In the past several years, it has become a trend for players to leave the NBA and look for more playing time and better opportunities in Europe. While no superstar or star player has made that move at the height of their careers, role players and those who do not get enough playing time in the NBA have continued to do so. The latest player to move to Europe might be Shake Milton, who was recently waived by the Los Angeles Lakers. He cleared waivers, and he is now a free agent. While he is still only 28 years old, it seems like his NBA career is closing, and he will get more opportunities overseas.
The NBA is Losing Another Guard to Europe
What started as a trend many years ago, with Dominique Wilkins playing in Greece at the tail end of his career, has turned into a popular option for many NBA players. Last season, there were plenty of former NBA guards thriving in Europe. For starters, Kendrick Nunn was the EuroLeague MVP. Shane Larkin and Mike James have been dominating in Europe for years.
Now, Milton will probably make the move to Europe as well. Last season, he played in 30 games for the Lakers after being traded from the Brooklyn Nets. He averaged 3.9 points for the Lakers, but for the season, combined with his Nets playing time, he averaged 5.5 points on 45.3% shooting from the floor and 35.8% from behind the arc.
Could Milton Still Play in the NBA?
Drafted in 2018 as the 54th overall pick, Milton has spent seven years in the NBA. During his time, he has played for six different teams. He spent most of his time in Philadelphia playing for the 76ers. During his third year in the league, he averaged 13 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 3.1 assists on 45% shooting from the floor and 35% from behind the arc.
Milton will turn 29 on September 26, and there might be a team willing to give him a minimum salary in the NBA. After all, he is a career 45.1/35.8% shooter, which is solid for a role player. His minutes have dipped significantly in the last few years to the point that he played only four total minutes last season in the playoffs for the Lakers.
At this point, it seems like he wants to get more playing time and enjoy the world of basketball. It is hard to envision him finding a team that will give him 15 to 20 minutes per game. And in Europe, he might earn the same amount of money, plus be a star on a team instead of an 11th or 12th man on the roster.
Can Shake Milton Help a Team in Europe?
While he didn’t enjoy much playing time with the Lakers, he had some decent games with the Nets last season. For example, he scored 22 points against the Orlando Magic and 20 against the Milwaukee Bucks. In a Lakers uniform, he posted 21 points, four rebounds, and four assists in a game against the Washington Wizards.
For comparison, Nunn averaged 7.1 points on 42.4% shooting in his last season in the league. He played for the Lakers and the Wizards during the 2022-23 season. He was 27 years old at the time, nearly the same age Milton is right now. Last season, Nunn was the EuroLeague MVP. Can Milton follow the same path?
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