CSKA Moscow is still looking for an ace and Vatutin says he is ready for change

Kevin Pangos was CSKA’s big target last summer, but his decision to wait for an offer from the NBA and eventually accept the offer from the Cleveland Cavaliers – outstanding this year – left the Moscow team out in the cold. And yet, five or six months later, the club’s agents are looking for another short that can make a difference, admitted Andrei Vatutin.

“We wanted Pangos to organize our attack. We were waiting for him, maybe he was wrong as we hadn’t completed our list yet. We had the best ace on the market, Mike James, proving the truth with his performances in Monaco. But we couldn’t predict what happened between him and Dimitris Itoudis. The team lost a great player and money for his replacement. We all have responsibilities, from the actors to the coaches to the players. We believe that we can correct the situation, we have quality and skills. We don’t have stars, but Svend, Hackett, Ludberg, Claiborne and Grigonis have since adjusted. Everyone and everything is judged by the results. So if personnel changes are required, we will make them. But we need to know if these choices will help us not only today but also in the future“They were Vatutin’s meaningful outbursts.

CSKA Moscow is seventh in the EuroLeague table with a record of 12-8, followed by eighth Anadolu Efes with 10-10 and Monaco – Bayern Munich with 10-11. The Russians are coming off a home loss and a poor performance against Armani Milano (57-67), with Dimitris Itoudis coming under renewed criticism but remaining in his position and working to reverse the climate created in recent weeks.