Basket rumors

6 June 2024

06/06/2024 09:55

Mauro Ferrari: I still don’t accept that the agent has to take 10% of Massinburg’s salary

Mauro Ferrari, Pallacanestro Brescia’s number one, was a guest on ‘Basket Time 2.0’, the programme hosted by Cristiano Tognoli. Here are some of his statements transcribed by Bresciacanestro.

ON ALESSANDRO MAGRO

“I wish Alessandro all the best, if one day a request arrives and he has to go, it means that the society’s task has been accomplished, we have created something important, an important coach who will make basketball at the highest level, we have done what we had to do.

ON EUROPEAN CUPS

“Certainly the Eurocup discourse is still open, but right now I have to understand the comparison with the coach, understand the availability of money, it’s great to go around Europe, but I have to think about the families who come to see us, the project is social to all intents and purposes, we want to give fun and excitement.

ON THE MARKET

“If we analyse our 10 players there is a need to roll up our sleeves in the coming weeks, cycles unfortunately begin and end, there will not be many of us left next year who will be in the market. I still don’t accept that the agent has to take 10% of Massinburg’s salary, which will be $500,000. What has his manager done to deserve it?”.

6 June 2024

06/06/2024 08:02

Crvena Zvezda reportedly close to a deal with Codi Miller-McIntyre

Codi Miller-McIntyre is close to a two-year deal with Crvena Zvezda, according to BasketNews sources. Despite a renegotiation attempt by Baskonia Vitoria-Gasteiz, the player has decided to take advantage of a buyout clause for the transfer.

Miller-McIntyre impressed in the 2023-24 season, becoming the third player in the modern EuroLeague to record a triple-double, and being named the best rookie of the season.

5 June 2024

05/06/2024 17:50

Alex Kirk pens new deal with Ryukyu Golden Kings

The Ryukyu Golden Kings have announced that Alex Kirk will remain on the roster for the 2024-25 season.

The 32-year-old center, who has been playing in Japan since 2018, signed a one-year contract.

Last year, his first with the Golden Kings, Kirk produced averages of 7.3 points and 5.5 rebounds in 19 minutes per game.

5 June 2024

5 June 2024

05/06/2024 16:57

Turk Telekom announces the return of coach Erdem Can and the signing of Anthony Brown

Turk Telekom Ankara announced the return of coach Erdem Can to the bench and the signing of Anthony Brown.

The Turkish coach returns to the bench of the club he reached the Eurocup final with in the 2022-23 season.

The forward spent one season in Turkey with Bursaspor averaging 16.4 points (48% FG, 41% 3P, 84% FT), 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game between BSL and BCL.

 

5 June 2024

05/06/2024 15:08

Crvena Zvedza keeps Rokas Giedraitis

Rokas Giedraitis has signed a two-year extension with Crvena Zvedza, as announced by the Serbian club.

The Lithuanian forward concluded his first season in Serbia with 10 points and 3.7 rebounds per game in Euroleague.

5 June 2024

05/06/2024 08:50

Ettore Messina on Nicolò Melli: I hope there will be no difficulties

Olimpia Milano coach Ettore Messina gave a long interview to La Gazzetta dello Sport. Here are some passages.

ON SHIELDS’ CONDITION

‘A little bit better than in Brescia, he’s only partly training with the team after a series of days of rest and therapy. We’ll have to manage his minutes’.

ON BILLY BARON

‘Yes, at the beginning of the playoffs we had thought about a set-up with an extra guard, deciding to sacrifice Voigtmann and play with Ricci as a power forward. In this sense we tried with Baron who was injured again. Will he return? No, it’s a bad season for Billy. And consequently also for us’.

ON NICOLO’ MELLI’S FUTURE

‘Since the end of October both he and his agency have been informed that the will of the ownership, the club and the coach is that he stays. This will is unchanged. I hope there will be no difficulties’.

ON THE POSSIBLE IMPACT OF THE FINALS ON THE FUTURE

‘The moment you start thinking about that, you risk affecting the way you play. We only think about getting on the court’.

4 June 2024

4 June 2024

04/06/2024 14:11

Aamir Simms and Rayvon Tucker reportedly on the notebook of multiple Euroleague clubs

Orazio Cauchi of Basketnews talks about two players who just finished the 2023/24 season with Reyer Venezia, Aamir Simms and Rayvon Tucker, both attracting interest from Euroleague teams.

On Simms, 10.5 points (50% FG, 40% 3P, 79% FT) and 4.6 rebounds per game in LBA, there is reportedly a strong interest from Valencia.
The Spanish team has been working on next season for some time despite the uncertainty between Euroleague and Eurocup.

Tucker in his European debut showed high-level physical and athletic gifts, which helped him produce 14.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists on average between LBA and Eurocup. Several Euroleague clubs have already inquired about him, but the 26-year-old outside forward is not expected to make any commitments before the start of the NBA Summer League.

Tucker played 39 games in the NBA between 2019 and 2022.

 

4 June 2024

04/06/2024 11:40

Crvena Zvezda reportedly targets Isaiah Canaan

Isaiah Canaan could play in Belgrade next season. According to Shot Vetakis, a deal is on the way with Crvena Zvezda.

The Olympiacos guard averaged 11.1 points this season in the EuroLeague with 42.5 per cent from 3. He will be a free agent at the end of the season.

The player had also been approached by Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna.

4 June 2024

3 June 2024

03/06/2024 13:40

Maccabi Tel Aviv reportedly extends Jasiel Rivero

Maccabi Tel Aviv has decided to extend the contract of Cuban centre Jasiel Rivero for another season.

Rivero has produced 7.6 points and 3.1 rebounds on average this season.

3 June 2024

03/06/2024 11:58

Barcellona reportedly in advanced talks with Trevion Williams

Barça is not stopping at Juan Núñez and could add another Ratiopharm Ulm player to its squad for next season.

In addition to the young Spanish playmaker, the Blaugrana club is very interested in the 2.07-metre, 23-year-old American pivot Trevion Williams.

Barça’s contacts with Williams are well advanced and there is already a pre-agreement with the player, pending the final decision on the hiring of the new coach who will replace Roger Grimau.

Source: Mundo Deportivo, article by José Ignacio Huguet and Lucas Clemente.

3 June 2024

03/06/2024 11:51

Xavi Pascual and the Other Three Candidates to Replace Grimau

After being eliminated in the Liga Endesa semifinals by Real Madrid, Barça has decided not to retain Roger Grimau as the head coach of their basketball team. The club is exploring the market for a replacement, with Xavi Pascual as the leading candidate. Pascual, who led Barça to the EuroLeague title in 2010, is currently without a contract after leaving Zenit St. Petersburg. However, his high salary poses a challenge unless President Joan Laporta provides additional budget support.

Other main candidates include Jaka Lakovic, currently coaching Gran Canaria, and Sergio Scariolo, the head coach of the Spanish national team. Lakovic is favored by the section head, Josep Cubells, while Navarro prefers Scariolo, who knows many of Barça’s current players well. Another option is Álex Mumbrú, available after his tenure with Valencia Basket, though his past with Real Madrid and Badalona could be an issue.

Other names like Dimitris Itoudis and Joan Peñarroya do not appear to be serious options at this time.

Source: Mundo Deportivo, article by José Ignacio Huguet.

3 June 2024

03/06/2024 10:20

Barcelona reportedly to sign Juan Núñez for next season

Barça, eliminated from the Liga Endesa title race, is already planning a significant team overhaul. One of the anticipated changes is the arrival of international point guard Juan Núñez, currently with Ratiopharm Ulm. Núñez, who turns 20 on Tuesday, is considered a creative and versatile player. He stepped up as Spain’s starting point guard at the 2023 World Cup, replacing Ricky Rubio, and performed admirably.

Núñez was once one of the top prospects in Real Madrid’s youth academy but left the club two years ago to seek more playing opportunities in Germany. Over the past two seasons with Ulm, he has averaged 9.4 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game in the German league.

The agreement between Núñez and Barça has been in place for months. Real Madrid will not exercise their right to match any offer for the player. Additionally, his relationship with one of Juan Carlos Navarro’s daughters, the manager of Barça’s basketball team, has helped finalize the deal.

Previously, Núñez had been linked with Olimpia Milano, but his future now lies with Barça.

Source: Mundo Deportivo, article by José Ignacio Huguet.

3 June 2024

03/06/2024 10:09

Another big name for Baskonia’s bench

Virtus Bologna says it is surprised by the rumours surrounding Luca Banchi. The Tuscan coach was approached by Repubblica-Bologna to the bench of Baskonia, who recently said goodbye to Dusko Ivanovic.

The future of the Basque bench remains open. For some time, the name of Jaka Lakovic has been mentioned, a Slovenian who just returned from a good two-year period with Gran Canaria, including winning the last EuroCup.

According to Sportando, however, Vassilis Spanoulis, coach of the year in BCL with Peristeri, just eliminated by Olympiakos in the playoff semifinals, is also in the running.

3 June 2024

03/06/2024 08:25

Luca Baraldi on Luca Banchi’s rumour: That is only intended to destabilise us

Luca Baraldi, CEO of Virtus Bologna, gave a long interview to the Carlino in the week marking the start of the LBA Finals 2024. Here we focus on some aspects related to the market.

ON THE MARKET

‘We are always vigilant about the market, but at the moment we have stopped at hypotheses. Since I’ve been managing Virtus we’ve always spent the money we had in the till, so until the budget is decided precisely we won’t move. I would like to point out that this year’s team cost 20% less than the previous year’s and it is also for this reason that the results we have achieved are to be considered extraordinary’.

ON LUCA BANCHI

‘The coach has a contract with us and unless he comes and asks us to leave he will stay here. We have no reason to make a change as we are satisfied with his work. I was surprised to read of his departure, also because this is indeed a rumour that can annoy and that is only intended to destabilise us’.

3 June 2024

2 June 2024

02/06/2024 22:18

Juan Carlos Navarro: No revolution, but two or three pieces have to be changed

Juan Carlos Navarro, symbol and manager of Barcelona released a statement after the knockout in game three against Real Madrid.

‘There will be changes. No revolution, but two or three pieces have to be changed.’ No reference to Roger Grimau’s position.

2 June 2024

02/06/2024 12:16

Lorenzo Brown: I fully intend to stay with Maccabi Tel Aviv

Rumors about Lorenzo Brown’s departure from Maccabi Tel Aviv have started for some time now, despite the fact that the point guard is under contract with the Israeli team until 2026.

First Real Madrid, then Fenerbahce, and in all likelihood the list of teams in ‘pole position’ for Brown will continue to grow.

The Blancos, according to several local media outlets, are considered the most likely destination for the point guard who has also defended the colors of Spain.

Recently, however, it was Brown himself who gave a clear answer about his future, after Maccabi’s victory over Nes Ziona:

“I have no idea what is going on and from where these rumors are coming. I read a lot, like all of you, but I fully intend to stay with Maccabi Tel Aviv. I am very comfortable here, I think this is the best place I’ve ever played….I am looking forward to next season to embark on a new journey together with my teammates.”

2 June 2024

02/06/2024 10:17

Virtus Bologna among Euroleague teams reportedly interested in Rayjon Tucker

According to La Nuova, Reyer Venezia would like to retain Rayjon Tucker, but will have to beat competition from Euroleague teams such as Zalgiris Kaunas, Virtus Bologna and Crvena Zvedza, all interested in the explosive USA guard.

Tucker ended his first year in Europe with 14.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 assist per game between LBA and Eurocup, shooting 49% from the field, 35% from beyond the arc and 75% from the foul line.

1 June 2024

01/06/2024 21:07

JL Bourg signs Xavier Castaneda, Joel Ayayi

JL Bourg strengthens the backcourt for the upcoming season with the signings of Xavier Castaneda and Joel Ayayi.

Castaneda comes from a year in Greece with Lavrio (15 PPG, 2.5 APG, 1.2 SPG), while Ayayi left Nanterre 92 after a season with averages of 8.3 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3 assists per game.

1 June 2024

01/06/2024 20:24

NBA Prospect Nolan Traore signs new two-year deal with Saint-Quentin

Promising French guard Nolan Traore will continue to play in BetClic Elite with Saint-Quentin on a two-year contract.

The talented NBA prospect, who just turned 18, will remain in BetClic Elite despite offers from several major colleges-among others Duke, Arkansas, Gonzaga and Alabama-and from Euroleague and NBL teams.
According to Jonathan Givony, the French guard is a strong candidate for the Top 5 in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Traore averaged 12.3 points and 5.8 assists in 21 minutes per game in BetClic Elite.

Saint-Quentin will also compete in the BCL next season.

 

29 May 2024

29/05/2024 21:45

Surne Bilbao extends Melwin Pantzar

Swedish point guard Melwin Pantzar has reached an agreement with Surne Bilbao Basket to sign a new contract that extends his relationship with Bilbao Basket until the end of the 25/26 season.

The 24-year-old has averaged 8.7 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists and a PIR of 12.1 in his first full season in ACB. His numbers in the FIBA ​​Europe Cup have been even better, with 9.6 points, 4 rebounds and 2.6 assists

29 May 2024

29/05/2024 20:07

Mattia Udom joins Dinamo Sassari

Dinamo Banco di Sardegna officially announced that they signed a two-year contract with Mattia Udom.

The forward spent the last two years with Trento (5.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG between LBA and Eurocup).

29 May 2024

29/05/2024 19:58

Fenerbahce reportedly trying to lure Wade Baldwin IV from Maccabi Tel Aviv

Fenerbahce is on the market for a point-guard and, according to Turkish reporter Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, made an official offer to Wade Baldwin IV.

The Vanderbilt product would have accepted, but before signing with Fenerbahce he will have to get out of his contract with Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Baldwin IV ended the last Euroleague with 17.4 points and 4.8 assists per game, shooting 45% from the field, 39% from beyond the arc and 85% from the foul line.

29 May 2024

29/05/2024 13:11

Two EuroLeague teams in the mix for Yam Madar

According to Israeli sources, Yam Madar, currently under contract with Fenerbahçe, is about to leave the Turkish club.

After a disappointing season, in which neither the player nor the team achieved the desired results, Madar could either return to Maccabi Tel Aviv or move to Bayern Munich.

Both clubs are interested in the Israeli playmaker for next season. During the last Euroleague season, Madar averaged 4.3 points, 1.2 rebounds and 2 assists per game, with his best performance against Real Madrid, where he scored 17 points.

29 May 2024

29/05/2024 09:04

Pistoia Basket 2000 reportedly signs Luka Brajkovic

Estra Pistoia’s first shot on the market for the 2024-25 season is Luka Brajkovic, an Austrian forward from Kolossos Rhodes.

Brajkovic, class of 1999 and 211 centimetres tall, signed with the Tuscan club after a quick negotiation.

Last season in Greece, he averaged 13.9 points and 6.6 rebounds in 26 minutes of play.

Source: La Nazione Pistoia

29 May 2024

29/05/2024 08:34

Baskonia reportedly targets Luca Banchi for the bench

Baskonia targets Luca Banchi for the nex season. The news is reported by Walter Fuochi of Repubblica-Bologna.

We remember, the parties were very close a year ago. The white smoke did not arrive when the Vitoria club took note of the Tuscan coach’s desire not to leave the bench of the Latvian national team.

Today, interest is alive again after the separation between Baskonia and Dusko Ivanovic. According to Walter Fuochi: ‘As this horizon is about to clear, the temptation intrigues both betrothed. The coach has another year on his contract with Virtus, after this first one that was at times radiant and at times stressful, but nothing must be excluded, waiting for the bowls to stop. There the outcome of the Scudetto game will obviously count, but so will the strength of the offer flying in from the Pyrenees’.

28 May 2024

28/05/2024 16:27

Kasparas Jakucionis reportedly heading to Illinois

Promising Lithuanian prospect Kasparas Jakucionis will leave Barcelona to play at Illinois and prove himself in College Basketball.
The news was reported by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony, who considers the 17-year-old point guard ‘one of the most promising international prospects in the 2024 class’ and ‘a potential first-round pick in the 2025 NBA draft’.

Jakucionis was included on the 2023-24 EB ANGT Finals Berlin All-Tournament Team, where he dished out 38 assists in 3 games and posted a new record with 17 assists in a game.