Nick Calathes, who was a key factor in Fenerbahce's playoff win over Monaco, is expected to become a main target for the French club when free agency starts, multiple sources have told BasketNews.
Nick Calathes was the key man in helping Fenerbahce Beko Istanbul overcome AS Monaco in Game 5 of the playoff series. The Greek point guard made a couple of crucial 3-pointers down the stretch that lifted the Turkish side over Mike James and his teammates.
However, after a tough battle in the playoff series, Calathes and James might join forces next season.
Several sources have told BasketNews that Calathes, who's on an expiring deal with Fenerbahce, is receiving strong interest from the Monegasque club and is considered to be a primary target.
The principality's club has several players on expiring deals in the backcourt and is expected to reshape the roster to return to the Final Four after this season's disappointing ending.
Elie Okobo, Jordan Loyd, and Kemba Walker are all on expiring deals, and none of them are guaranteed to return next season yet.
Mike James is also on an expiring deal, although Monaco has already made an official offer to keep him around with a multi-year contract, sources have told BasketNews.
Calathes was already supposed to leave Fenerbahce last summer when the team's management communicated that he was out of the project. But the injury suffered by Raul Neto during the FIBA World Cup changed the team's plans and the two sides continued together.
After Sarunas Jasikevicius' arrival on the bench, Calathes has been an extremely useful asset for Fenerbahce.
He's averaging 7.2 points, 5 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. But with his contract set to expire at the end of the season, sources have told BasketNews that his continuity in Istanbul remains up in the air.
Calathes and James have already played together for Panathinaikos on two different occasions. The first time was during the 2016-2017 season when James played a full season with the Greens, and then again in 2018, when James joined in the middle of the season.
Greek reporter Sotiris Vetakis was the first one to mention Monaco's interest in Calathes.
