EuroLeague Daily Brief (Aug. 14, 2026): Real Madrid sign Shulga, Anadolu Efes land Russell, Vildoza speaks out
Big signings: Real Madrid and Anadolu Efes
Real Madrid have added Ukrainian guard Max Shulga on a two-year deal that runs through the 2027–28 season. Shulga returns to Europe after a season in the United States where he split time between the G League and the NBA. In the G League he averaged 15.7 points, 4.4 rebounds and 6.7 assists per game, and he made a number of appearances with an NBA team during his rookie year. The 24-year-old was a late second-round pick in 2025 and came to the pros after productive college stints at Utah State and VCU.
Shulga is the latest piece in Real’s offseason reshuffle. The club has already added several new faces and brought in a new coach, signaling a clear roster refresh ahead of the new campaign. A few longtime contributors have moved on this summer as Madrid reshapes its perimeter and depth.
Over in Turkey, Anadolu Efes confirmed the signing of Daron Russell for the 2026/27 season. Russell nearly joined another Euro club earlier in the window, but that move fell apart and Efes stepped in. The 28-year-old arrives off a strong campaign in the EuroCup where he led the competition in scoring at 19.8 points per game, while also averaging 6.2 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals. He holds a Romanian passport and helped his previous team reach the ABA League playoffs, so he comes with proven European experience and playmaking upside.
Rumors, targets and Vildoza’s explanation
Real Madrid remain linked to additional perimeter options as they continue to refine their roster, and Spanish outlets have mentioned Lester Quinones among the players being considered. Quinones put up strong numbers in the G League last season — roughly 23 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists per game while shooting over 40 percent from three — and he’s had brief NBA stints, making him an intriguing scoring-minded candidate.
On the player-front reaction beat, Luca Vildoza has addressed his move to Partizan and the controversy around it. He admitted that earlier comments about never playing for the club were made in the heat of the moment and that his priorities as a professional ultimately guided the decision. Vildoza said a conversation with the Partizan coach helped convince him, and he stressed there’s no lingering bitterness — just excitement about a fresh chapter.
Confirmed EuroLeague transfers and roster updates are being tracked continuously on the competition’s transactions lists, so check a dedicated transfers tracker if you want a single place to follow every confirmed move as the offseason progresses.
