Usman Garuba close to a return to Madrid, Poirier on his way to Efes

By Aris Barkas/[email protected]

Real Madrid have convinced Usman Garuba to leave the NBA and return to Europe, according to Eurohoops sources, joining the EuroLeague finalists on a long-term contract.

Garuba, 22, from Real Madrid's junior teams, was drafted in 2021 and left the Spanish powerhouse for the NBA where in three years he played 105 games (99 with the Rockets and six with Golden State).

Although he still receives interest from the NBA, Garuba, who finished the season with the Golden State Warriors' G-League affiliate, may be a key to Madrid's future in first line, practically replacing the great Frenchman Vincent Poirier.

Poirier, as already reported, received a significant offer from Anadolu Efes, which Madrid cannot match. With his contract with the Spanish club expiring this season, the most likely scenario is that he moves to Istanbul.

Garuba not only knows the team and counts as a local passport to the national league, but can also complement Edy Tavares, also whose contract is expiring, who should – after much back and forth – stay with the team with a new long-term contract. contract, as he recently stated, expressing his “hope to stay with the team.”