CSKA almost completed the roster for the upcoming season. But several questions still exist. The reason is the number of the basketball players who have contracts with the Army club. 16 of them are in the team’s camp, 6 others play for their National teams. Of course, all of 22 could not stay in CSKA. That is the reason to talk to club CEO Sergey Kuschenko.
Does CSKA have a plan to keep Dikoudis in the roster?
- At the end of last season Dikoudis came up to me and expressed his wish not to stay in CSKA and to move somewhere in Europe in spite of the valid contract. We took into account Dikoudis opinion and completed the roster knowing that the Greek forward would likely leave the team. On the other hand club found for the player several options in Europe for the upcoming season. The teams that wanted to see him on the roster were from top three European national leagues and played in Euroleague or ULEB Cup. But every time we had the kind of option the player and his agent took time to think but until now we did not get any positive answer.
The time is running out. There is only a month until the start of the season. What CSKA plans to do if Dikoudis would not find a club to play? Is there any chance for him to stay in CSKA?
- On the one hand we suppose the roster to be complete and do not count on Dikoudis in the team. On the other hand the players just gathered to the first camp. It takes time to realize the psychical conditions of all of them and the players’ behavior. We have a lot of young guys in the roster and they have to prove they worth to stay in the team. So I guess there is a small chance for Dikoudis to stay in CSKA.
What about other players? What is going to happen with Yaroslav Korolev?
- The youth grows well in CSKA system. The example of Sergey Monya and Victor Kryapa who left the team and has gone to NBA shows it pretty well. Korolev may follow them. Los Angeles Clippers wants to see him in the roster this season and we are waiting for the offer. The player has a long term contract with CSKA that does not has an NBA option. So I think Clippers would try to buy him out. It will take a while to make a final decision.
Let’s go on with the young players. What about Vasily Zavoruev?
- Zavoruev has the same situation as Egor Vyaltsev and two Nikitas – Shabalkin and Kourbanov. They all are talented players. CSKA is looking forward to see them in the roster in the future. But they are not ready yet. They have to improve, to become leaders on the court and they need to spend on the court at least 30 minutes a game. It is impossible in CSKA, a player should deserve the time on the court. But once CSKA players gets in the system he should be treated right. It is a club business to take care about the future players and to guarantee they will be under a professional control. For example, I know Ural Great can provide good conditions for Egor Vyaltsev. And from the next season on we can count on him. As for Zavoruev, he made a great progress last season. He reads the game better. And the only thing is missing is the leadership. There is a chance he would stay in CSKA or he may go to one of the clubs in Spain thanks to our partners in this country.
What about Shabalkin?
- He will probably start the season in CSKA. It will be determined after the camp.
CSKA has a problem trying to find a job for Zavoruev and Co. Do you think the fact shows the general problem CSKA system faces? I mean that there is a number of players who are too old to join the young team and too young to join the A team.
- Why do you think so? We have CSK VVS and CSK VVS-2 in our system. I guess the most of our ex-young team would join them. Zavoruev story is different. He should play in a high class team and to concentrate on his leadership abilities. Others has to work more on their bodies and physical conditions in order to become a real players. The conditions in CSK VVS are good enough for the goal.
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