Olimpia Milano is actively reshaping its roster this summer, making significant moves to bolster its lineup, particularly in the backcourt. The club is aiming to assemble a more impactful and dynamic squad after a challenging previous season. The early focus reveals a clear intent to bring in experienced, high-caliber players capable of changing games.
Key Backcourt Additions: Brown and Guduric
The headline signings involve two prominent guards known across the European basketball landscape. Lorenzo Brown, a 34-year-old guard who holds both American and Spanish citizenship, is reportedly finalizing his move. Brown arrives with a sterling reputation built on his impressive Euroleague tenure, notably with Maccabi Tel Aviv between 2022 and 2024. During this period, he was recognized for his exceptional playmaking, averaging nearly 6 assists per game, which earned him a spot on the All-Euroleague First Team in 2023.
Brown`s career history also includes a brief stint in the NBA with the Toronto Raptors during their championship-winning 2018/19 season. His intelligence, character, and vast experience are seen as crucial assets. He possesses elite ball control and court vision, often leading to highlight-reel plays. Although his past season with Panathinaikos saw reduced playing time under Coach Ataman, the opportunity for a fresh start in Milan appears mutually beneficial, especially with Panathinaikos bringing in another high-profile guard.
Joining Brown is the officialized signing of Marko Guduric, a 30-year-old Serbian guard known for his offensive prowess and ability to perform in clutch situations. Guduric arrives from Fenerbahce, where he was instrumental in their recent domestic success, contributing significantly to winning both the Turkish Cup and Championship. He was also a key player in Fenerbahce reaching the Euroleague Final Four, notably scoring 19 points in the championship game. Guduric is celebrated for taking and making “heavy shots,” providing a reliable scoring threat (averaging 11 points with 37.8% from three-point range last season) and leadership.
In his first comments upon joining Olimpia, Guduric expressed excitement about the opportunity, calling Milano a “legendary” and “well-organized” club. He highlighted the importance of building chemistry with his new teammates, a necessary step for achieving the team`s goals.
Forging a Dynamic Duo
The pairing of Brown and Guduric immediately creates a potentially formidable backcourt combination for Coach Ettore Messina. Brown`s primary strength lies in his high-level playmaking and court command, while Guduric brings versatile scoring and a proven ability to perform under pressure. This blend of skills is clearly intended to inject reliability and offensive creativity into Milano`s perimeter game, addressing some of the inconsistencies the team faced previously. They will join existing guards like captain Shavon Shields, Brooks, and Bolmaro, creating a deeper and more experienced rotation.
Fortifying the Frontcourt
Milano`s off-season activity isn`t confined to the guards. The team is also working on strengthening its frontcourt. Josh Nebo, whose first season in Milan was hampered by injuries, is anticipated to be a crucial piece, effectively acting as a new acquisition. Devin Booker is set to join him in anchoring the center position. At power forward, Zach LeDay is expected to remain a key player following a solid, albeit playoff-declining, season.
The club is reportedly targeting Vlatko Cancar to potentially fill a spot at power forward. Cancar, a 28-year-old Slovenian, brings NBA pedigree, having spent the last five seasons with the Denver Nuggets, including being part of their 2023 championship squad. While his NBA role was limited (3.4 points per game over 143 appearances), he is a significant player for the Slovenian national team, having won EuroBasket gold in 2017 and averaged 11.6 points in the 2022 edition. The goal is to persuade Cancar to return to Europe, adding depth and versatility. Decisions are also pending regarding other big men, with Guglielmo Caruso potentially moving on and Leonardo Totè being considered, while Ismael Kamagate is expected to remain a fixture.
As is tradition, July brings with it a fresh wave of optimism and ambitious plans in the basketball world. Olimpia Milano`s moves, particularly securing two guards of Brown and Guduric`s caliber, certainly fuel that excitement. The assembly of this revamped roster under Coach Messina signals a clear intention to contend at the highest level. Now, the real work begins: translating these promising off-season additions into cohesive on-court success, a challenge that has, at times, proven… character-building.
