Valencia Basket Accelerates Rebuild, Eyes Nikola Mirotic as Premium Homegrown Slot

Valencia Basket faces a major roster overhaul just days after winning the Liga Endesa.

The club, however, will have financial room to rebuild. Between Pradilla and Badio's exit clauses, Real Madrid's payment for Pedro Martínez, compensation for De Larrea and Montero, Valencia Basket will bring in around €5.5 million. Add to that the savings in salaries, which significantly increases investment capacity for the market.

With Gonzalo Corbalán already announced and TJ Shorts secured after leaving Panathinaikos, the sporting director is now working to complete a roster that must compete ambitiously in the ACB and EuroLeague. Currently, the team has Sima, Sako, Reuvers, Moore, Puerto, Corbalán, Taylor, and Cárdenas, awaiting more signings.

One name on Valencia's agenda is Nikola Mirotic. The Spanish-Montenegrin power forward is a free agent and meets a particularly valuable condition for Valencia Basket: he counts as a homegrown slot. With only three academy-trained players on the roster—Puerto, Sima, and Cárdenas—the club needs to add at least two more to comply with ACB regulations if it builds a roster of thirteen or more players.

At 35 years old, Mirotic is no longer the dominant star of previous years, but remains a useful player in a more limited role. Last season he averaged 11 points in EuroLeague, shooting 39% from three. His outside threat, experience, and ability to play 15 or 16 minutes per game could fit a Valencia team that needs to strengthen the power forward position after Pradilla and Key's departures.

Negotiations must be finalized, but interest exists and the context explains it: Valencia needs quality homegrown slots, scoring at the four, and players capable of sustaining an ambitious project after a summer of major changes.