Alen Smailagic officially joined Zalgiris Kaunas on a 1+1 year deal.
Alen Smailagic officially joined Zalgiris Kaunas on a 1+1 year deal, the Lithuanian club announced.
BasketNews reported about the agreement between Smailagic and Zalgiris on Thursday. Mozzart Sport was the first to report on the negotiations between Zalgiris and Smailagic.
"I am happy to be part of Zalgiris Kaunas. I am looking forward to competing and winning, and I'm excited to meet Zalgiris fans. I can't wait to get to Kaunas", Smailagic said in a press release.
"With Rolands Smits departure, we needed a big man like Alen. He can spread the floor, shoot from long range, and he's tough under the baskets too. He is a player with good character and good skills, and the coaches will definitely be able to use him," said Zalgiris GM Gediminas Navickas.
During the 2023-24 season, Smailagic averaged 5.6 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 6.3 PIR per game in 31 EuroLeague appearances.
With 29 NBA games under his belt, he returned to Serbia in the summer of 2021 after spending three years in the top league and one season in the Serbian third division, which helped him make the jump to the Golden State Warriors.
In the NBA, Smailagic had career stats of 3.0 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 0.6 assists per game.
 Zalgiris Kaunas | Zalgiris Kaunas | |
| Position | Player | Status |
| PG | Lukas Lekavicius | Signed until 2025 |
| SG | Dovydas Giedraitis | Signed until 2025 +2 |
| SG | Tomas Dimsa | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| SG/SF | Deividas Sirvydis (story) | Signed until 2026 +1 |
| SF | Edgaras Ulanovas | Signed until 2027 |
| SF | Arnas Butkevicius | Signed until 2025 |
| SF/PF | Matt Mitchell (story) | Signed until 2025+1 |
| PF | Brady Manek | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| PF/C | Alen Smailagic (story) | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| PF/C | Rolands Smits | Signed until 2026 |
| PF/C | Danielius Lavrinovicius | Signed until 2024 +1 |
| C | Laurynas Birutis | Signed until 2025 +1 |
| C | Kevarrius Hayes | Signed until 2024+1 |
| Coach | Andrea Trinchieri (signed until 2026) | |
| Expired contract | Keenan Evans, Karolis Lukosiunas (will not return), Demetre Rivers (will not return), Edmond Sumner (will not return) | |
| Rumored to leave | Keenan Evans, Rolands Smits (will not return), Danielius Lavrinovicius | |
| Interested | Sylvain Francisco (story) | |
More Zalgiris transfer news:
- Alen Smailagic to join Zalgiris
- Zalgiris tab forward Matt Mitchell on 1+1 deal
- Three players leave Zalgiris Kaunas
- Deividas Sirvydis joins Zalgiris
- Rolands Smits pens 2-year deal with Anadolu Efes
- Matt Mitchell close to signing with Zalgiris
- Rolands Smits finalizing deal with Anadolu Efes
- Sylvain Francisco nearing deal with Zalgiris
