Breaking: Top Experienced Fans Favorite CAVS Superstar Officially Declined New Contract Offer And Announced His Decision To Leave

Veteran NBA forward Cedi Osman is heading overseas to continue his basketball career with Greek club Panathinaikos. The team’s owner, Dimitris Giannakopoulos, confirmed the signing, marking Osman’s return to European basketball. Before his NBA career, Osman played for Anadolu Efes in Turkey from 2011 to 2017, where he won several titles, including a Turkish Cup and Turkish Supercup. He was also a three-time BSL All-Star and won the FIBA Europe Under-20 Championship.

Osman’s NBA journey began when the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him 31st overall in the 2015 NBA Draft. However, he was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers on draft night in exchange for Tyus Jones’ rights. Osman joined the Cavaliers for the 2017-18 season after playing six years in Turkey. In six seasons with Cleveland, he averaged 10.0 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.7 steals per game while shooting 42.3% from the field and 34.9% from beyond the arc. He played in 327 games for Cleveland, starting in 181 of them, and was a regular contributor, averaging 24.5 minutes per game. Notably, his first season with the Cavaliers coincided with LeBron James’ final year before moving to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Last summer, Osman was traded to the San Antonio Spurs as part of a three-team deal involving the Miami Heat and the Cavaliers. In his lone season with the Spurs, Osman posted 6.8 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 0.5 steals per game, with an improved shooting percentage of 47.9% from the field and 38.9% from three-point range in 72 games.

Recent reports suggested Osman was in advanced talks with Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, but a deal couldn’t be reached. Additionally, Osman reportedly declined a training camp invitation from the Los Angeles Lakers due to uncertainty about securing a roster spot. With all 15 of the Lakers’ spots filled, Osman would have needed an outstanding camp performance or an injury to make the active roster, leading him to turn down the offer.

In his NBA career, spanning 476 games, Osman averaged 9.3 points per game. Now, he looks to continue his professional journey back in Europe, this time with Panathinaikos.