As it turns out, Deron Williams won't be the first or even second Net to sign with a Turkish team. Second round pick Bojan Bogdanovic signed back in June with TBL champ Fenerbahce and Sasha Vujacic signed Friday with Anadolou Efes.
Efes, like Besiktas and Fenerbahce, is an Istanbul-based team. Efes inked Vujacic to a one-year deal with an option for another, the club announced on Friday. Vujacic averaged a career-high 9.8 points and 2.0 assists in 67 NBA games last season. He averaged 11.4 points 2.3 assists in 56 games with the Nets, shooting 40 percent from the field.
Under the old CBA, the Nets could have retained (or renounced) Vujacic's Bird Rights while he played in Europe. Whether that's continued, eliminated or changed who knows.
On his official website, Vujacic said his decision was based on an increasingly pessimistic view of the current CBA talks. "With the uncertainty of the NBA lockout, I couldn’t imagine myself not competing and taking a break from basketball, which is what I do and live for. I hope the NBA and NBPA reach an agreement soon and I also hope that I will have the chance to play in the NBA again".
- ANADOLU EFES signs Vujacic - Euroleague
- Sasha Vujacic Signs In Turkey, Leaving Nets As Free Agent - Scott Schroeder - SB Nation
- Sasha Vujacic in Ephesus (Google Translate) - Anadolu Efes
- Nets guard Vujacic signs with Turkish club - AP
- Report: Sasha Vujacic signs to play in Turkey - Royce Young - CBS Sports
- Say goodbye to the Turkey-bound Sasha Vujacic - Eric Freeman - Ball Don't Lie
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It’s official, Vujacic signs for full season in in Turkey - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports