European Clubs Target Dinwiddie and Butler as Cancar, Samanic Exit Teams
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Two NBA veterans cut during the preseason are already attracting attention overseas. Multiple European teams are pursuing free-agent point guards Spencer Dinwiddie and Jared Butler, league insider Marc Stein reported on Oct. 22.
Dinwiddie, waived by the Charlotte Hornets on Oct. 16 despite a fully guaranteed one-year deal, has several unidentified European suitors. Stein noted that Turkish powerhouse Anadolu Efes is not among the clubs in the hunt.
Butler, released by the Phoenix Suns on Oct. 17 after a preseason highlighted by a 35-point, nine-assist outing, is expected to sign with Serbian club Crvena Zvezda. Rival Serbian side KK Partizan and Greek contender Olympiacos have also shown interest, but Crvena Zvezda is considered the frontrunner, according to Stein and Eurohoops.
Roster Changes Across Europe and Australia
Vlatko Cancar, who spent five seasons with the Denver Nuggets, and Italian club Olimpia Milano have mutually agreed to part ways. The forward, sidelined in recent weeks by a knee issue, had joined Milano as a free agent this summer.
Spanish team Baskonia has released former first-round pick Luka Samanic. The 2019 No. 19 selection is expected to return to his hometown club Cibona in Zagreb, Croatia, where he logged a brief stint last season.
To bolster an injury-hit backcourt, Baskonia signed guard Kobi Simmons to a two-month contract. The 27-year-old has appeared in 42 NBA games for four franchises from 2017 to 2024.
Former Philadelphia 76ers and Memphis Grizzlies guard Dakota Mathias is heading to Australia after reaching an agreement with the Brisbane Bullets. Mathias last played in the NBA in 2022 and spent 2024 training camp with the Indiana Pacers on an Exhibit 10 deal.
Free-agent guard David Duke Jr., waived by Phoenix last week, is drawing interest from clubs in Australia’s National Basketball League. If a deal overseas does not materialize, he is expected to open the season with the Suns’ G League affiliate.
Source: Hoops Rumors
