Bayern Munich's Basketball department on the bounceback trail

BallinEurope is previewing all 18 Euroleague Basketball teams over the next 18 days. Yesterday it was the turn of Zalgiris Kaunas whereas today we break down what to expect from Pablo Laso and Bayern Munich.

We thought the arrival of Pablo Laso was enough in terms of big name announcements from the Bayern Munich basketball department. Then came the return to Europe of Serge Ibaka. This could get interesting

Last season

Euroleague record: 11-23
Regular season position: 15th
Playoffs: N/A

Basketball Bundesliga record: 25-9
Regular season position: 3rd
Playoffs: Lost semi-finals 3-0 (ratiopharm Ulm)

Other: Won DBB Pokal (Oldenburg)

Who’s gone?

Andrea Trinchieri (Coach, free agent), Luis Wulff (Crailsheim Merlins), Cassius Winston (Tofas), Zan Mark Sisko (Breogan), Zylan Cheatham (NZ Breakers), Corey Walden (Galatasaray), Paul Zipser (Heidelberg), Ognjen Jaramaz (Partizan), Matej Rudan (Breogan), DJ Seeley (U-BT Cluj-Napoca), Augustin Rubit (Free agent), Othello Hunter (Retired)

Who is new?

Pablo Laso (Coach), Serge Ibaka (Milwaukee Bucks), Dino Radoncic (Zaragoza), Carsen Edwards (Fenerbahce), Leandro Bolmaro (Tenerife), Devin Booker (Fenerbahce), Nelson Weldermann (Niners Chemnitz), Danko Brankovic (Mega MIS).

Who stayed?

Andreas Obst, Vladimir Lucic, Sylvain Francisco, Nick Weiler-Babb, Isaac Bonga, Niklas Wimberg, Freddie Gillespie, Niels Giffey, Elias Harris.

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Need to know

Vladimir Lucic has done enough in a Bayern Munich jersey up to now to get his jersey in the rafters when he retires and then some. Look to him for being a key piece in managing the blending of the new arrivals and the solid core that the team.

Pablo Laso will have time in Munich and that’s worth noting when it comes to Euroleague Basketball. The expectation isn’t to win now but to get better and put this club in a position to exceed the heights it reached under Andrea Trinchieri.

What the bookies think

Much like Zalgiris Kaunas yesterday, the sportsbooks have put Bayern Munich in a pile of teams that are not good enough for the playoffs but not terrible. They are available at 40/1 in basketball betting, which seems reasonable to me.

What we think

The Serge Ibaka move may feel like a win-now one but I’m thinking stable growth is the aim this season. With the big man and some other rather interesting signings, Pablo Laso can bring this team up in quality this season.

The core that has been retained is solid and has some real talent, including Andreas Obst who starred at the FIBA Basketball World Cup. I expect Bayern to look a lot better on the floor and to get more wins.

Fearless prediction

More wins does not mean a bg move in the standings. There’s going to be a real cluster going on in Euroleague Basketball this season. With the issues around gelling a squad with this much change, there will be teething problems. I expect Bayern Munich to get some big results but not enough to challenge for the post-season.
Pick: 13th place in the regular season

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