After failing to find an NBA club during the offseason, Cedi Osman has temporarily put his NBA career on hold. The player selected in the second round of the 2015 NBA draft will play in the Euroleague and the Greek Basketball League after signing a contract with Panathinaikos.
Osman may well return abroad, but a A recent report suggested He received an offer to stay in America, which he ultimately declined.
“According to Eurohoops sources, the Turkish international was in advanced talks with Real Madrid but ultimately failed to reach an agreement with the powerful Spanish team,” Eurohoops’ Nikola Miloradovic wrote on Saturday. “He also attracted interest from the Los Angeles Lakers, who invited him to a training camp. However, due to the lack of guarantees regarding his presence in the season’s squad, he decided to decline and return to Europe.”
While Osman isn’t known for being a lethal scoring wing, he has proven that he can be a reliable three-point shooting threat in drive-and-kick situations. In the 2020-21 offseason, Osman made at least 35 percent of his three-point shots as a contributor for the Cleveland Cavaliers and San Antonio Spurs.
Osman also has a knack for making timely cuts during shifty offensive possessions, which amplifies his ability to assess tight situations. His lone season alongside LeBron James wasn’t eventful, but he managed to earn the 20-time All-Star’s respect in the end.
With his NBA future uncertain, Osman’s decision to pursue his career in another country is understandable. There’s no guarantee the Ohrid, Macedonia native would have earned a spot on the Lakers’ opening night roster, and it’s clear he’s interested in playing professional basketball in 2024-25.
Additionally, reports indicate that Osman has received an offer from the Lakers may have been manufactured.
“There have been reports in Europe that Turkish forward Cedi Osman turned down an invitation to Lakers training camp before signing with Panathinaikos in Greece, but sources familiar with the situation tell The Stein Line that no such offer has been made by LA despite LeBron James’ well-known affection for Osman dating back to their days as Cavaliers teammates,” Marc Stein wrote on “The Stein Line” Monday.
We may not have any details on what exactly happened between the 29-year-old and Los Angeles, but ultimately he will be wearing the Panathinaikos jersey.
Like Patrick Beverly, who is currently playing in Israel, Osman is ready to leave the NBA to continue his career. Osman will remain in the under-30 club until April 8, so it would be foolish to rule out an NBA return for the young pro in the future.
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