Barcelona is advanced in the signing of Justin Minaya. According to Esports RAC1, the Blaugrana club is close to closing the deal for the wing, who would arrive from the Osceola Magic, the Orlando Magic's G League affiliate. The operation has not been officially confirmed by the club.
Who is Minaya
Born in Harrington Park (New Jersey) on March 26, 1999, Minaya is 27 years old and stands 1.96 meters tall. He is the son of MLB executive Omar Minaya, holds dual U.S. and Dominican citizenship, and has represented the Dominican Republic internationally, with whom he played this same year.
His trajectory is that of a defensive-minded player who has lived on the NBA's fringe. Developed at South Carolina and Providence, he went undrafted in the 2022 Draft and started with the Capitanes de Ciudad de México. He then spent two seasons in the Portland Trail Blazers organization, alternating between the NBA and the Rip City Remix, and has accumulated 57 games in the league with averages of 1.7 points and 1.4 rebounds in a very limited role.
2025-26 Numbers
Last season he played entirely in the G League with the Osceola Magic, after signing an Exhibit 10 contract with Orlando in September and being cut in October. There he did have a role: he averaged 9.8 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, with standout performances of high volume—24 points on 4-of-10 from three against Maine, or a game of 18 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks against the Rip City Remix, for a 30 rating—.
The Achilles heel is known and must be stated: the three-point shot. Throughout his G League trajectory he hovers around 24-25 percent from three, a very poor percentage for a wing who in Europe will play surrounded by tight defenses in the paint. His value lies elsewhere: ability to defend multiple positions, perimeter rebounding, steals and blocks from the outside. A defensive specialist, not a scorer.
What Barcelona is Looking For
If confirmed, the signing fits the type of profile the club has been seeking for the perimeter game: physical, defensive versatility and controlled cost, versus betting on bigger names. It is also a risky move, because Minaya has never played in Europe and the jump from the G League to the EuroLeague is not always well-digested, especially for players who depend on space and high pace.