Zalgiris reloads with big names and eyes another EuroLeague playoff run

After emerging as one of last season’s EuroLeague surprises, Zalgiris Kaunas has lost its two biggest stars this summer, Sylvain Francisco and Moses Wright. Other departures include Ignas Brazdeikis and Laurynas Birutis, but with three months left before the next EuroLeague season, the Lithuanian club already looks built to challenge for a playoff place again in 2026/27.

The most notable move so far is a long-term deal for 24-year-old Azuolas Tubelis, who averaged 12.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in his first EuroLeague season and was one of the most sought-after players in Europe before choosing to stay. Zalgiris also hopes to bring in 34-year-old Jonas Valanciunas, the Lithuanian center who may end his NBA career this summer and return home. In Denver, where he backed up Nikola Jokic, he posted 8.7 points and 5.1 rebounds in just 13.4 minutes per game.

Two more expected additions are Carsen Edwards and Sterling Brown, who would fill the wing spots. Edwards averaged 17.3 points for Bologna in the EuroLeague last season, while Brown scored 13.7 points per game for Partizan Belgrade. Already confirmed for next season are former Maccabi Tel Aviv guard Saben Lee and former Zalgiris guard Marius Grigonis, giving the club a deep rotation.

Zalgiris has also brought back center Mark Blazevic, who starred for Tofas Bursa last season. The projected roster shown in the report includes Nigel Williams-Goss, Maodo Lo, Dovydas Giedraitis, Edwards, Lee, Grigonis, Brown, Edgaras Ulanovas, Arnas Butkevicius, Deividas Sirvydis, Tubelis, Dustin Sleva, Valanciunas and Blazevic.