he just burned.

Do Europe salaries go that high for players of his caliber?

Apparently he got offered 4-year 16M euro contract. He was MVP in EL a year ago. 4M after tax is pretty much the same money, so he had to choose between being a star in EU and role player in NBA. Lifestyle preference appears to be a big part of the decision too.

This guy is a sniper. Feel like nobody got to see that side of him here

So Raps have $7 million under tax apron. Wouldn’t it have been nice to offer Trent a 3 year, $21 million deal (3rd year option) to retain an asset as part of a larger deal down the line?

sunsbg wrote:

Revived wrote:

the_process wrote:Really wanted to go to Europe I guess! For his sake, I hope Olympiacos is giving him more than the amount of money he just burned.

Do Europe salaries go that high for players of his caliber?

Apparently he got offered 4-year 16M euro contract. He was MVP in EL a year ago. 4M after tax is pretty much the same money, so he had to choose between being a star in EU and role player in NBA. Lifestyle preference appears to be a big part of the decision too.

For him, it was probably a really easy decision to make if the money was equal. Over in Europe, they really take care of the players. It's not at all unusual to be provided a house, transportation, etc just for being a player on the team. They get a ton of benefits outside of salary. Granted, Id imagine this isn't universal in Europe or overseas in general being that there are so many leagues with varying levels of play but in his case, Id bet he is being taken care of well.

Bentley1225 wrote:So Raps have $7 million under tax apron. Wouldn’t it have been nice to offer Trent a 3 year, $21 million deal (3rd year option) to retain an asset as part of a larger deal down the line?

I haven't read all that much, but didn't they already offer 15m per and he declined? Seeking 25m per instead?

Living in Athens means that he can have summer for almost 7 months per year. Winters aren't heavy either.
Great nightlife, big market city.
He will be playing for a heavyweight organisation competing for the EuroLeague's title every season.
Millions of fans, star status.
Ofc he doesn't care for that 6mil.
I wouldn't care either.

KGtabake wrote:Living in Athens means that he can have summer for almost 7 months per year. Winters aren't heavy either.
Great nightlife, big market city.
He will be playing for a heavyweight organisation competing for the EuroLeague's title every season.
Millions of fans, star status.
Ofc he doesn't care for that 6mil.
I wouldn't care either.

Summer in Athens is hell on earth, the City is dirty, overcrowded and hot as ****. I‘d rather live in Toronto…

Roy T wrote:

KGtabake wrote:Living in Athens means that he can have summer for almost 7 months per year. Winters aren't heavy either.
Great nightlife, big market city.
He will be playing for a heavyweight organisation competing for the EuroLeague's title every season.
Millions of fans, star status.
Ofc he doesn't care for that 6mil.
I wouldn't care either.

Summer in Athens is hell on earth, the City is dirty, overcrowded and hot as ****. I‘d rather live in Toronto…

The city is fine, it has 5mil people and not 10 like Toronto, it has beaches all over around and a night life that can't be compared to canada.
People love the sun not the cold.
You can live wherever you want to but that's not the preference of players.

Many people are overlooking the most important aspect - he is Bulgarian and playing in Athens means he is 40min from home with airplane! Plenty of NBA players chose teams close to their home or right at their home town/state, work is work and family is family, all these millions doesn't matter much if it all when you are on the other side of the globe without a single friend nor family with you.

KGtabake wrote:

Roy T wrote:

KGtabake wrote:Living in Athens means that he can have summer for almost 7 months per year. Winters aren't heavy either.
Great nightlife, big market city.
He will be playing for a heavyweight organisation competing for the EuroLeague's title every season.
Millions of fans, star status.
Ofc he doesn't care for that 6mil.
I wouldn't care either.

Summer in Athens is hell on earth, the City is dirty, overcrowded and hot as ****. I‘d rather live in Toronto…

The city is fine, it has 5mil people and not 10 like Toronto, it has beaches all over around and a night life that can't be compared to canada.
People love the sun not the cold.
You can live wherever you want to but that's not the preference of players.

Have you ever seen a high profile athlete spending time on a public beach?

They aint bout dat peasant lyfe

Roy T wrote:

KGtabake wrote:

Roy T wrote:
Summer in Athens is hell on earth, the City is dirty, overcrowded and hot as ****. I‘d rather live in Toronto…

The city is fine, it has 5mil people and not 10 like Toronto, it has beaches all over around and a night life that can't be compared to canada.
People love the sun not the cold.
You can live wherever you want to but that's not the preference of players.

Have you ever seen a high profile athlete spending time on a public beach?

They aint bout dat peasant lyfe

Thats true in the USA not true in a lot of other countries mind you they make beaches private in the USA and the rich ppl are the overlords more so than other countries where it happens to a lesser extent

Roy T wrote:

KGtabake wrote:

Roy T wrote:
Summer in Athens is hell on earth, the City is dirty, overcrowded and hot as ****. I‘d rather live in Toronto…

The city is fine, it has 5mil people and not 10 like Toronto, it has beaches all over around and a night life that can't be compared to canada.
People love the sun not the cold.
You can live wherever you want to but that's not the preference of players.

Have you ever seen a high profile athlete spending time on a public beach?

They aint bout dat peasant lyfe

I've seen many athletes on the night clubs of Athens, especially the ones near the sea.
Let alone the beach bars the day after.
Luka Doncic and Zubac for example just 2 weeks ago, before they depart for their summer vacation on the greek islands.
The difference in climate is basic.
And for a guy like Vezenkhov who has lived it before, it really was a no brainer.

KGtabake wrote:

Roy T wrote:

KGtabake wrote:Living in Athens means that he can have summer for almost 7 months per year. Winters aren't heavy either.
Great nightlife, big market city.
He will be playing for a heavyweight organisation competing for the EuroLeague's title every season.
Millions of fans, star status.
Ofc he doesn't care for that 6mil.
I wouldn't care either.

Summer in Athens is hell on earth, the City is dirty, overcrowded and hot as ****. I‘d rather live in Toronto…

The city is fine, it has 5mil people and not 10 like Toronto, it has beaches all over around and a night life that can't be compared to canada.
People love the sun not the cold.
You can live wherever you want to but that's not the preference of players.

GTA is 6M people, not 10M

AwesomeLife wrote:Many people are overlooking the most important aspect - he is Bulgarian and playing in Athens means he is 40min from home with airplane! Plenty of NBA players chose teams close to their home or right at their home town/state, work is work and family is family, all these millions doesn't matter much if it all when you are on the other side of the globe without a single friend nor family with you.

He's pretty much lived almost his entire life in Cyprus and Greece. So more like he's home, without taking an airplane.