NBA Rumors: Cedi Osman Rejected Lakers Interest for Panathinaikos Contract in Europe

Cedi Osman reportedly decided to play in Europe instead of taking a chance with a non-guaranteed deal on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nikola Miloradovic of Eurohoops reported Sunday that Osman agreed to a deal with Panathinaikos after discussing a potential contract with Real Madrid and Los Angeles. While the Lakers invited him to training camp, he decided to go to Europe “due to the lack of guarantees about making the roster.”

It will be Osman’s first time playing in Europe since 2017. He started his career in 2011 with Anadolu Efes.

The 29-year-old played six seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2017-18 through 2022-23 as a solid role player who could provide a scoring spark with his outside shooting. He averaged double-digit scoring totals in four straight seasons from 2018-19 through 2021-22.

Last season was Osman’s only one in the NBA on a team outside of Cleveland.

He largely came off the bench for the San Antonio Spurs and averaged 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists a night while shooting 47.9 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from deep.

That type of shooting could have played well alongside LeBron James and Anthony Davis in Los Angeles, but the Lakers didn’t have the roster room to guarantee him a spot.