Yardbarker
Yardbarker
x
Seven-year NBA veteran makes leap to EuroLeague
Cedi Osman. Daniel Dunn-Imagn Images

Seven-year NBA veteran makes leap to EuroLeague

Cedi Osman has spent the last seven years in the NBA, six of them with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the most recent with the San Antonio Spurs. However, the 29-year-old forward has decided to cut his time in the league short, agreeing to join Greek giant Panathinaikos.

Osman is the second NBA player to move to Greece in the past seven days, with Evan Fournier signing with Olympiacos on Sept. 2. 

Gregg Popovich used Osman as a core part of his bench rotation last season. The veteran forward averaged 17.6 minutes per game, starting three times while making 72 overall appearances. He averaged 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists for the Spurs while shooting 38.9% from three-point range and 47.9% from the field. 

Osman could have found another role in the league for the upcoming season. However, by moving to Greece, he will now have a starring role for his new team, along with a lighter schedule, while also being a little closer to home. 

Furthermore, Osman will have the opportunity to compete in the EuroLeague, where he could prove himself to be one of the best talents in Europe. With his decision to swap an NBA bench for a starting spot elsewhere, Osman likely prioritized his playing career instead of basing his decision on finances. 

Of course, leaving the NBA doesn't mean his time in the United States is over. Osman is still young enough to potentially head back to the league if he decides he wants one more crack at it. For now, though, Osman will be gearing up for a battle with Fournier and Olympiacos as the two dominant Greek teams make statement additions during their offseason. 

Osman has the chance to become a face of European basketball; it will be interesting to see how he adjusts to a new style of play and much larger role. If it works out, this decision could be the best of his career. 

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST

Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss
NBA

Celtics' ownership move should concern Lakers governor Jeanie Buss

Lakers governor Jeanie Buss is supposed to remain in charge of the team for years even after the sale. Given what just happened with the Boston Celtics, it might only be months. When the Grousbeck family sold the Celtics for $6.1B in March, ESPN reported that Wyc Grousbeck would stay on as the Celtics CEO and governor through the 2027-28 season. Now, new owner Bill Chisholm will take over once the sale is final. That should concern current Lakers team governor Jeanie Buss, whose family sold a majority interest in the Los Angeles Lakers to investor Mark Walter. Buss is supposed to stay on as team governor for "at least a number of years," according to ESPN's Ramona Shelburne, but new NBA owners haven't been keen on waiting to take control of teams recently. Mark Cuban thought he would continue running the Dallas Mavericks when he sold a controlling interest to the Adelson family in November 2023. Before the end of that season, when Dallas advanced to the NBA Finals, new team governor Patrick Dumont, the son-in-law of Miriam Adelson, was firmly in charge. General manager Nico Harrison reported directly to Dumont, which is how Luka Doncic ended up traded to the Lakers despite Cuban's objections. It might be different with the Lakers. Walter has owned a minority share in the Lakers since 2021, so he's had a working relationship with Buss. Her role as team governor may be a condition of the sale itself. With the team preparing for a long-term future with Doncic, Walter and his fellow owners might opt for continuity in the team governor role. But in general, people do not spend billions of dollars on a professional sports team so that someone else can be in charge. Buss is in charge of the Lakers now. Recent history says she won't be for long.

Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports
NFL

Bears make big decision amid concerning Caleb Williams reports

Second-year Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and other starters were spectators for Chicago's preseason opener versus the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, first-year Bears head coach Ben Johnson confirmed things will be different when his club hosts the Buffalo Bills for an exhibition matchup this coming Sunday evening. "Everyone's going to play," Johnson said, as shared by Courtney Cronin of ESPN. Johnson added that how many snaps Williams will take versus the Bills is "to be determined." The Bears will first host the Bills for a joint practice on Friday. Johnson came to this decision following multiple reports detailing the supposed struggles that Williams has endured throughout training camp. Most recently, Monday’s practice was allegedly "a low point for" Chicago's first-team offense and featured "Williams and receiver Rome Odunze both looking frustrated" after some failed connections. "I've been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get [Williams] up to speed," Johnson explained. "And by the plan that we had a week ago, we were able to get him probably somewhere between 80 and 100 more reps than we would've been able to do had he played in the game. This week, it's a different schedule. Different length of time in terms of in between games and all that. And so, our plan right now is the guys that sat out last week, they will be playing this week." Those running the Bears hope that the hiring of Johnson, an advertised offensive guru, will help Williams become a top-tier quarterback after the 23-year-old won only five of 17 starts during his rookie season. However, Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic is among those who have mentioned that Williams has been responsible for a noteworthy number of inaccurate passes this summer. "I think the trust that we've been talking about from the get-go, that's really where that comes into play," Johnson added about risking the health of his starters by playing them against Buffalo. "We haven't been here with this group as a coaching staff. That trust has been earning, and we've been developing that amongst each other. It's not a one-way street. It goes both ways. And so I think that's just another step in the progression, you know?" The Bears will wrap up the preseason with a game at the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 22. It's unclear if Williams or other Chicago starters will see any action that Friday night.

Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice
NFL

Patriots have big Drake Maye concern surface at Vikings' joint practice

Defense ruled the day during the joint practice between the New England Patriots and Minnesota Vikings. Per Chad Graff of The Athletic, the Patriots defense did a masterful job of disrupting Vikings second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy at Wednesday's practice. However, New England's offensive line was unable to allow Drake Maye to have enough time to finish plays. "Even with four new expected starters up front following last year’s debacle, Wednesday suggested that there will likely be some bumps ahead for this offensive line," Graff wrote. "Sure, going up against the Vikings was always going to be a difficult task. Greenard has been wrecking his own team’s practices in training camp, and everyone in New England knows how good Flores’ scheme can be. But the domination was so thorough by the Vikings’ front seven that three straight plays at one point would’ve resulted in a sack." Maye showed flashes of promise when he had time to throw downfield or was able to use his legs to buy time or scramble when pressure came. The concern is that the offensive line won't allow Maye enough time to even scramble, so he can make throws. Graff has noticed the same issues that happened on Wednesday have been a constant at training camp against the Patriots defense. With a new-look offensive line that includes first-round pick Will Campbell at left tackle, the Patriots are expected to have some bumps at training camp and in September. New England's offense probably won't look great out of the gate while the offensive line develops in offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels' scheme. If and when the offensive line improves, Maye will have a chance to show off the arm that made him the No. 3 pick in 2024. For now, the offensive line is a concern much like it was last season.

4-Time Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman Signs Contract With Minnesota Vikings
NFL

4-Time Pro Bowl Offensive Lineman Signs Contract With Minnesota Vikings

Nine-year veteran center Ryan Kelly signed a new contract with the Minnesota Vikings. Kelly, a former first-round pick and four-time Pro Bowl selection, spent the entirety of his career with the Indianapolis Colts. Ryan Kelly, Minnesota Vikings, Agree to Contract The 2024 season was a disappointing one for Ryan Kelly and the Indianapolis Colts. While the center played well when on the field, the veteran suffered a knee injury in early November that sidelined him for a decent portion of the season. While he eventually returned to the field, it was too little, too late for the Colts playoff chances. The team fell behind in the standings and had their fate sealed with a Week 17 loss to Drew Lock and the New York Giants. Ryan Kelly originally entered the NFL as a first-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. Selected by the Indianapolis Colts, the Alabama product immediately earned a starting job snapping the ball to then-quarterback Andrew Luck. While he started all 16 games as a rookie, injuries limited him to just 19 games over the next two seasons. While he struggled to stay on the field, the Colts decided to activate the fifth-year option on his contract. This proved to be a wise move, as Kelly responded with the best seasons of his career. From 2019 to 2021, the Alabama product made three consecutive Pro Bowls while providing a steadying presence in the middle of the offensive line for Jacoby Brissett, Philip Rivers, and Carson Wentz. After the team as a whole disappointed in 2022, Kelly returned to the Pro Bowl in 2023 while helping lead the team to an unexpected playoff birth. Since signing his rookie contract, Ryan Kelly has started and appeared in 120 games. While on the field, he has made four Pro Bowl teams and earned Second-Team All-Pro honors for him impressive work in the 2020 season.

Customize Your Newsletter

Yardbarker +

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!