Luwawu-Cabarrot Gains Momentum as Real Madrid's Answer to Bonga Departure

Real Madrid has moved quickly in response to losing Isaac Bonga. The German wing appears headed to Panathinaikos after the Greek club won the bidding war with a superior financial offer, and the Madrid club is already working on a top-tier alternative: Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot.

The French small forward, who has shone this season with Baskonia, has become one of Real Madrid's top options to strengthen the perimeter. Conversations between the Madrid club and the Vitoria-based team are already underway, with the possibility that Baskonia could receive financial compensation in exchange for not exercising their matching rights.

Luwawu-Cabarrot comes off completing an excellent campaign in the Liga Endesa, where he was one of the most impactful players in the competition. With Baskonia, he averaged 18.1 points per game, finishing as the league's leading scorer. His offensive impact, combined with his physicality and experience, has placed him among the most sought-after names in the European market.

The 31-year-old French player also boasts an extensive international resume. He was selected 24th overall in the 2016 NBA Draft and played for franchises including the Philadelphia 76ers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, and Atlanta Hawks before establishing himself in Europe. In Vitoria, he has found an ideal setting to regain prominence and showcase one of the most solid versions of his career.

His name had also been linked to Barcelona, who had him marked as an important piece for their new project. However, Real Madrid's move could completely change the scenario and leave the Blaugrana without two of their main wing targets: first Bonga and now Luwawu-Cabarrot.

Barring a last-minute twist, the deal could advance in the coming hours. Real Madrid, which needed a response after losing ground on Bonga, has in Luwawu-Cabarrot an immediate impact reinforcement for the 2026/27 season.