Transformation. Kurbanov returns, Jordan in Volgograd and a steal for Avtodor

The VTB United League and Sport-Express present a new installment of our Transformation series, highlighting the new faces expected to have a huge impact in the upcoming season. This wee, we look at three more free agent signings: Nikita Kurbanov's career is on the rise and he's returned to CSKA, Jordan Hamilton chose Volgograd over the NBA and Saratov is very excited about the arrival of Jeff Brooks.

Nikita Kurbanov, CSKA

Position: Small forward/power forward
Country: Russia
Age: 28
Former Clubs: CSKA (2002-05), Lokomotiv (2005-06), CSKA (2006-08), UNICS (2008), Spartak St. Petersburg (2008-09), CSKA (2009-12), Spartak St. Petersburg (2012-13), UNICS (2013-14), Lokomotiv (2014-15)
2014-15 Season Stats: 8.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.8 steals in 24.1 minutes per game in the VTB United League.

Nikita Kurbanov started his career at CSKA, playing for the club until 2012 interspersed with brief stints at Lokomotiv, UNICS and Spartak. After leaving the Army club, Kurbanov played for Spartak, UNICS and Lokomotiv, which is when things started to get interesting.

Some players need more time than others before hitting their stride at the professional level. It's especially true of big men, with Kurbanov no exception. The 2005 Euro U20 MVP started playing his best basketball after age 25, beginning with a big season in Kazan two years ago. UNICS coach Andrea Trinchieri gave Kurbanov plenty of time on the court and he took full advantage, drawing the attention of Lokomotiv-Kuban, which signed him in the offseason. In Krasnodar, Kurbanov continued to impress with his size, aggressiveness, consistency and excellent defense and offense making him one of the top Russian forwards in the game. Now he's back on the national team and will suit up for CSKA this season, where he's expected to make a much bigger impact than the first time around.

Jordan Hamilton, Krasny Oktyabr

Position: Small forward
Country: USA
Age: 24
Former Clubs: Texas, NCAA (2009-11), Denver Nuggets, NBA (2011-14), Houston Rockets (2014), Reno Bighorns, D-League (2014-15), Los Angeles Clippers, NBA (2015)
2014-15 Season Stats: 16.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 0.9 blocks in 28 minutes per game in the D-League.

Krasny Oktyabr was busy in late July and early August, signing the 27th pick in the 2011 NBA Draft, JaJuan Johnson, among others. A short pause followed, but the team's latest acquisition has the club back in the spotlight. This time, Krasny Oktyabr has selected another 2011 draftee, Jordan Hamilton, who was picked 26th, one spot in front of Johnson.

The forward had his ups and downs in the NBA, but he was far from the last man on the bench. Hamilton appeared in 140 regular season games between the Nuggets, Rockets and Clippers, averaging 5.5 points and 2.6 rebounds, while shooting 36.6% from beyond the arc (Hamilton is the second Volgograd player to have more than 100 appearances in the NBA, behind Von Wafer).

And he can do more than just shoot. Like most American swingmen, Hamilton rebounds, distributes the ball, runs the fast break and defends the perimeter. Of course, that's not always enough to get guaranteed playing time in the NBA, which proved to be a big factor in Hamilton's decision to move to Europe. With a spot in the starting five and a coach that will rely on him, Hamilton should be a star at Krasny Oktyabr.

Jeff Brooks, Avtodor

Position: Small forward/power forward
Country: USA
Age: 26
Former Clubs: Penn State, NCAA (2007-11), Ezi, Italy (2011-12), Cantu, Italy (2012-13), Caserta, Italy (2013-14), Sassari, Italy (2014-15)
2014-15 Season Stats: 9.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 0.6 blocks in 29 minutes per game in the Euroleague.

Jeff Brooks helped lead Sassari to a Serie A championship last season in Italy. The American played mostly at power forward, but Avtodor also hopes to use him at small forward, where he'll be able to use his size to overwhelm defenders. Making the switch should not be a problem for Brooks. The American is a versatile defender, sharp ballhandler and dangerous three-point shooter. He's also great on the fast break, which makes him a perfect fit for Avtodor's run-and-gun offense.

Avtodor does a good job of getting the best from its talent. Coached by Brad Greenberg, who named Brooks one of the biggest acquisitions of the offseason, the forward will be a cornerstone for Saratov in the upcoming campaign.