The week in EuroCup signings

Last week BKT EuroCup teams learned who their opponents will be next season, but that in no manner slowed down their efforts to boost their rosters for the upcoming season. One team already completed its roster, but most of the other team still have plenty of work to do. Here's a look at the most notable signings in the week behind us.

Reunions in Paris

In the final days of June, Paris Basketball appointed Tuomas Iisalo as its head coach. Iisalo came from Telekom Baskets Bonn, which he led to Basketball Champions League title last season. Last week, Iisalo brought two big men from Bonn. First, it was Paris signing veteran center Michael Kessens, then over the weekend Paris added another big man, Leon Kratzer. The two players were not Bonn's main stars, but key role players who combined for more than 10 rebounds last season with Bonn. Coach Iisalo hopes those two men will help ease his transition in his first EuroCup season.

Besiktas stacks players

Besiktas Istanbul is quickly working on revamping team's roster for a return to the EuroCup, signing five players in the last seven days. Berkan Durmaz, veteran forward who has three EuroCup seasons under his belt, was the first to put ink to paper, followed by scoring guard Jonah Mathews who averaged 10.6 points and 2.1 assists in his Turkish Airlines EuroLeague debut with LDLC ASVEL Villeurbanne. Besiktas added more coring with swingman Matt Mitchell who averaged 14.6 points last season in French League side Strasbourg. The team then signed two players who did well in the Turkish League last season, center Angel Delgado who was pulling down 8.9 rebounds for playoff finalist Pinar Karsiyaka, and forward Leyton Hammonds who was posting 11.2 points. With roster not yet complete, Besiktas certainly looks like it will mean business next season.

Premier guards staying put

Nearly half-dozen EuroCup star guards re-signed with the teams they played for last season. No name is bigger than EuroCup champion A.J. Slaughter who is now set to play his fourth season with Dreamland Gran Canaria, and help it defend the crown. Prometey Slobozhanske, last season's semifinalist, kept its key backcourt piece, Caleb Agada who re-signed on a one-year deal. Agada averaged 4.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and ranked second with 2.3 steals last season. Hapoel Vegan Friendly Tel Aviv signed two more years with Xavier Munford who ranked ninth last season with 15.1 points per game. he did it on 42.5% three-point shooting, along with 3.9 rebounds and 3.4 assists. London Lions kept its backcourt intact, re-signing both of their playmakers Tarik Phillip and Jordan Taylor. Do-it-all Phillip missed all of last EuroCup campaign with an injury and will make a great boost for the upcoming campaign. Veteran Taylor left great impression with the Lions averaging 10.9 points and 5.3 assist as a mid-season addition.

More teams keeping busy

Mincidelice JL Bourg en Bresse became the first team to complete its roster with the addition of Jeremy Morgan, who returns to the EuroCup after two years when he played with Dolomiti Energia Trento. His former club, Trento, signed Davide Alviti as its first addition this summer, while Veolia Towers Hamburg had its second and third signings of the summer, swingman Will Christmas and guard Mark Hughes, and with them got a lot of versatility. Buducnost VOLI Podgorica got a dangerous sharpshooter in Fletcher Magee, who has been ripping nets from downtown since his college days. Meanwhile, Aris got its stretch-four in Roberts Blumbergs, who was knocking down 1.8 triples on 44.6% accuracy last season.