Markus Howard’s EuroLeague fantasy problem is no longer simply a cold shooting spell. His role has collapsed, and there are now credible reports that he could leave Baskonia entirely. That combination changes how managers should value a player whose name still carries the weight of a former EuroLeague scoring title. It does not, however, justify announcing a transfer before the clubs do.
BasketNews reported on 11 October, citing its own sources, that Howard was in advanced discussions with Zenit Saint Petersburg, where he would be reunited with coach Duško Ivanović. Local Spanish reporting has also described a possible departure, but neither Baskonia nor Zenit had confirmed a completed move at the time of this review. The distinction matters: negotiations can stall, a player can remain registered, and an unconfirmed destination is not a completed transaction.
The playing-time evidence is already enough to worry about
Howard played Baskonia’s first three EuroLeague games of 2026–27, averaging 4.7 points in approximately 10.4 minutes, according to the BasketNews reporting and season statistics. He was then omitted from the squad for the 9 October defeat against Beşiktaş. Reporting described that omission as a coaching decision, not an established injury absence. A player averaging around ten minutes is already a difficult fantasy proposition even before a potential exit enters the picture.
The comparison with his peak is striking but should not be mistaken for a forecast. Howard averaged 19.5 points in 2023–24, when he was one of the competition’s most explosive scorers. That season explains why managers may hesitate to move on; it does not prove he will recover the same role under Paolo Galbiati. Fantasy decisions must be based on the minutes available now, not on the scoring reputation attached to a previous coaching arrangement.
The domestic evidence points in the same direction. Baskonia beat Joventut 93–73 on 11 October without Howard appearing in the official Liga Endesa match statistics. Kobi Simmons logged 25:03, with 14 points and five assists in that match. One domestic box score does not establish a permanent EuroLeague hierarchy, but it does demonstrate that Baskonia can allocate meaningful guard responsibility without Howard in the rotation.
The Zenit report is material, but it remains a report
The transfer angle is not an idle social-media rumour. BasketNews’ original report describes advanced discussions; Cadena SER’s Vitoria reporting also says Howard is close to a move. Those are attributable reports from identifiable outlets, not official confirmation. The deal’s precise financial arrangements and timing should not be treated as established fantasy inputs.
The proposed destination makes the story particularly consequential for EuroLeague formats. Zenit currently plays in the VTB United League, not the EuroLeague. If Howard actually transfers there, managers in a EuroLeague-only player pool would have no ongoing EuroLeague appearances to score from him. That is a conditional consequence, not a claim that he has already departed. A contract announcement, league registration change or club statement should be the trigger for treating his EuroLeague exit as final.
Who benefits at Baskonia? Avoid the automatic replacement trap
It is tempting to convert Howard’s former scoring upside directly into a buy recommendation for another Baskonia guard. That is too simple. His current EuroLeague minutes are already limited, so the marginal minutes freed by his recent exclusion may be smaller than the headline suggests. His 2023–24 shot volume is not sitting untouched, waiting for one teammate to collect it.
Kobi Simmons deserves monitoring because of the real 25-minute, five-assist domestic performance against Joventut. Chris Duarte is another relevant name when assessing Baskonia’s perimeter scoring distribution. Neither should be promised a fixed fantasy boost on the basis of transfer negotiations. Managers need to see who starts, who closes, who handles possessions against pressure and how the staff use the bench in competitive EuroLeague minutes.
That next test has now taken place. Baskonia lost 79–93 to Dubai on 13 October, with Howard outside the playing rotation. Cadena SER's post-match report notes that Howard remained near the bench and that a Zenit transfer agreement had not been reached. This adds a further match to the evidence of his exclusion without turning reported negotiations into a confirmed departure. For fantasy analysis, inspect the distribution of minutes and touches among the guards who did play; avoid declaring a permanent new hierarchy from one result.
Fantasy decision: three levels of certainty
What is confirmed: Howard’s early-season EuroLeague scoring and minutes are sharply down, he missed the Beşiktaş squad, did not feature in Baskonia’s 11 October Liga Endesa win, and was outside the playing rotation again against Dubai on 13 October. That evidence is already sufficient to downgrade his near-term fantasy reliability. A speculative return to old form should not override a repeated absence from the playing group.
What is reported, not confirmed: Howard is in advanced talks with Zenit. Managers should prepare for a possible loss of EuroLeague eligibility or appearances if a transfer is completed, but should not describe the transaction as done. This distinction also applies to roster transactions: do not claim another player has been signed to replace him unless the club announces one.
What remains to be learned: whether Howard returns to Baskonia's playing rotation, whether a transfer is officially completed, and whether the team's alternative perimeter roles stabilise across multiple games. A single replacement scorer having a good night will not prove a lasting role change. Track minutes, offensive initiation, closing line-ups and coach selections over a meaningful sample.
For EuroLeague fantasy managers, Howard is a high-risk hold rather than a reliable active selection while the role remains this uncertain. If your format permits a move and the alternative has verified minutes and fixtures, a switch may be sensible; do not invent prices, ownership percentages or waiver availability to justify it. In draft leagues, treat a possible exit as a serious roster-risk event and check your own player pool and transaction rules. A speculative stash only makes sense if the opportunity cost is genuinely low.
The Buckets call is clear: react to the lost role now, but wait for official confirmation before treating the Zenit move as complete. The important story for fantasy is not the rumour alone. It is that a former elite scorer has already stopped receiving the playing time that made him valuable — and the next official team sheet may tell managers more than another round of transfer speculation.
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