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The scheduled closed-door match had to be canceled as the Spanish team currently lacks enough available players for training, let alone for a competitive game. A lengthy list of absences has created unexpected difficulties for the coaching staff.
International duties have kept Koby Simmons and Demion Boff away from the squad. Simultaneously, the most high-profile new signing, veteran NBA player Kenneth Faried, has yet to arrive in Vitoria to join the team. However, the primary reason for the player shortage stems from the situation with center Khalifa Diop, who is on the verge of a move to the NBA.
With the club's permission, Diop traveled to the United States for detailed medical examinations in Cleveland. Should these examinations prove successful, the Cleveland Cavaliers, who drafted him as the 39th pick in 2022, will make a final decision regarding his engagement for the 2026/27 season.
Although the transfer isn't yet official, Baskonia is already preparing for life without the Senegalese center. Given that Diop is under contract, the club will receive financial compensation from the NBA franchise. However, his departure will leave a significant void in the paint. The club's management and coach Paolo Galbiati will need to urgently find solutions in the market and, in addition to Faried, sign two more big men to bolster the center position before the season begins.
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