2:30pm: Mannion’s deal with Virtus Bologna covers two seasons, but has an NBA out clause after year one, tweets Carchia.
11:52pm: Warriors point guard Nico Mannion has agreed to a deal with Virtus Bologna in Italy, tweets Jordan Schultz of ESPN. The agreement was confirmed by Mannion’s agent, Bill Duffy. The team also sent out a press release announcing the deal.
Mannion, who was born in Tuscany, signed a two-way contract with the Warriors last November after being selected with the 48th pick in the 2020 draft. He saw limited playing time as a rookie, appearing in 30 games and averaging 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds and 2.3 assists per night.
The 20-year-old was a restricted free agent after receiving a qualifying offer from Golden State last month. If Mannion ever returns to the NBA, the Warriors will keep his RFA rights, which allow them to match any offer. Mannion’s QO was the equivalent of another two-way deal and would remain the same if he comes back to the NBA. However, Golden State – and other teams – would be permitted to offer him a more lucrative standard contract.
The Italian team’s interest in Mannion was first reported by Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. According to Carchia, the initial target for Virtus Bologna was Chris Chiozza, who will sign a two-way contract with the Warriors.
This is some Bologna
That is a good landing spot for Mannion all things considered. In the end he is a guy who had it in his head that he was a one and done guy and went through with it even though his play as a freshman at Arizona was not up to the hype.
The dream is over.
He sadly goes on the wrong side of Bologna
He’s a guy who needs to do this in order to make the NBA. I can see him returning at age 27 or 28, as many have before him. Just too raw and the IQ is low right now.
He is a great passer and can shoot the 3 but needs to improve his defense. Best situation for warriors because they can have him play a lot of games and bring him back if he excels. He just wasn’t going to get the playing time needed to get to the next step.
Really? Not one NBA team wanted to take a chance on Mannion? Smh
Why would you syh about the fact that no NBA team wanted to give him a guaranteed contract? If the Warriors, who could use a backup PG, didn’t think he was worthy of one (and they saw him every day for the last year) why would should anyone else?
The Warriors are going to be in serious trouble next season if anything happens to Curry with no reliable depth at PG.
It’s a disaster waiting to happen given his injuries in the past.
Wally wood just can’t help himself. He is compelled to comment on every GS post. So strange.
Depth? Poole and Payton jr says hello.
Really Wally?? A team that loses its best player would be in serious trouble because of a lack of depth? Wow, I never thought of that. Buccs without Brady? chiefs without Mahomes? clippers w/o leonard? bucks w/o gianiss? Suns w/o Paul?
Geez, you nailed it Wally. The rest of us are just dumb.
I’m a Arizona Wildcat fan and I just think Mannion has talent and I was surprised nobody wanted to give him a chance
What has he done?
Nico Mannion is NOT an NBA player. He does NOT have NBA talent and never did. He dunked on a couple of people in high school and got labelled an athletic stud with a jumper who would be a lotto one and done. All you had to do was watch him play at Arizona and see that he was overmatched there as a freshman. Europe is a good spot for him and his game. He can thrive overseas as an above average guard and can play into his 30’s there. He ain’t no NBA talent.
I wouldn’t say he has no chance to be an NBA player. I could see him being a TJ McConnell type at some point but he needs to want to be that kind of player (i.e. high energy and high IQ) and put in the work to get there.
It’s too early to call that, he is -almost- there, but isn’t there right now. Saying he will never improve or make any adjustments is just impossible to predict.
He can develop in Europe for the next couple of years and then hopefully make it back to the nba
Nah. He will never ever return.
Beeker to Italy.
W’s quietly replaced him with Guy and Chiozza. Best of luck to Mannion.
Both much higher IQ currently than Nico, despite Nico being Kerr’s fave boy.
Respectable response to GSW signing Chiozza.
I think he’ll be back stateside in a couple years. IMO he looked promising in his limited PT
He has significant talent with great height/length but he’s pretty raw and needs polish. Also too thin. He needed the playing time in the NBA but never got it. He’ll get it in Europe.
You obviously have never seen Mannion.
Funny how the guy with the lowest basketball IQ on this board. Always talks about players IQ.
Nico needs to play against talent. Playing in Europe will help his development. He’s not ready for NBA now. He’s small for a PG. Has to learn to use what god gave him. He can make it if he really wants it. At best a backup PG. Right now this is a good decision.