Keenan Evans is close to returning to Zalgiris Kaunas, the club where he played his best basketball in Europe before joining Olympiacos. According to reports, the deal would be a 1+1 contract, though the point guard would not start the season in Kaunas.
The idea would be different: Evans would sign with Zalgiris, but would start the season on loan at London Lions. The Lithuanian club would retain the option to bring him back during the season if his physical and sporting development allows it.
The nuance is important. This is not just a sentimental return or an immediate addition for the EuroLeague. Evans comes off two very difficult years physically and needs to regain continuity. At Olympiacos, he was barely able to show his level due to serious injuries, including a torn patellar tendon and later a torn left Achilles tendon. Eurohoops reported weeks ago about his departure from the Greek club after a stint marked almost entirely by those physical problems.
Zalgiris knows the player well. Between 2022 and 2024, Evans was one of the team's key references, with the ability to score, create off the dribble, and take on responsibilities in the EuroLeague. That performance was precisely what opened the door to Olympiacos for him.
London Lions appears as an intermediate step. Zalgiris has already used that route this summer with Maxwell Lewis, signed by the Lithuanian club and subsequently loaned to the British team for the 2026/27 season.
For Evans, the move would make sense if it allows him to return without immediate pressure. For Zalgiris, too: it recovers the rights of a player who already performed at a high level in Kaunas, but without forcing his return from day one.
It is not officially closed, but the operation points to a fairly clear idea: sign, rebuild rhythm in London, and leave the door open for a return to Zalgiris during the season.