<
>

After 5-year absence, De Colo plans NBA return

Nando De Colo -- one of the EuroLeague's top guards -- is planning a return to the NBA and could command an ample free-agent market.

"I have asked my agents to explore NBA opportunities over the coming weeks," De Colo, 32, told ESPN. "I am excited for the next challenge in my career."

The 6-foot-5 De Colo finished a successful five-year run with CSKA Moscow this season, averaging 14.7 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting nearly 45% on 3-pointers. CSKA won the EuroLeague championship for the second time in his tenure, and De Colo was a three-time first-team All-EuroLeague player and a second-team choice twice.

He left the NBA for CSKA after the 2013-14 season with the Toronto Raptors, who still hold his rights. Toronto has the option to extend a qualifying offer to De Colo, which would give the NBA champions the opportunity to match a restricted free-agent offer sheet from another team.

De Colo played nearly two seasons with the San Antonio Spurs before a trade deadline deal to Toronto in 2014, where he finished out the season. De Colo was the No. 53 overall pick by the Spurs in 2009.