Chaison Randle became AEK’s 11th signing of the year, completing another dynamic step in the 2023/24 season. The bar has been raised for the 100th Anniversary Season of the Union. And there’s a reason for that.

Despite the excitement created after the Juan Plata deal, AEK appeared ready to tread carefully in the transfer market. Instead, starting in July, the company dropped transfer bomb after transfer bomb on its data and announced the acquisition of Ben McLemorefrom Mindaugas Kuzminskasfrom Jordan McRaefrom Langston Hallfrom Yannis Kouselogloufrom Homer Netzipogloufrom Zoe Karabela, from Emphiondou Campengele, by Justin Tillman and Manoli Hatzidakis.

It is now more than clear that the 100th season in the club’s history will not be a transitional season like the previous two. All the steps that have been taken show that the “yellow-blacks” want to make noise.

Starting with the basics, here is the AEK depth map:
PG: Langston Hall, Dimitris Flionis, Zois Karabelas
SG: Ben McLemore, Chason Randle
SF: Jordan McRae, Homeris Netzipoglou
PF: Justin Tillman, Mindaugas Kuzminskas, Yiannis Kouseloglou
C: Emphiontou Campengele, Manolis Hatzidakis

It is understood that some things are subject to change. Flionis gets to start the games and not Hall, Kuzminskas and not Tillman. Kuzminskas can also “relegate” to 3, Netzipoglou to 2, Randle to 1, Tillman or Kouseloglou to 5 “up”.

The fact that AEK has some versatile players but will also travel with 7 foreigners (so there will always be one outside the 12th in the Basket League but all will play in the Basketball Champions League) gives that flexibility.

However, the basic depth map is this, except for two other Greeks. The “Union” currently has only 5 Greek players. It must have at least 6 in the 12th digit and it would be good to have a 7th digit in case there is an absence.

Platha’s philosophy and the players who “click” on it.

In Analysis of the philosophy of Juan Plata it referred to concrete data that applied to (almost) all of its groups. The Spanish coach wanted players with specific qualities in each position. In theory, AEK acted absolutely in accordance with the experienced technician’s “wishes”, at least measured against his wallet. Here it is:

– The ex-Real coach has always had “pure” point guards in his teams, who think first about creation and then execution. AEK has three such players: Hall, Flionis and Karabelas.

– Platha always wants to have at least one combo guard who can dribble and has some creative talent: he wants to delegate that role to Randle.

– On the “wings” – meaning positions 2 and 3 – Platha wants at least one player with the ability to put the ball on the ground and possibly play a little pick and roll. This is the role McRae has generally played in his career. Platha would also like at least a second scorer/scorer. That player is Ben McLemore.

– You need at least one native player who can play the two “wing” positions big, who can put the ball a little on the ground. This player is Homeros Netzipoglou.

– Trainer Platha always had at least one combo forward who could post. In Malaga, this role was played by Kuzminskas. At AEK he will be… Kuzminskas.

– For the position of power forward, the veteran coach wants a player with the ability to shoot from long distances, and Kuzminskas was signed for that. However, he would wish that his 4th place would field more dynamic opponents. Both Tillman and Kouseloglou can do this.

– Ideally, the team had a big pick and roll in the middle position that can post when needed. Campengele will fill that role, while Tillman – in lower formations – can also support.

– At the same time, Coach appreciates Platha Center who can do short roll after pick and roll and see the pitch. That’s something Hatzidakis can do.

– Another part of the veteran technician’s philosophy is to encourage young players. It is not certain that this will happen. What is certain, however, is that three players under the age of 23 (Hatzidakis, Karabelas, Netzipoglou) will be firmly in the 12th round with all that that entails.

There’s no guarantee of success, but it’s good to have a plan

AEK did not form a dream team. At the moment he hasn’t even formed a team as all those transfer acquisitions haven’t materialized yet. But she was in the mood to put together a squad to match her coach’s “wishes” and on paper she appears to have succeeded.

In theory, the squad isn’t perfect either. A first look at the existing players shows that size is not enough in the small forward position as McRae cannot handle more dynamic bodies, Kuzminskas is more focused on the 4 at this stage of his career and Nezipoglu should prove he can play can at this level. But many teams now play with 3 regional teams.

Another conversation is how McLemore and McRae will fit into the same starting lineup because they are both goalscorers. But McLemore is used to playing off the ball to open up the pitch. You could say that with Tillman as a power forward, the gap on offense won’t be ideal. However, Campengele and Kouseloglou have shown some (small) nuggets as stretch-5s.

The real issue, of course, in the eyes of most, is defense. The five of Macklemore, McRae, Tillman, Kuzminskas and Randle aren’t exactly known for their defensive consistency, and logic dictates there will always be at least two of them on the floor. However, the hope is that the remaining players’ defensive filter will fix this problem.

It’s clear that AEK’s big strides are no guarantee of success. But what a team can do is have a plan in mind that seems right, act on it, and hope it achieves its goal. Everything else is seen and judged where everything is seen and judged: on the ground.