“I want to thank Rimtautas Gudus and all Gijos clinic on behalf of the club. We joked that the match was not over yet, oh [K.Evanso] “Achilles” has already been stitched up and rehabilitation has begun. Doctors have really tried to make it happen at cosmic speed,” P. Motiejūnas began the lecture.
“I also thank those invisible employees who sent and coordinated the contracts at three in the morning and five in the morning. It was a difficult few days because we were walking on thin ice trying to keep up with everything.”
Mr. Motiejūnas said he was able to nab two top players in a flash thanks to the tasks done beforehand.
“The situation was unclear. Achilles was on the lists, but we didn’t know how it would end. Negotiations were moving, but the loss of K.Evans became major force. We knew that if Achilles arrives and we lose a player, we will not strengthen in any way and we will continue to have a weak link.
Erikas Kirvelaitis is our scout who always knows the market, so we kept a close eye on that position. When “Anadolu Efes” didn’t renew the contract with I.Taylor, we were able to quickly get in touch and we already knew the conditions in advance. Thanks to the undeclared workers in our office, we were able to sort everything out quickly.
One is there, the other is on the way, we’ll see how he fits into the team.”
– How is the situation with K. Evans and T. Cavanaugh’s insurance, maybe their insurance covers part of the contracts?
– We don’t forbid it. We have repeatedly calculated that there is not much difference whether to pay the insurance or pay the accident salary later.
Insurance may have paid off this year, but we usually hate to insure, because those amounts aren’t small.
– Are you within the pre-season budget with these new recruits?
– No, we can’t adapt, but we want to continue like this run out wave, we want that good vibe. There are tensions, but we will manage. Ticket sales are delayed. It’s not complete yet, but if it continues to be so successful, we believe we can ‘reverse course’.
– Can T. Cavanaugh return to action this season?
– There is a possibility, but it is not guaranteed. We have waited a long time, procedures are constantly being carried out – there are improvements, but not so significant that we can enter the field. as we say 50 and 50.
Eriko Ovcharenko/SNB photo/Moment of the match
– Even “Virtus” of Bologna was interested in A. Polonara, what competitive advantages determined the choice of “Žalgiris”?
– For him, as an Italian, returning to Italy is like returning to Lithuania for a Lithuanian.
Going back to Italy or trying to tow abroad? We talked to him, he will certainly have a chance and he will be an important player for us. The player made his decision but we said we want to hold on, we want to fight because we are in a good position in the standings [Eurolygoje]. We know what a key man he was in Vitoria, how he struggled and didn’t have a chance in Istanbul. He will definitely have a chance with us, and “Virtus” has quite a few players in his position, I think maybe that’s the reason.
– Were there many candidates?
– There were about 10 names of offensive players. But, as I said, K.Evans’ injury was there major force. The leader has suffered an injury that cannot be replaced. There was an urgent need for a player who was already fit, already knew the EuroLeague and could already fit into the team. A number of players who have not played in the Euroleague and who you would like to develop have retired.
After excluding these players, I.Taylor remained the only option.
– Is the goal to finish in the top eight of the Euroleague after being filled with newcomers?
– No… The goal is to maintain the same fighting spirit and attitude to win against any opponent. We are a team that does it step by step.
I’ve read that both players and coaches dream – it’s okay, but we’re just looking at our closest rival.
– Are you thinking of keeping K.Evans for next season?
– We’ll consider rehab, but we’ve already talked to the agent. There’s a “+1” clause in his contract. Of course, this is the type of player we want to see, but now the focus is on recovery. We have a plan to keep him, I don’t know what his plans are. Now things are getting complicated for him. But looking at the bad stuff from the bright side, I think now our chances of keeping him are better.
Imago / Scanpix nutr./Isaiah Tayloras
– After K.Evans got injured, how did you feel on the first day?
– While he was still sitting on the bench, I started corresponding, especially with I.Taylor’s agent, because, as I said, we had already explored all those options.
That day was like this: we were waiting to see how we got along with Achilles, we communicated with I.Taylor’s agent. My day was actually easier than Gold’s [Zakrienės]who prepared the contracts, sent.
The negotiations themselves were not complicated. We already knew the conditions, a few calls back and forth and that was it. There was no time to be sad. We talked to Keenan, the agents, the doctors were doing their job, and then the search for new players and negotiations with both Efes and Euroleague to get registration in that small window.
Euroleague.net/Achille Polonara
– A. Polonara – the first Italian in Zalgiris. Why didn’t we see the Italians in the squad earlier and how interesting and accessible is this transfer market in general for the Kaunas club?
– That country certainly has strong basketball players, but it also has strong clubs in the Euroleague with much bigger budgets. The same can be said of Greece. It is normal for the most talented players to be taken from those clubs. It’s like we bring Lithuanians together.
Achille’s situation is exceptional, because he passed the Italian shirt, then went to Spain, Turkey, and will always be able to go home.
Now he will use the opportunity to stay with us.
– Integrating players mid-season isn’t as easy as you expect it to be?
– It’s up to the coaches to do that. Achille knows the situation he’s getting himself into, we’ve talked about it a lot. I.Taylor’s situation is hotter, completely unpredictable. It won’t be easy to integrate, but we have leaders who have kept the team together with K. Evans – there are also Ulė, and Rolandas, and other players. Newbies just need to blend in.
