Five-star prospect and Duke commit Paolo Banchero is expected to make his debut with Italy’s National Team in Tallinn, Estonia, in the upcoming window of the Eurobasket Qualifiers, sources told Sportando.
Banchero will land in Italy on November 22 to join the National Team. The team will then head to Tallinn, Estonia where they’ll play North Macedonia and Russia on November 28 and 30.
Hapoel Jerusalem has parted ways with British point guard Tarik Phillip, the Israeli team announced.
Phillip averaged 13 points, two rebounds and one assist in the first two Basketball Champions League games of the season.
Fonte: Hapoel Jerusalem.
Braian Angola has terminated his contract with Partizan Belgrade and is now a free agent, a source told Sportando.
Angola is engaging in talks with multiple European teams.
Beşiktaş has reached an agreement with Troy Williams.
The former NBA player spent last season with VL Pesaro averaging 16ppg in 8 contests.
💥🦅 Transfer çalışmalarını sürdüren Erkek Basketbol Takımımız, NBA kariyerinde 77 maça çıkan 26 yaşındaki 2.01'lik ABD'li forvet Troy Williams ile prensip anlaşmasına vardı. #PotanınKartalları pic.twitter.com/p3F2vtaSqn
— BjkBasket (@BjkBasket) November 18, 2020
Tyler Cheese and Salon Vilpas have parted ways.
The American rookie asked to leave after only four games for personal reasons.
Cheese was averaging 7ppg in Finnish league.
Fonte: Vilpas Vikings.
Rigoberto Mendoza is a new player of Maccabi Haifa, the Israeli team announced.
The guard started the season in the top Mexican division, averaging over 12 points and 4 assist per game for Dorados de Chihuahua.
Welcome @vkingo06 ! pic.twitter.com/KuKy7COcK6
— Maccabi Haifa Basketball (@MaccabiHaifaBC) November 17, 2020
Hapoel Jerusalem has announced the departure of Deividas Sirvydis.
The Lithuanian forward will sign with the Detroit Pistons, the team that selected him at No.37 in the 2019 NBA Draft.
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הפועל "בנק יהב" ירושלים מאחלת המון הצלחה לדייוידאס סירווידס בדרכו החדשה. הכישרון הליטאי, שחתם בסוף העונה שעברה על חוזה ארוך טווח במועדון עם סעיף יציאה ל NBA, עוזב את הקבוצה pic.twitter.com/BR7988uysS— Hapoel Jerusalem B.C (@JerusalemBasket) November 17, 2020
Davion Berry and Ironi Ness Ziona are parting ways, sources told Sportando. The guard played his last game with the Israeli team today against Hapoel Haifa.
Berry averaged 15.3 points in the Balkan League and 9.3 points in the Israeli Winner League.
Ironi Ness Ziona is 1-3 in the Winner League.
Per multiple NBA insiders, Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder agreed to a big trade. The deal will send Chris Paul and Abdel Nader to the Suns, while Kelly Oubre, Ricky Rubio, Ty Jerome, Jalen Lecque and a 2022 first-round pick are heading the other way.
As Shams Charania reported, Suns‘s future first to the Thunder is protected 1-12 in 2022, 1-10 in 2023, 1-8 in 2024 and unprotected in 2025.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has decided to opt out of his deal to test free agency.
The guard had a contract worth $8.4 million next season.
The NBA champion with Lakers is expected to have suitors in the free agency.
Lakers starter Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will decline his 2020-21 player option and enter free agency, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. He’s expected to have several suitors at start of free agency — and teams are under impression he’s open to offers.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 16, 2020
Denzel Andersson is expected to remain in Varese after Jalen Jones serious injury.
The former NBA forward may have torn achilles after 31 seconds in his debut with the Italian team.
Andersson was on the market and was close to leaving but Jones likely season-ending injury will “stop” him in Openjobmetis, a source tells Sportando.
The Brisbane Bullets have signed former NBA player Orlando Johnson as an import for the 2020/21 Hungry Jack’s NBL Season.
Johnson has played over 100 NBA games, having stints with the Indiana Pacers (2012-14), Sacramento Kings (2014), Phoenix Suns (2016) and New Orleans Pelicans (2016). He was selected by the Kings in the 2012 NBA Draft with the 36thselection.
The California native is 6’5” and can alternate between the guard and forward positions, adding versatility to the Bullets roster. Johnson has also played professionally in Spain, the Philippines, Russia, China, Lebanon, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Taiwan and in the NBA G-League.
Brisbane Bullets coach Andrej Lemanis said: “Whenever you start the process of recruiting an import, the challenge is to find a player with a skill set that will complement and add value to the roster already signed, as well as being a quality person who will fit in with the team ethos we value at the Bullets.
“We always lean on contacts we trust from around the world for input as well as watching a whole lot of video on players we believe to be in contention. That process led us to Orlando Johnson.
“Orlando brings with him a wealth of experience, having played over 100 NBA games, another 100 games in the G-League and more than 50 games in high level European Leagues. He has shown that he is a versatile player who is prepared to help teams succeed at both ends of the court. He has a great basketball IQ and a toughness that will add value to our team.
“The interview with Orlando is one of the best I have ever been involved with; his honesty and humility really struct a chord with the coaching staff and his understanding of how teams succeed was evident the more we spoke. We got off that call as a staff and said, ‘He’s our guy’.
“We all look forward to getting Orlando to Brisbane and integrating him into the team as we prepare for the start of the season.”
Johnson said: “I’m really excited. They (Brisbane) said we need a guy who will be able to shoulder a heavy load and be one of the main guys…I told them how ready I was and how much I’ve been working.
“I told them I was looking to be a focal point and a guy who can lead a team and that’s what they’re looking for. I think this is going be the start of something really special.
“When I first heard about it (the NBL) and saw it, I saw how exciting these games are and that’s something I want to be a part of.”
Johnson joins Harry Froling, Matt Hodgson, Will Magnay, Anthony Drmic, Jason Cadee, Nathan Sobey, Tyrell Harrison, Tanner Krebs, Tamuri Wigness and Callum Dalton (development player) on the Bullets’ roster for the 20/21 season.
Fonte: NBL.
The Cairns Taipans have pulled off one of the biggest moves this off-season, re-signing star big man Cameron Oliver on a two-year deal after starring in NBL20.
The 24-year-old averaged 17.4 points, 9.6 rebounds and tallied 50 blocks for the season – making up half of the team’s total. Remarkably, he finished with 15 double-doubles in his 31 games with season-highs of 31 points and 19 rebounds.
Reigning NBL Coach of the Year Mike Kelly said it was really significant for the Taipans to retain Oliver, for the club, the city and most importantly the fans.
“Cam had a fantastic season and he was a big part of the reason that we made the play-offs. He really fit in with our group, and it was great to see his family make a new home here and embrace the community. The city of Cairns has definitely played a role in their return, and I know they are excited to come back.”
Oliver made history as the first NBL player in the 40-minute era to make 50 three-pointers and block 50 shots in the same season. He also led the league in average rebounds per game, which continued throughout the finals.
“Before Cam came to Cairns, I had watched him on film for two years playing in the G-League, so I knew what kind of calibre player he was. But I didn’t know how quickly he would get back to that level, coming off of that ankle injury,” said Coach Kelly.
“But he exceeded our expectations and become a much more consistent and reliable player for us as the season went on. I think his mindset and his approach to the game changed over the course of the year with us and it was really cool to watch his growth in that respect, too.”
Following NBL20, Oliver went on to play in the Israeli Basketball Premier League for Ironi Nes Ziona during the extended NBL off-season, where he averaged 19.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.4 steals and again reached the play-offs.
“We all know that Cam is an NBA talent and we saw his continued development in Israel as well. He knows how he fits in with our team and this league now, so he will have high expectations of himself and I’m expecting that he will be even stronger in the season coming up.”
Cam Oliver joins Mojave King, Kouat Noi, Majok Deng, Nate Jawai, Mirko Djeric, Fabijan Krslovic, Jarrod Kenny, Jordan Ngatai and George Blagojevic on the Taipans 2021 roster.
Fonte: Cairns Taipans.
Matt Bonds is a new player of the Kawasaki Brave Thunders, the japanese team announced.
The swingman spent last year in the third french division, where he averaged over 14 points, 9 rebounds and 2 assist per game.
Fonte: Kawasaki Brave Thunders.
Izzet Turkylmaz is a new player of Balıkesir Bşb, the turkish team announced.
The big man started the season in BSL with Bursaspor.
Balıkesir Bşb ailesine hoşgeldin İzzet TÜRKYILMAZ! Başarı dolu bir sezon diliyoruz.🏀🏅 pic.twitter.com/SmdjuJVzBg
— Balıkesir BŞB (@balikesirbsb) November 13, 2020
Monbus Obradoiro has extended Albert Oliver’s contract until the end of this season.
The 42-year-old 1.87 meter point guard has played all 9 Endesa League games with the team, with averages of 4 points and 1.6 assists in 13 minutes.
🔥 CHEGOU PARA QUEDAR 🔥
O Monbus Obradoiro amplía o contrato de @albertoliver11 ata final de tempada!
INFO: https://t.co/qumgqTpwX0#écousadetodos #SomosObra pic.twitter.com/2IKlKNX44z
— OBRADOIRO CAB (@OBRADOIROCAB) November 14, 2020
BC Cherkasy Monkeys announced the dismissal of Oleksandr Kobets.
The team press release
BC Cherkasy believes that Kobets ‘participated in sports betting and manipulated the results of games in the current basketball season.
Given the inadmissibility, immorality and illegality of such actions, the club believes that it is impossible to continue the relationship with the player.
The club will send all the information available on O. Kobets’ actions to the Commission for the legal relations of the Ukrainian Basketball Federation to start the examination of the case.
“Cherkasy Monkeys” always stand for fair play. The club will prevent any actions of unfair influence on the results of basketball matches. “Cherkasy Monkeys” for clean and honest sports!
Fonte: Cherkasy.
Fenerbahce is buying out Alex Perez from Bahcesehir, as first reported by Basketfaul and confirmed to Sportando.
Perez played his final game with Bahcesehir today in the Turkish BSL.
He is not new to the EuroLeague as he played for Zalgiris last season.
JP Tokoto has signed the contract with Hapoel Tel Aviv, a source confirms to Sportando.
Tokoto returns to Israeli Winner League after the experiences with Hapoel Eliat and Ironi Nes Ziona.
Per various reports in French media, Norris Cole and Amine Noua will not play tonight against Zenit.
Both of them also did not play two days ago when Asvel was facing Zvezda.
Fonte: BasketActu.com.
Openjobmetis Varese has decided to extend the contract of Anthony Morse till January 15 and will part ways with Denzel Andersson.
The Swedish forward has averaged 3.7ppg and 2.4rpg in Serie A in 7 contests.
Trento is currently sitting at the top of group D in EuroCup, holding a perfect 6-0 score.
But tonight, they are perhaps facing the hardest challenge this season in a Europe. They will play a rescheduled away game against Gran Canaria. Trento is already missing Davide Pascolo and Andrea Mezzanotte, but they are expected to also miss JaCorey Williams who got injured against Promitheas Patras and only played five minutes in that game.
Brian Goorjian has been selected as the next head coach of the Australian NT, according to ESPN Australia’s Olgun Uluc.
Goorjian is a six-time NBL champion and six-time NBL Coach of the Year.
Fonte: ESPN.
Polish club Anwil Wloclawek announced that the team and point guard Deishuan Booker have mutually terminated the contract.
Booker averaged 16.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 10 Polish league games with Anwil.
Fonte: Anwil Wloclawek.
Chris McCullough, who is expected to leave Rytas Vilnius, is in talks with Peristeri Athens of the Basketball Champions League and Greek A1, according to Donatas Urbonas.
The Lithuanian journalist also reported that Australia and South Korea are also among the possible career destinations for McCullough.
Fonte: Donatas Urbonas.
Greek club Lavrio announced the signing of big man Sean Evans.
Evans is joining the team to replace the injured Dave Bell, who mutually terminated his contract with Lavrio and will undergo a small procedure (PRP injection).
Fonte: Lavrio.
Lithuanian swingman Deividas Dulkys is close to a deal until the end of the season with Spanish side Manresa, as reported by journalist Donatas Urbonas.
Dulkys played in Manresa last season, averaging 6.2 points per game in ACB and 7.4 points per game in BCL.
Fonte: Donatas Urbonas.
RETABet Bilbao announced the arrival of Goran Huskic on loan from Burgos.
The player averaged 10.6ppg and 5.7rpg in ACB in 2018-19.
Fonte: Bilbao Basket.
Nizhny Novgorod will start their European season tonight in Zaragoza. Because of the 11 positive cases of covid-19, the Russian team was in self-isolation and only started training this week.
Per the announcement on their website, they managed to have 3 team practices before traveling to Spain. As the general manager of the team Sergey Panov said, all the players have not yet fully recovered from their illness, and therefore only 8 players flew to Zaragoza.
As reported by Aragon Deporte here, Novgorod is also missing their leading scorer Anton Astapkovich (21.7 points per game in the VTB league).
Fonte: Nizhny Novgorod.
Sean Evans is signing a deal with Lavrio in Greece, according to SDNA.
The former St. John’s forward spent the last two seasons with Ifestos Limnou.
Fonte: SDNA.