Basket rumors

Movistar Estudiantes ink J.J. Barea

J.J. Barea is a new player of Movistar Estudiantes, the spanish team announced.
The veteran pointguard will make his debut in Europe at 36.

Last season Barea produced 7.7 points and 3.9 assists per game for the Dallas Mavericks.

Khimki part ways with Greg Monroe, Jonas Jerebko

Khimki Mosca has formalized the resolution of the agreements with Greg Monroe and Jonas Jerebko.
Monroe leaves after 9 Euroleague games with averages of 10.3 points and 6 rebounds.
The Swedish forward was producing 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds.

J.J. Barea reportedly close to join Movistar Estudiantes

J.J. Barea is finalizing an agreement to sign with Movistar Estudiantes, Marc Stein reports.
Barea owns career-averages of 8.9 points and 3.9 assist over 14 seasons in NBA.

Bnei Herzliya sign Elijah Thomas

Elijah Thomas is a new player of Bnei Herzliya, the israeli team announced.
The big man out of Clemson started the season in Romania with Steaua CSM EximBank Bucuresti (14.5 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 3 bpg)

Wellington Saints ink Kerwin Roach

Your Wellington Saints are thrilled to announce the signing of one of two signed imports in Point Guard Kerwin Roach.

“We’re pleased to add Kerwin to our roster for the 2021 NZ NBL season. A young veteran, with experience on the Charlotte Hornets’ NBA Summer League team, a season with the Houston Rockets’ NBA G-League affiliate, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, and with the college powerhouse that is the University of Texas Longhorns, we believe that Kerwin is both ready to be highly productive and still has room to grow into his considerable potential. He’s a near world-class field athlete, twice winning the Texas high school triple jump state championship, in addition to the state basketball championship he also led his school to prior to departing for Texas. At Texas he led the Longhorns to a National Invitational Tournament championship as a senior, while pairing with a number of future NBA lottery picks and starting 5s, such as Jaxson Hayes, Mo Bamba, and Jarrett Allen.”

Roach, having not been to New Zealand before and very much looking forward to his first season overseas says “I am excited to be in the city of Wellington and more excited to have the opportunity to play for the Wellington Saints! Having played for the University of Texas and Rockets G League affiliate, I am ready to bring in a winning attitude, effort and culture!

“We expect his chemistry with this archetype of player will quickly translate to a productive relationship with our import. The Saints Family can look forward to some electrifying athletic feats from Kerwin – show up early for the warm ups – while on a functional level he’ll be a very impactful player towards winning.” Coronel adds.

CEO Jordan Mills is thrilled to have signed Roach saying “We are super excited to get Kerwin here and apart of our group for this NBL season, we have a proud history over the past 40 years of bringing in high quality Basketball players and high quality people such as the likes of Kenny McFadden, Kerry Boagni, Torrey Craig and Nick Kay to name a few. We hope collectively that we can get imports accepted through immigration to raise the standard of Basketball in our league but also the huge impact that we expect Kerwin to have in our community through Pak N Save coaching in schools programme and improving our young local players.”

Roach’s incoming is now dependent on clearance as the New Zealand National Basketball League has already finalised and sent its application to Immigration New Zealand for import players to be granted critical worker exemption for the upcoming 2021 season.

Greece NT coach Rick Pitino in group of investors interested into buy Pau Orthez

Former Panathinaikos coach and current Greece NT coach Rick Pitino is leading a group of investors, joined by his former assistant Stu Jackson and former NBA All Star Jamal Mashburn, interested into acquiring control of French side Elan Bernais Pau Orthez, reports La Republique des Pyrenees. Pitino himself confirmed the news in a conversation with Greek outlet Gazzetta.gr: “I am part of the group looking for a way to bring back the Seattle SuperSonics to the NBA. My suggestion was to first purchase a team in Europe for us to gain relevant experience”.

Eurohoops reports that the deal is in advanced stage and there could be an agreement soon. Jackson worked with Pitino in the 80s between the NCAA and the New York Knicks, while Mashburn played under Pitino in the 90s at Kentucky.

Sources: John Egbunu to join Pallacanestro Varese

John Egbunu reached an agreement with Pallacanestro Varese, a source told Sportando.

The big man out of Florida started the season for Busan KT Sonicboom in South Korean League, where he was averaging 10 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.

In the previous season Egbunu produced 10.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game with the Long Island nets, in the G League.

Real Madrid reportedly interested in Jordan Loyd for next season

Marca.com talks about Real Madrid’s plans for next season.

With the signing of Thomas Heurtel now taken for sure, the Blancos would have shifted their focus on Jordan Loyd, considered the right profile for replacing Jaycee Carroll.

Loyd is averaging 18.7 points and 3.4 assists per game in Euroleague for KK Crvena Zvedza.

Valencia Basket, the team he played with last season, owns his rights for ACB.

Fonte: Marca.

Brescia reportedly signing Darral Willis to replace TJ Cline

TJ Cline is closer to joining Maccabi Tel Aviv and Brescia has already found his replacement.
According to Il Giornale di Brescia, the Italian team is signing Darral Willis.
The American forward is playing in France with Monaco averaging 8.8 points and 4.2 rebounds in EuroCup and 7.1 points and 4.1 rebounds in Jeep Elite.
Willis has also played pro basketball with Keravnos and Nizhny Novgorod.

Khaliq Spicer signs with Kolossos Rhodes

Former Kent State forward Khaliq Spicer has signed a contract with Kolossos Rhodes in Greece, the team announced.

Spicer played in Finland with BC Nokia earlier this season. He will replace Kevin Tumba, who left the Greek team after getting injured.

Brescia GM Santoro: It is difficult not to please TJ Cline (after proposal he got from Maccabi)

Germani Brescia general manager Sandro Santoro told Italian newspaper Brescia Oggi that it will be difficult to keep TJ Cline who is drawing serious interest from Maccabi Tel Aviv.

“It will be difficult not to please Cline after the proposal he got from Maccabi Tel Aviv” Santoro said.

With Cline’s departure, Brescia will hit the market for a new player whose name could be revealed as soon as today.

Maccabi Tel Aviv’s first proposal for TJ Cline reportedly doesn’t convince Germani Brescia

Maccabi Tel Aviv is pursuing TJ Cline but the first proposal made by the Israeli powerhouse did not convince Germani Brescia, as reported by Il Giornale di Brescia.
The American-Israeli big has played in Winner League for three season with Hapoel before joining Brescia during the summer.
The two sides keep talking and news are expected in the upcoming hours.