After falling short of the playoffs in its first BKT EuroCup season, Romanian champion U-BT Cluj-Napoca has replaced roughly half its roster in attempts to reach the same goal despite a new format that makes it harder. The presence of four key contributors from last season and the addition of an experienced EuroCup floor general should help Cluj strike a better balance between offense and defense than in its first EuroCup campaign. Getting out of competitive Group B of the regular season will require that much, and more.
BACKCOURT
Cluj has tapped on of the most experienced EuroCup point guards it could find by bringing in D. J. Seeley, an accomplished veteran who can score, distribute and defend. He will share ballhandling duties with another newcomer, Bryce Jones, who has also been a proven scorer and assist-maker in France and the Basketball Champions League. Their ability to slow opposing point guards ball will be necessary if Cluj, which ranked eighth in scoring last season, is to improve on the defensive end, where it allowed almost 90 points per game. Seeley and Jones will have plenty of capable targets for their passes, beginning with returning swingman Patrick Richard and incoming small forward Jarell Eddie. Richard is an all-around threat who scored the second-most points and dished the most assists for Cluj in the EuroCup last season. Eddie is a three-point marksman who will keep defenses honest and open up space for his teammates. Returning guard Karel Guzman ensure plenty of depth after he averaged 9.3 points as a part-time starter last season. The same goes for new national signing Mihai Maciuca, who will make his EuroCup debut, while teenage point man David Lapuste will continue his development.