MADRID, 27 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Spanish point guard Juan Núñez was chosen this Thursday by the Indiana Pacers at number 36 in the NBA Draft, held for the second consecutive night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn (New York, USA), although he was immediately transferred to the San Antonio Spurs, where he could coincide with French center Victor Wembanyama.
After the first 30 team selections, with French forward Zaccharie Risacher being chosen at No. 1 by the Atlanta Hawks, the Barclays Center hosted the atypical second round a day later with another 28 picks. Not surprisingly, the entire ceremony used to be held in one night.
Thus, Núñez was selected by the Indiana Pacers, a team that last season was runner-up in the new In-Season Tournament and reached the final of the Eastern Conference in the playoffs for the league title; in that instance they lost by a clear 4-0 against the Boston Celtics, who would go on to win the ring against the Dallas Mavericks.
Despite being selected by the Indianapolis club, Núñez was part of a draft transfer to the Spurs, a franchise with one of the worst performances of the past season. However, San Antonio has Wembanyama, who received the Rookie of the Year award and was nominated for Best Defender of the Year, which was won by his compatriot Rudy Gobert.
In the days prior to this second round of the Draft, Núñez had made headlines for being on the list of players subject to the right of first refusal published by the ACB. The Spanish international point guard was signed up for that position by Real Madrid in 2022, after leaving for Ratiopharm Ulm, where he has played the last two seasons.
Núñez’s intention could be to return to the Liga Endesa, but this time wearing the FC Barcelona shirt; both parties have presumably closed an agreement, and he is awaiting his future in this Draft and immersed in the training of the Spanish national team, in view of the Pre-Olympic Tournament that will be played in Valencia.
For Barça, a period of 13 calendar days began to run last Tuesday to present a contract offer to the Madrid point guard; There, Real Madrid has the possibility of matching it, forcing the culé team to pay to acquire his rights or be left without the player if they decide not to negotiate with the Madridistas.
2024-06-27 21:13:33
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