Briante Weber shocked by Thomas Walkup's $9.6M three-year Karşıyaka deal

Briante Weber couldn't hide his shock when Thomas Walkup moved to Pınar Karşıyaka on a three-year, $9.6 million contract. “I HATE this!” he wrote on Instagram. The short comment was enough to turn the transfer into a talking point amid the European basketball window. According to Eurohoops, Olympiacos agreed to let the American-born Greek guard join the Turkish club for a $2.6 million transfer fee. Karşıyaka, looking for an experienced on-court leader, accepted an average salary of $3.2 million per season. That makes Walkup one of the club's most expensive acquisitions of the window. At 33, the guard divides analysts. Some say he will bring stability, court vision and leadership to the backcourt – things a young team like Karşıyaka urgently needs. Others warn that committing $9.6 million to a player who has already passed his peak is a high-risk gamble, especially without recent performance data to confirm his current level. Weber's reaction also raises the issue of a generational gap. He may not just be surprised by the number; he may be expressing frustration that European clubs are willing to pay veterans huge salaries while many younger guards still struggle to find stable roles. His sharp outburst reflects a broader market reality. Some will look at the $2.6 million fee and call it a bargain sale. But viewed differently, this could be the right timing. Keeping Walkup for another season would mean Olympiacos would continue paying high wages to a player approaching the end of his prime. Cashing in now gives the Greek club financial room to rebuild its backcourt for the long term. The real question for Karşıyaka is not whether the money is too much, but how the coach will use Walkup. If he is only asked to manage tempo, the risk is lower. If the club expects him to carry the entire offensive system as he once did, the contract could become a burden. The transfer window still has a long way to go, but Walkup's move has opened a necessary debate: should a veteran be valued by his reputation or by measured on-court production? Karşıyaka has placed its bet. The season will reveal whether it was the right one.