What's behind the biggest basketball transfer in recent years? Here's why Cedi Osman "walked away" from Željko Obradović

Osman has decided to leave Panathinaikos and will not compete in the EuroLeague next season. Instead, he will be part of an ambitious project in Thessaloniki with PAOK, who will play in the EuroCup.

Many were surprised that Cedi Osman opted to move away from a collaboration with Željko Obradović, especially since Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos wanted him to remain with the team.

However, the Turkish player received an even better offer from PAOK. According to the Greek outlet Gazzetta, the Thessaloniki club's general manager, Giorgos Tsiaras, played a key role, securing Osman a three-year deal worth three million euros per season.

Osman is set to become the leader of the new-look PAOK team. Interestingly, he also had more lucrative offers on the table from Fenerbahçe and Efes but chose not to return to his homeland to avoid creating a rift between the two biggest Turkish clubs.

In any case, Panathinaikos remains well-covered at the position Osman played, with Isaac Bonga and Nikos Rogkavopoulos on the roster. Additionally, Nigel Hayes-Davis and Panagiotis Kalaitzakis can also shift to that spot.