Mannion decides to sign multi-year deal with Italian team
LAS VEGAS » Warriors restricted free agent point guard Nico Mannion will sign a contract to play overseas with Virtus Bologna of Italy’s Lega Basket Serie A, a league source confirmed with the Bay Area News Group.
Mannion’s future with the team appeared to be at an impasse after Golden State signed point guard Chris Chiozza to a two-way contract Monday night. Mannion, the No. 48 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, underwhelmed as a rookie.
He struggled to make shots (34.2% overall) or get to the rim and generate open looks for others. At his small stature — 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds — he can’t offer much defensively.
His best minutes came in the G League bubble, where over nine games he averaged 19.3 points on 40.5% shooting (36% from 3-point range) and 6.8 assists in 33.1 minutes. But he failed to duplicate that performance against stiffer NBA competition and averaged only 4.1 points and 2.3 assists in 12.1 minutes in 30 games.
After Mannion impressed for Team Italy during the Olympics exhibition games, the Warriors extended a qualifying offer to make him a restricted free agent.
Though Mannion will play overseas, Golden State maintains his restricted free-agent rights in the NBA. Going forward, any NBA team can submit an offer sheet for Mannion, but the Warriors will have the opportunity to match.
His deal with Virtus Bologna — one of Italy’s top teams — is reportedly for multiple years but does include exit clauses should he pursue a return to the NBA. If Mannion develops in Italy, the Warriors could facilitate a return.
With Chiozza signed and Mannion overseas, the Warriors have 17 players under contract and still have one two-way roster spot available. They have also yet to use their $5.9 million taxpayer midlevel exception on a free agent.