Tibor Pleiss signs with Galatasaray

Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul reacted quickly to fill its need for a big man under the rims by signing a one-year deal with center Tibor Pleiss, the club announced on Monday. A veteran of five Turkish Airlines EuroLeague seasons, Pleiss (2.18 meters, 26 years old) arrives days after Galatasaray parted ways with center Nenad Krstic last week. Pleiss spent last season playing for Utah in the NBA and Idaho in the NBDL. With Utah he played limited minutes in 12 games, posting 2 points and 1.8 rebounds, while with Idaho he averaged 12.1 points and 10.2 rebounds, as well as 1.6 assists and 1.3 blocks per night. Pleiss, who grew up with RheinEnergie Cologne in his native Germany, now returns to EuroLeague where he made his debut in 2010 with Brose Bamberg. He has also played a pair of seasons with Baskonia Vitoria Gasteiz (when it was Laboral Kutxa) and one with FC Barcelona Lassa. He has appeared in 94 games in the competition and has career averages of 7.2 points and 4.7 rebounds.