If nothing else, Cedi Osman’s transfer from Panathinaikos to PAOK came as a surprise—not only to the basketball world in general but also to the “Green” fans.

But how did we get to this point? How will the “clover” react?

These are questions that come to mind, but they also have straightforward answers.

First of all, what emerges from the “Greens’” report is that there is no intention to undervalue any player who has contributed to the team. And Osman was one such player.

However, it’s clear that the “clover”’s guiding principle remains the same: the team comes before everyone else, just as the “Greens” want to honor players who have contributed but have no intention of standing in the way or forcing anyone to stay.

From the moment Osman expressed—and in his communications with Panathinaikos officials—his desire to change teams in order to accept PAOK’s challenge, no one would have kept him “against his will” at the “clover.”

In the “green camp,” it is pointed out that Panathinaikos may buy players at high prices, but at the same time, it sells players more than any other European team. Furthermore, it’s clear that the money coming in from the sale of the Turkish player, as well as the funds freed up from his contract, will not be tucked away in a piggy bank but—as has been pointed out—will be invested appropriately.

As for the roster and the loss of Osman, of course, everyone recognizes his value; however, we’ll have to wait until the roster is finalized before we can draw any conclusions.

How did we end up with this departure? Until Thursday, it wasn’t even an issue, with Osman telling the team staff that he wanted to stay. However, that changed on Friday, when the player expressed his desire to leave.

The “Greens,” of course, made it clear—after he insisted—that this could happen for the right price, but also under certain other conditions.

What are those conditions? The final “OK” from Zeljko Obradović, which was ultimately given, with the “clover” officials making it clear to everyone that Zoc is the one who will make the final decisions and, of course, he has the first and last word on everything that happens within the team. No transfer or loan takes place without his consent.

Another important factor was which team made a move for Osman. PAOK, while a team with a rich history and a clear desire to raise its level of play, is not currently considered competitive, especially given its major goal for next season: winning the EuroLeague.

*photo source: KYPE