Lithuanian veteran played for VEF Riga last season, averaging 9.9 points and 4.4 rebounds. Zavackas' invitation is determined by the absence of the National Teams' players and Andrey Vorontsevich injury which can leave Andrey out for the exhibition games.
Ettore Messina currently has 9 experienced players on the roster (Micov, Pargo, Jackson, Zozulin, Shukhovtsov, Kaun, Khryapa, Hines, Zavackas) and junior project players, including Gudumak. Sonny Weems who stayed in the USA for family reasons will join his teammates on September 3. Milos Teodosic who worked out in Serbian NT camp will return to Moscow on the same day to continue his rehab after injury.
It should be noted that Zavackas contract allows the player to practice and play in the exhibition games only. It can be prolonged on the same conditions depending on his success of finding the new team and Vorontsevich rehabilitation perspectives.
Ettore Messina, CSKA head coach:
We needed a player who can provide us some depth on 4-position during our preseason period, who will behave as a true professional during the practices and who can easily get into group, to establish communication inside the team. And Donatas lives up to our expectations. He speaks excellent English and Russian, so he feels comfortable inside the team, and he is a quality player who just had a great season with VEF Riga.
