Suns center Marcin Gortat has signed a deal with the Russian team Spartak Saint Petersburg, according to EuroBasket.com. Details of the deal have yet to come out, but it is expected to be only for one year that includes a clause that would enable him to return to Phoenix once the lockout ends.
Gortat has become the third NBA player in just the last week who has signed a deal with a European team. Deron Williams signed a one-year deal with the Besiktas of the Turkish Basketball League. Former Laker Sasha Vujacic did the same with a different Turkish team as well.
Sparktak Saint Petersburg is part of the Russian Professional Basketball League, which was just founded back last year. Gortat’s new team finished in seventh place in the inaugural season of the league and featured former Suns Smush Parker and Dijon Thompson on the roster last season.
It remains to be seen if this is a sign of things to come for all NBA players or whether it is just a select few who go and sign deals to play overseas. Gortat certainly isn’t surprising considering his history with playing on club teams before coming into the league and his constant playing on his Turkish national team.
Lets just hope for the Suns sake that Gortat stays healthy over there. He is a very important and key piece for this organization going forward.
Original Story:
http://www.sunszoo.com/2011/07/marcin...
