Real Madrid has been on a great run having won the last year’s EuroLeague and being on pace to have the best record in the EuroLeague regular season this year. While the team dominates having 22 wins in 25 games, there is no guarantee that Real Madrid will be able to retain every core piece of its roster after the season.
The season’s still young and Real has many games and many challenges ahead, but many EuroLeague fans say that this Madrid group could be one of the best they have ever seen in a EuroLeague court. After the addition of Facundo Campazzo, Real Madrid fortified its point guard position making Sergio Rodriguez the backup guard of the squad.
Despite their success, many player are set to become free agents next summer. Namely, the biggest challenge will be center Edy Tavares and Mario Hezonja, while Dzanan Musa has not signed an extension officially yet. In addition to their star core of Hezonja, Tavares and Musa, veterans Sergio Llull, Sergio Rodriguez and Rudy Fernandez are also on expiring deals.
Aside from Tavares, big man Vincent Poirier is also an expiring deal for the Whites who they will have a ton of work to do to retain their core after the summer. Thus, this core has been one of the most successful teams the last three seasons being constantly one of the favorites to win the title. Let’s not forget that Real made the EuroLeague championship game during the last two seasons.
The biggest challenge for Real Madrid named Edy Tavares
Edy Tavares is the man behind Real Madrid’s dominant size and paint protection the last six seasons that resulted in 2 EuroLeague titles. Tavares has been more than important for the Whites and what they are trying to do as they dominate their opponents with size. The Cape Verdean big is the EuroLeague all-time blocks leader and 3-time EuroLeague Best Defender.
Real Madrid and Tavares has been in negotiation since the past summer, but there is no agreement between the two sides. Obviously, Tavares is the best center in the league and he wants to be paid as the best big in the EuroLeague, while Real Madrid has its own policy on players’ salaries. A recent report from Marca sheds light on Tavares’ situation.
“Discussions that began midway through last season have not progressed, and time is running out. The player from Cape Verde receives around 3 million gross per season and aspires to earn 3 million net. Yes, his demands correspond to what he is as he is the best center in Europe, but Real consider this figure to exceed its salary limit.”
Tavares has been out due to injury the last few weeks and Real Madrid already missed some of its punch considering that they have allowed more than 85 points in 4 of its last 5 games in the EuroLeague. With forward Guershcon Yabusele becoming the backup 5 in occasions behind Vincent Poirier, the Whites do not have the ability to defend the paint.
With Tavares expected to become a free agent next summer, they are already rumors considering his future as the center from Cape Verde has been linked to Panathinaikos, while there is also interest from the NBA. Tavares spent two seasons in the NBA between 2015 and 2017, but played mostly in the G League.
In any case, Real Madrid will have to go over the top to retain Tavares as he’s invaluable for the EuroLeague standards as there is no player like him that could replace his ability to disrupt the opponent’s offensive plan. With backup big Vincent Poirier also on an expiring deal, Real Madrid could lose two centerpieces in one summer. That said, if Madrid have to decide whom have to pay to retain, Tavares should be the answer.
