Thomas Walkup Joins Dubai From Olympiacos, Agent Says

Thomas Walkup has moved from Olympiacos to Dubai after a standoff with his former club, and the compensation was the largest in EuroLeague history, reportedly 2.3m euros, according to his agent David Carro.

Olympiacos did not want to discuss terms with the guard, who had decided to end the relationship unilaterally and was ready to pay compensation.

"He made it clear that he would not return. That decision was the main thing in the whole situation. There were offers from three teams. Dubai showed the most interest. The owner and general manager, Dejan Kamenjasevic, were ready for an agreement with Olympiacos from the start. We reached a deal that suited all sides. The player got a long-term project," Carro said.

"Dubai are ready to spend, they are a new financial force in the EuroLeague. There were long negotiations, tension, sleepless nights. But that is part of the job."

Carro also rejected the idea that Dubai and Hapoel Tel Aviv are behaving improperly in the market. "The unfair financial conduct of Dubai and Hapoel Tel Aviv is simply an invention. It is an excuse of the top EuroLeague clubs, with which they try to shift the blame for the rising salary market onto the newcomers to the competition. But it is a lie. Olympiacos and Panathinaikos spend considerably more, as does Anadolu Efes," he said.

"They are used to everyone wanting to move to them. They steal players from the more modest EuroLeague teams. They are used to tyrannising the rest. That has always been a fact. The big fish eats the small fish. Now Dubai and Hapoel have the resources to compete with them. And the people who always divided the pie among themselves do not want to share," Carro concluded.