Nizhny Novgorod lands Trey Thompkins

Nizhny Novgorod bolstered its frontcourt before its Turkish Airlines Euroleague debut by inking forward Trey Thompkins to a one-year deal on Monday. Thompkins (2.08 meters, 24 years old) arrives from the Los Angeles Clippers of the NBA. He has been sidelined since spring 2013 due to a severe knee injury but returned to action in the NBA Pro Summer League in Las Vegas this summer, averaging 10.5 points and 4.3 rebounds. Thompkins joined Los Angeles from the University of Georgia, where he averaged 16.4 points and 7.6 rebounds in 30 NCAA games in the 2010-11 season. "I would say that Thompkins is a mobile big man. I have been following him for a couple of years, when big Russian clubs were interested in him. Now that he was flying under the radar, Nizhny Novgorod had a good chance to sign him," head coach Ainars Bagatskis said. "He is full of energy. We will need his accuracy and aggressive defense."