Sylvain Francisco joins Panathinaikos after missed NBA opportunity

French guard Sylvain Francisco has joined Panathinaikos after a series of complex negotiations involving his departure from ASVEL and a missed opportunity to join the NBA.

Francisco revealed that financial delays regarding ASVEL’s budget forced his exit from the French club. He also disclosed that he was close to signing a guaranteed two-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. However, the move was stalled because NBA teams were waiting for LeBron James to finalize his own future before proceeding with player trades.

Because Francisco had a contract release deadline of July 20, he was forced to commit to Panathinaikos. LeBron James signed his deal four days after Francisco’s deadline, which subsequently unblocked the NBA trade market, but by then, the window for his move to Chicago had closed.