Basket rumors

2 February 2024

02/02/2024 15:21

Dubai reportedly to make a monster offer to Walter Tavares

The future of Walter Tavares, EuroLeague’s most dominant player, is under discussion. According to the Relevo website, Dubai is ready to make the Cape Verde centre the backbone of the team that should make its debut in the continent’s top competition, and in the ABA-Liga, next season.

On the table is 8 million euros gross per year, almost double the 3.6 million euros that Tavares currently collects in what is his last year of contract with Real Madrid.

There has been much talk about the player in recent weeks, including interest from Panathinaikos and Monaco.

2 February 2024

02/02/2024 15:11

Partizan denies an offer to Dzanan Musa. Agent clarifies contract duration

Misko Raznatovic, Dzanan Musa’s agent, commented on the rumours that would have the Real Madrid player heading to Partizan next season: ‘Dzanan Musa’s contract with Real Madrid, excluding the option to go to the NBA, expires after the 2024/25 season.

Partizan itself also denied the rumours in a lengthy statement: ‘In the middle of the season, news appears regarding Dzanan Musa, one of Real Madrid’s best players, and an offer from Partizan (…) this news is not true’.

Partizan, in short, has not come forward with either Musa or his agent: ‘This news in itself would not deserve so much attention if it were not yet another case in which fabulous offers from Partizan emerge during the course of the season. The club therefore expresses the doubt that these facts do not happen by chance’.

The news of an offer from Partizan to Musa, moreover protagonist of the clamorous brawl in game 2 of the last playoffs in Madrid, was published in recent days by Defensa Central, a portal historically close to Real.

The report spoke of a contract expiring in 2024 (an aspect denied, as said, by BeoBasket), and of a three-year maxi-proposal of 2 million euros net per season. Currently, according to Defensa Central, Musa earns €1 million net.

Partizan, in recent weeks, had denied the rumor of a 2.5 million euro per season offer to Nicolò Melli, captain of Olimpia Milano.

1 February 2024

01/02/2024 21:45

Croatian prospect Michael Ruzic signs five-year contract extension with Joventut Badalona

Joventut Badalona announced that 17-year-old Croatian forward Michael Ruzic has signed a five-year contract extension.

Ruzic is playing 17 minutes per game between Spain and Eurocup, with averages of 5.7 points with 2.8 rebounds and 0.5 blocks.

In Eurocup the promising forward scored a season-high of 17 points with 21 rating against Paris Basketball.

 

1 February 2024

01/02/2024 13:11

Anadolu Efes reportedly targets also Yakup Sekizkok

Rumours about the Anadolu Efes bench are growing after the news of Erdem Can’s dismissal.

Sergio Scariolo and Dimitris Itoudis are confirmed for the succession, but there would be another hot name.
According to the Greek journalist Vetakis, the quotations of Yakup Sekizkok are growing.

Born in 1980 like Can, Sekizkok has a long career as an assistant, which started in 2007 at Banvit. In 2010 he moved to Besiktas, then Galatasaray and since December 2017 he has been at Efes, where he won two EuroLeagues with Ergin Atman.

Sekizkok left the club in the summer upon Ataman’s departure, and took over the Darussafaka bench for the first time as head coach. Currently with the green club he is sixth in the BSL with nine wins and nine losses.

His name is also being mentioned at the moment by Galatasaray, who dismissed Zvezdan Mitrovic on Wednesday.

1 February 2024

01/02/2024 12:07

Givova Scafati reportedly to sign Gerry Blakes

Givova Scafati, in the midst of the ‘Logan case’, doesn’t sit idly by and gets its hands on Gerry Blakes. It was announced by Pianeta Basket Tv, the Campania basketball web TV.

According to the media, “Starting today, at coach Boniciolli’s disposal is the player who had produced 6.2 points and 1.9 rebounds per game in Tuscany, shooting 57% from 2-point range and 21% from 3-point range.

Gerry Blakes has just been released by Estra Pistoia.

1 February 2024

01/02/2024 10:57

Anadolu Efes changes coach: the first two names to succeed Can

Anadolu Efes part ways with Erdem Can, EuroLeague bench number 8 in the 2023-2024 season.

After the change between Scariolo and Banchi at the helm of Virtus Bologna before the start of the season, here are the other changes:

Fenerbahce: from Dimitris Itoudis to Sarunas Jasikevicius

Baskonia: from Joan Penarroya to Dusko Ivanovic

Red Star: from Dusko Ivanovic to Ioannis Sfairopoulos

Zalgiris Kaunas: from Kazys Masksvytis to Andrea Trinchieri

Asvel: from TJ Paker to Gianmarco Pozzecco to Pierric Poupet

Erdem Can, born in Ankara in 1980, arrived at Efes in the summer after the departure of Ergin Ataman, the club’s two EuroLeague coaches. For nine years assistant to Zeljko Obradovic on the Fenerbahce bench, he is on the Turkish national team staff and also worked for a year in the NBA with the Utah Jazz.

Last season he was EuroCup coach of the year with Turk, which he took all the way to the final of the competition.

For the succession the basketfaul website mentions the names of Sergio Scariolo and Dimitris Itoudis. The former, coach of Spain, is still under contract with Virtus Bologna. The second was recently exonerated by the hated rivals Fenerbahce.

But at the moment it all seems rather premature. In the meantime, tomorrow the team is expected to play in the EuroLeague against Olimpia Milano.

31 January 2024

31 January 2024

31/01/2024 11:25

Galatasaray reportedly fires Zvezdan Mitrovic after a quarrel with some fans

Galatasaray has reportedly decided to relieve coach Zvezdan Mitrovic. This was announced by journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu.

The Montenegrin coach was dismissed after a quarrel with some fans. Last night the Turkish team lost to Dijon in BCL.

30 January 2024

30/01/2024 15:22

Kaleb Wesson joins Elan Chalon

Elan Chalon announced the signing of Kaleb Wesson on a contract until the end of the season.

The former Ohio State big man started the season in Bulgaria with CSKA Sofia (15.9 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 3.1 APG, 1.7 SPG, 1.2 BPG).

 

29 January 2024

28 January 2024

28/01/2024 15:24

Nike Sibande signs with Merkezefendi

Merkezefendi announced the signing of Nike Sibande.

The Pittsburgh product arrives from Joensuun Kataja, where he was voted MVP of the FIBA Europe Cup preliminary round (20 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 41% from three).

Sibande, in his first professional season, was also scoring over 22 points with 8 rebounds per game in the Finnish league.

 

27 January 2024

27/01/2024 20:14

Karlo Matkovic to join New Orleans Pelicans

Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana announced the departure of Croatian center Karlo Matkovic, who will join the New Orleans Pelicans at the beginning of February.

Matkovic, the No.52 pick of the 2022 NBA Draft, was scoring 15.1 points with 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 blocks in 28 minutes per game between ABA Liga and Eurocup.

27 January 2024

27/01/2024 19:58

Willie Cauley-Stein joins Indios de Mayaguez

Willie Cauley-Stein is a new player of the Indios de Mayaguez, as announced by the Puerto Rican club.

After a disappointing experience in Varese, the former Kentucky center will start over in BSN.

Cauley-Stein averaged 9.9 points, 9 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocks in his 20 games with the Italian team.

26 January 2024

25 January 2024

25/01/2024 14:04

Joan Plaza is reportedly on the verge of stepping down from AEK

Joan Plaza is reportedly on the verge of stepping down as head coach of AEK, according to Eurohoops sources.

After taking over the technical leadership of the Greek club in June, Plaza led the team to a 5-1 record in Group D of the Basketball Champions League regular season, earning direct access to the round of 16.

However, a run of four consecutive defeats in all competitions, the last one against Promitheas, and a disappointing 6-9 record in the Stoiximan Greek Basketball League, have dropped the club to seventh place in the standings.

AEK is now considering options for a new head coach. Plaza, a veteran of 194 games in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague with Zenit, Unicaja, Zalgiris and Real Madrid, last coached Coosur Real Betis at the start of the 2021-22 season.

25 January 2024

25/01/2024 13:56

Olympiacos reportedly in advanced talks with Moses Wright

Advanced negotiations at Olympiacos for Moses Wright, currently with Merkezefendi in Turkey. According to BasketNews, Wright, a 25-year-old, 2.06m tall pivot, is close to joining the Greek club, thanks to a EuroLeague buyout clause in his contract.

The move comes at a crucial time for the Greek club, which is looking to fill the gaps left by the injury absences of key players such as Nikola Milutinov and Moustapha Fall.

Wright, who joined Merkezefendi in December as Dan Oturu’s replacement, quickly proved his worth in the Turkish league. In just five matches, he averaged 26.4 points (62.5 per cent from two-point range and 25.0 per cent from three), 8.4 rebounds, 1.4 stoppages and 1.2 steals per game.

His performances were particularly impressive, with several 30-plus point games, including 34 points and 12 rebounds against Pinar and a remarkable 36-point performance, with 13 of 16 from the field, against Galatasaray. In both cases, Merkezefendi came out on top.

This could be the third departure of a Merkezefendi player for the EuroLeague in the 2023-24 season. Previously, Rihards Lomazs had left the club to join Virtus.

Before joining Merkezefendi, Wright started the season in the Chinese league with the Shanxi Loongs, where he averaged 15.4 points and 7.8 rebounds per game.

According to Sportando, the club had also probed the return of Khem Birck and former Baskonia Steven Enoch, now at Turk.

24 January 2024

24/01/2024 20:58

UCAM Murcia extends Howard Sant-Roos

Howard Sant-Roos has signed a contract extension with UCAM Murcia until 2026, the spanish team announced.

The Cuban forward is producing 6.2 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game between ACB and BCL.

Sant-Roos’ two-year extension comes after those of Latvian Rodions Kurucus and coach Sito Alonso, key pillars of the project that UCAM Murcia continues to strengthen for the long term.

24 January 2024

24/01/2024 20:45

JaJuan Johnson to join Hapoel Eilat

Jajuan Johnson will end the season in Israel with Hapoel Eilat, on loan from Happy Casa Brindisi, a source told Sportando.

The big man remains under contract with the Italian club for next season.

Johnson in Brindisi produced averages of 10.1 points and 3.9 rebounds per game between BCL and LBA.

23 January 2024

23/01/2024 22:08

Jordan Theodore reportedly joining Baskonia

Jordan Theodore has reached an agreement with Baskonia on a deal until the end of the season, Encestando reports.

The experienced point guard had a Euroleague exit clause in his contract with Metropolitans 92, where he was scoring 13.5 points with 3.9 assists per game in BetClic Elite.

Theodore is expected to replace the injured Chris Chiozza.

23 January 2024

23/01/2024 20:10

Dinamo Sassari considering parting ways with Piero Bucchi

The Dinamo Sassari finds itself in a delicate phase. First, the abrupt end to their Basketball Champions League journey with a clear defeat against Cholet, followed by Sunday’s loss in Treviso, leaving the team of President Stefano Sardara in twelfth place in the standings.

This Sunday, the team faces Olimpia Milano at the Mediolanum Forum d’Assago, but there could be developments in the coming hours. The performance of the players is under scrutiny, as well as the position of coach Piero Bucchi, who arrived in Sardinia in 2021 and had two excellent seasons, always ending in the playoffs.

Even the future of the Bolognese coach seems to be in question for a club seeking a change in direction. His dismissal now appears to be more than a possibility. According to Alessandro Maggi of Sportando and also reported by Fabrizio Lorenzi of Repubblica, there is a name in consideration for the succession: Nenad Markovic, who became a free agent after parting ways with Dijon in December.

23 January 2024

23 January 2024

21 January 2024

20 January 2024

20/01/2024 20:34

Malik Dime to join Granada

Granada strengthens the frontcourt with the signing of Malik Dime.

The 31-year-old Senegalese big man started the season in Venezuela after a good year (8.2 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.2 BPG) in the VTB League with Parma Perm.

19 January 2024

19/01/2024 14:07

Limoges reportedly to part ways with Kevin Anstett

New turbulence seems to be stirring at Limoges CSP. According to lepopulaire, the club has reportedly decided to part ways with its sporting director, Kevin Anstett, who is currently on sick leave, due to an alleged ‘faute grave’, i.e. serious professional misconduct.

Anstett had joined the club in July 2022, taking Crawford Palmer’s place, and until now has played a significant role at the club, although he was recently excluded from the choice of Limoges CSP’s new coach, as confirmed by Franck Butter, the club’s vice-president, during the first press conference of Jean-Marc Dupraz, the new coach.

In addition to this news, further internal problems have emerged at the club: Piotr Pigla, the physical trainer who is highly regarded by the players, has reportedly decided to leave Limoges CSP.

The exact reasons behind these moves are not yet clear.

18 January 2024

18/01/2024 20:06

Chris Singleton reportedly joining Al Arabi Club

According to Eurohoops Chris Singleton has reached an agreement with the Al Arabi Club in Doha, Qatar.

The veteran forward has played for Anadolu Efes over the past four seasons, with two Euroleague titles won under his belt.

In 2022-23 Singleton played only 13 games in the Euroleague and one in BSL.

18 January 2024

18/01/2024 19:38

Austin Hollins joins Aek Athens

Aek Athens announced the signing of Austin Hollins on a contract until the end of the season.

The guard comes from a short stint with Zalgiris Kaunas (3.9 points in 11 minutes per game in Euroleague).

 

16 January 2024

16/01/2024 19:39

John Egbunu leaves ASVEL

ASVEL announced the mutual termination of John Egbunu’s contract.

The big man averaged 2.9 points and 2.7 rebounds in 11 minutes per game between BetClic Elite and Euroleague.

 

16 January 2024

16/01/2024 11:23

VL Pesaro reportedly in talks with Markis McDuffie

According to an article by Elisabetta Ferri in the Carlino, VL Pesaro is changing strategy on the market, focusing on a wing, with the specific aim of acquiring Markis McDuffie.

This move is due to the imminent return of Scott Bamforth, which makes the acquisition of a new guard less necessary. McDuffie, previously in Napoli and cut by Turk Telekom Ankara, is a versatile player who can play both the strong and small wing roles.

The decision to target McDuffie is driven by the desire to add quality and athleticism to the wing role. However, there are uncertainties regarding the timing of McDuffie’s signing, who is currently in the United States and needs to obtain a visa.

14 January 2024

14/01/2024 20:43

Bertram Derthona to sign Ismael Kamagate on loan to replace Amine Noua

Ismael Kamagate will leave Olimpia Milano to move to Bertram Derthona. The announcement of the loan transfer is expected early next week.

Derthona will cut Amine Noua, according to Sportando. The French forward, who arrived in December, produced 6.6 points on average in the LBA with 4.6 rebounds.