As Xavi Pascual continues to fine-tune his team ahead of the Liga Endesa playoffs, Barcelona’s sporting director Juan Carlos Navarro and his deputy Mario Bruno Fernández are busy shaping a roster that looks set to be significantly stronger than in the previous two campaigns.
It’s an open secret that Willy Hernangómez, Youssoupha Fall, Myles Cale, and Miles Norris will not be staying, while Tomas Satoransky’s future remains uncertain. There’s also the possibility that Juani Marcos or Juan Núñez could be sent out on loan.
On the recruitment front, progress is being made. Finnish forward Olivier Nkamhoua (from Pallacanestro Varese) and American center Moses Wright (from Zalgiris) have been signed, while the arrival of American-Slovenian big man Josh Nebo is close to being finalized. Additionally, American-Guinean wing Alpha Diallo (AS Monaco) and his Monaco teammate Mike James are strongly linked with a move.
This means Barcelona’s new-look frontcourt would feature Moses Wright and Josh Nebo at the center position, with Tornike Shengelia and Nkamhoua at power forward, plus the versatile Joel Parra as cover. However, neither of the two centers is known for their outside shooting.
Moses Wright made 11 of 36 three-point attempts during the EuroLeague regular season and just one of five in the playoffs against Fenerbahçe. Nebo (if his signing is confirmed) is even more of a traditional inside presence, missing the only three-pointer he attempted all season.
Like any modern coach, Xavi Pascual values having every position capable of threatening from the perimeter. The reason is simple: unless you have a Walter Tavares or a prime Roberto Dueñas, you need at least one big man who can punish a defense that sags off him, creating space between the shooter and the basket for post-ups or driving lanes.
In this context, Jan Vesely emerges as a highly useful option as a second or even third center. His improved mid-range and three-point shooting—he made 10 of 34 triples in the regular season and missed just one in the playoffs—would provide valuable floor spacing.
The catch is that the Czech veteran is seeking a two-year contract, while Barcelona would likely offer only a “1+1” deal, given he turned 36 in April and has dealt with various physical issues over the past two seasons. That said, he has played through pain and shown unwavering commitment on the court.
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In fact, Olimpia Milano is also weighing up a potential move, and his market value remains quite high. His role would be different from what he’s had before, so Barcelona would only be interested at a lower price. Still, if his body holds up, he could continue to be a valuable contributor.
