PAOK didn't just sit idly by after Jedy Osman's injury. The Turkish player is scheduled to undergo meniscus surgery, most likely on Saturday, at which point it will be determined whether he’ll be out for 30–40 days (if it’s a simple arthroscopic procedure) or 4–6 months (if he undergoes suture repair, like Jan Montero).
Following the loss of its team leader at a critical juncture of the season, PAOK has expedited the process of strengthening its roster. Not with another small forward, since Osman will return (likely even before 2027), but with a guard they were looking for anyway. The management team led by Telis Mystakidis has already approached Kevin Porter Jr., offering him a massive two-year contract.
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Aris Basketball Club wishes Osman a speedy return to the court
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It is said that the offer exceeds 5 million euros per year, which, if confirmed, would make him the second-highest-paid player in Europe, behind Vasilije Mičić, who earns 6 million euros from Hapoel Tel Aviv—a figure to which certain bonuses are added—and has also acquired a stake in the club.
The 26-year-old guard (1.96 m), who played for PAOK in 2024, asked for a few days to respond, wanting to exhaust all possibilities of finding a spot in the NBA. However, since being waived by the Bucks on October 19, he has not found anything worthwhile, and nothing appears to be on the horizon at the moment. Furthermore, it will be very difficult for him to earn more than what PAOK is offering him. It should be noted that last season with the Bucks, he earned $5.4 million gross, or approximately $3.5 million net.
PAOK wants the player to be in Thessaloniki next week so he can play, at the latest, in the tough game against Manresa in Spain (Nov. 18) and the big derby against Aris (Nov. 21) at Palataki, followed by the national team break, during which he’ll be able to better adapt to Andrea Trinchieri’s system.
Last season, Kevin Porter Jr. played in 38 games for the Bucks, 36 of them as a starter, averaging 17.4 points, 7.4 assists, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.2 steals in an average of 33.2 minutes. During his first stint with PAOK, he averaged 22 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists, 2.8 steals, and 1.3 blocks in an average of 38 minutes.
*Photo source: AP
