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2023-24 Roster Rundown: FC Barcelona

2023-24 Roster Rundown: FC Barcelona

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5 September 20235 Mins read

There have been some big changes at FC Barcelona this summer, but a new-look squad led by first-year head coach Roger Grimau hopes to finally bring an end to the club's long wait to win the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague. The departures of tactician Saras Jasikevicius and 2022 EuroLeague MVP Nikola Mirotic dominated much of the chat around Barca this summer, but the team has made some smart acquisitions during the off-season, which has brought a sense of optimism to Palau Blaugrana.

BACKCOURT

Now in his second year since returning to Barca, following a six-year spell in the NBA, Tomas Satoransky is charged with orchestrating the team's offense. He should have tough competition for the starting role at point guard, though, as Rokas Jokubaitis continues to improve year on year and has often shown his ability to step up in the big moments.

At the "two" spot, Nicolas Laprovittola is likely to get the nod as a starter, having played all 39 games in Barca's starting five last season. He now has a player breathing down his neck, however, following the arrival of the man they call Basque Mamba, Dario Brizuela, from Unicaja Malaga. He will make his EuroLeague debut this season. Oriol Pauli and youngster Michael Caicedo complete Barca's backcourt options.

FRONTCOURT

There is a Mirotic-shaped hole at Barca entering the new campaign, but another Nikola – Nikola Kalinic – could take his spot at the small forward position. He started 26 times out of a possible 38 last season, while Alex Abrines, who is another option at the "three", started on 10 occasions. Both offer different qualities for Coach Grimau.

One of the more fascinating signings of the summer anywhere in Europe saw Barca bring in the No. 2 overall pick from the 2014 NBA Draft, Jabari Parker. The American power forward lands in the EuroLeague for the first time in his career, and Barca fans will be hoping that he can make an immediate impact at Palau Blaugrana. Another addition at the "four" saw Joel Parra cross the Joventut Badalona-Barca divide by joining the two-time EuroLeague champion. Oscar Da Silva will also be competing for game time with Parker and Parra.

At center, Barca is pretty stacked. The Blaugrana stole plenty of headlines by bringing in former Real Madrid player Willy Hernangomez, with the 29-year-old returning to Spain after a seven-year spell in the NBA. It is hard to imagine him not starting at Barca, but 2019 EuroLeague MVP Jan Vesely will certainly be keen to hold down his role as a starter as he enters his second year in Barcelona. Should Coach Grimau want a more athletic big with plenty of upside, the 19-year-old James Nnaji could be ready for a big leap if he is given a chance to shine.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Coming off a highly impressive World Cup campaign with the Spanish national team, Willy Hernangomez is now ready to show the EuroLeague what he is made of. The big man does have some experience of playing in Europe's premier club basketball competition, having played 17 games for Real Madrid across the 2012-13 and 2015-16 seasons, but he returns to Spain as a more complete player who could take the EuroLeague by storm.

Hernangomez earned MVP honors as Spain won the EuroBasket title in 2022, while he's also won gold with La Roja at the 2019 FIBA World Cup and EuroBasket 2015. That winning mentality should serve him well at Barca, as the Hernangomez-led Blaugrana embark upon a new era under Coach Grimau.

OUTLOOK

Many people are expecting Barca to take a step back this year, following the exits of Coach Jasikevicius and Mirotic, but the Lithuanian tactician helped to build a winning mentality at Palau Blaugrana. Admittedly, Barca could not win its first EuroLeague title since 2010 under Coach Jasikevicius, but it did reach the Final Four in three successive years (2021, 2022, 2023). Now, Coach Grimau will hope to build on that, with a new Spanish core – Hernangomez, Brizuela, Parra and Abrines – set to lead a group that retains aims of winning the EuroLeague. It should be a fun season if you're a Barca fan, that's for sure.