Nick Piccone
Eat your heart out, Kevin Durant. The Sixers have just trumped your move to the Golden State Warriors by signing Sergio Rodriguez to a one-year, $8 million deal, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical.
Euroleague star Sergio Rodriguez has agreed to a one-year, $8 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, league sources tell The Vertical.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 4, 2016
Rodriguez last played in the NBA in 2010 and played for the Trail Blazers, Kings and Knicks.
He was signed to Real Madrid in Europe where his current contract lasted until 2018. Just one day ago, it seemed like a return to the NBA was not in the cards.
I think my pal Mr. Rabadan in Spain is trying to tell us that Sergio Rodriguez is still resisting NBA interest https://t.co/NQUohc93cd
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 3, 2016
However and despite the rumors about him leaving Real Madrid, Sergio Rodriguez on the first meeting of the Spanish national team on Friday downplayed the idea of him signing in the NBA: “I am very happy at Real Madrid, I have two years left in my contract and as I said at the end of the season, my approach is to remain a player of Real Madrid. I never thought that after six years in the club I would be in this situation. We won all the titles one season ago and this year we won the double (ed.note: Spanish league and Cup). I have two years of contract and I will honor them. Last year there were also rumors and it is clear that there is always contact and talks about the possibilities”. It remains to be seen if a team believes so much in Rodriguez so they would made him a better offer compared to what he is getting in Real Madrid and also a deal that would enable him to pay a buy out which is rumored to be three million euros.
$8 million will do that to a person, though. Especially for only one year. Here are his Euro stats from 2004-06, and then the last six years:
The 2nd coming of John Stockton. I like this signing.