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Former Pitt guard Brad Wanamaker just wrapped up arguably the best season of his professional career, as he led Fenerbahce to a domestic league title in the Turkish Basketball Super League after his team fell to Real Madrid in the EuroLeague championship game.
Now, it appears as if his hard work is paying off, as basketball reporter David Pick said on Monday afternoon that Wanamaker had caught the attention of the NBA’s Boston Celtics.
I'm told the Boston Celtics are giving strong considering to bring over Euro star Brad Wanamaker - MVP of the Turkish finals with Fenerbahce. Other NBA teams with interest: ORL, BRK, PHI and MIA.
— David Pick (@IAmDPick) June 18, 2018
According to Pick, the Celtics are “giving strong consideration” to signing the Pitt product this offseason — and they’re not the only NBA organization interested in acquiring his services.
The Brooklyn Nets, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers are all said to be intrigued by Wanamaker’s NBA potential, according the report, and the Sixers could find themselves with an edge if the competition to add the Fenerbahce star heats up. After all, Wanamaker is a native of Philadelphia and graduated from its Roman Catholic High School before coming to Pitt.
With all that said, Pick noted that appealing new options also exist for Wanamaker in Europe, as a $3.8 million offer has been tabled by Barcelona. He added that the deal would run through 2020 but is unlikely to pique Wanamaker’s interest if he’s able to secure an NBA contract.
Wanamaker played for Pitt from 2007 to 2011 and was a significant figure on the team during the height of the Jamie Dixon era. Since then, he’s steadily climbed up the ranks of the European basketball system, beginning his career with a middling Serie A team in Italy before eventually finding his way onto one of the continent’s most successful teams in Fenerbahce.
While the Nets, Heat and Magic have their issues, they could present Wanamaker with some appealing options, as they’re closer to home and have greater financial resources than European teams. Meanwhile, the Celtics and 76ers possess those qualities and would offer the opportunity to play on a legitimate contender, as each team is coming off a deep playoff run.