EuroLeague standout drawing interest from NBA teams

Sorkin was one of the top bigs in the EuroLeague last season, averaging 12.9 points and 4.1 rebounds, and opened even more eyes in the tournament. He averaged 16.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.2 assists in six games, including a double-double against Slovenia.

Could Roman Sorkin return to the U.S.?

Sorkin is no stranger to the U.S. He played four seasons for Oregon from 2014-18. He’s played in Israel throughout his professional career.

Whether Sorkin will be able to leave Maccabi is another issue. He reportedly signed a five-year extension with the club last year, which puts him under contract through 2029, according to BasketNews.com. Sorkin would need to have some sort of clause or buyout agreement to pursue an NBA opportunity.

Portland has 15 players under guaranteed contracts, so it would have to waive or trade one of those players to open up a roster spot. The Heat only have 12 players with fully guaranteed contracts. The Knicks have 12 players on standard contracts, but only have room for one veteran’s minimum contract and another on a rookie minimum deal due to salary cap restrictions.

However, Sorkin wouldn’t be a candidate for the Knicks’ rookie minimum roster slot. They don’t hold his draft rights, so his salary would count for the veteran’s minimum for tax/apron purposes even if his cap hit was the rookie minimum, due to tax variance.