Basket rumors

1 June 2023

01/06/2023 17:00

Derek Willis reportedly has an agreement with Efes for next season

Derek Willis reportedly has an agreement with Efes. According to Eurohoops, the Turkish club is just waiting for the green light from Ergin Ataman’s successor, who has not yet been defined.

Therefore, Derek Willis’ adventure with Reyer Venezia would have lasted only one season. Having returned to Italy after his experience in Brindisi, the power forward has averaged 12.9 points in the EuroCup.

For Venezia, this would be another departure after that of Jayson Granger, officially announced on May 31st.”

1 June 2023

01/06/2023 15:49

Sports Digitale: Sarunas Jasikevicius meets Efes. No deal

Sarunas Jasikevicius is prepared to do whatever it takes to stay in charge of Barcelona, while news from Turkey reports of a meeting with Efes.

Following Ergin Ataman’s departure, the Turkish club is searching for a new leader. Sports Digitale reveals an actual meeting between Efes and Jasikevicius, which concluded without an agreement due to a substantial gap between demand and offer.

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1 June 2023

01/06/2023 14:48

Jaka Lakovic on Barcelona: I don’t know why my name is being mentioned

Jaka Lakovic, Slovenian coach of Dreamland Gran Canaria, discussed his future after falling in the quarterfinals of the Liga Endesa against Real Madrid. Despite rumors, Lakovic stated: “I have a contract with Gran Canaria and I am very happy here. I think these are just rumors. Barcelona has a very good coach and we’ll see what happens with him, but I don’t know why my name is being mentioned”. Lakovic also discussed participation in the next season of the Euroleague, stating that the final decision rests with the club, but the intention is to compete at the highest level possible.

1 June 2023

01/06/2023 09:37

Sarunas Jasikevicius’ future in Barcelona reportedly still up in the air

Sarunas Jasikevicius’ future in Barcelona is still up in the air despite a contract signed in 2020.

Barcelona made three straight EuroLeague Final Four reaching only once the Final plus the Lithuanian coach led the Catalan powerhouse to one ACB title during his tenure at the helm of the team.

Barcelona will have a huge cut in its budget for next season.

According to Mundo Deportivo, Sarunas Jasikevicius is ready to cut his salary to remain in Barcelona.

If he leaves, Ioannis Sfairopoulos is one of the main candidates to replace him in Barcelona.

1 June 2023

01/06/2023 08:53

Virtus Bologna reportedly forced to cut budget for next season

Virtus Bologna will play in EuroLeague next season but it will have to cut its budget $6 million, according to Il Corriere di Bologna.

A 20% cut compared to the current season because “it will have to respect the parameters dictated by the financial fair play” of the competition.

The budget will therefore drop to 24-25 million euros, €16 for the team, similarly to the 2021-2022 season according to the newspaper, which specifies how these regulations are more stringent for those in possession of only the wild card at the top continental competition.

1 June 2023

01/06/2023 08:22

Olimpia Milano to sign Guglielmo Caruso with a three-year contract

Guglielmo Caruso will be playing for Olimpia Milano in the upcoming season. The Prealpina newspaper has announced that he has signed a three-year contract with the team. Additionally, Olimpia Milano will pay a buyout fee of €20,000 to Varese.

Even before the start of this season, Ettore Messina had shown interest in the player. Last summer, Caruso had declined the opportunity to remove the opt-out clause from his contract with Varese, which was set to expire on June 30, 2024.

In the national team circuit this year with Matt Brase as the coach, he has averaged 9.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in 30 matches. He has a shooting percentage of 94/140 from 2-point range and 13/32 from 3-point range.

31 May 2023

31/05/2023 20:26

Olimpia Milano interested in Darius Thompson, reportedly ready to pay rich buyout to Baskonia

El Correo talks about Baskonia point guard Darius Thompson, the target of many Euroleague teams including Olimpia Milano and Virtus Bologna.

According to the Spanish site, Olimpia Milano would be the favorite in the race for Thompson, and has reportedly let Baskonia know that they’re ready to pay a buyout of around 600,000 euros.

The point guard ended his rookie year in the Euroleague as the best passer with an impressive 6.7 assists per game, as well as 12.6 points and 1.7 steals.

31 May 2023

31/05/2023 19:34

Joventut Badalona extends Pau Ribas

Joventut Badalona and Pau Ribas have reached an agreement on a multi-year extension, the Spanish team announced.

Ribas, whose contract was set to expire on June 30, 2023, extends his bond with La Penya with a 2+1 contract.

The guard is producing 7.9 points and 3.1 assists per game this year.

31 May 2023

31/05/2023 11:34

ASVEL signs Mbaye Ndiaye for next season

ASVEL and Mbaye Ndiaye have reached an agreement, as reported by bebasket. The Senegalese forward is set to make his debut in the EuroLeague after spending three seasons in Blois, first in Pro B and then in Betclic ELITE.

The former Bourg player averaged 10.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 30 minutes of play in Pro A.

30 May 2023

30/05/2023 19:46

Nikola Mirotic and Barcelona reportedly close to parting ways

The relationship between Nikola Mirotic and Barcelona seems close to an end, four years after the forward returned to Spain.

According to Home of Glory, the two sides will part ways despite a contract worth about 10 million a season until 2025.

Mirotic would already have one foot out the door, the termination of the contract and his departure is described by Mundo Deportivo as a “very real possibility”.

Basketnews also confirms the news, reporting ongoing negotiations to solve the contract

30 May 2023

30 May 2023

29 May 2023

29/05/2023 16:09

Ricky Rubio says he is starting to consider his return home, Spain, Barcelona

Ricky Rubio joined the Cleveland Cavaliers’ drive for the playoffs in January after being finally given the all-clear.

The seasoned point guard reconsidered his alternatives outside of the North American-based league and decided against entering his 12th season in the NBA.
He stated during an appearance on the podcast La Sotana, “I am starting to consider my return,” regarding his desire to bring his skills back to Europe. “Returning home. Spain, Barcelona. around where you are from.”

Rubio’s desire to play in Europe when his son begins school confirms the eventual goal. The NBA’s timetable, which was revealed in December, was “in two or three years.”

During his 33 games, including two starts, in the Regular Season, Rubio, 32, averaged 5.2 points, 3.5 assists, and 2.1 rebounds per game. In the playoff series against the New York Knicks, he only appeared in three games and 5.7 minutes of action each.

His NBA debut was postponed till the beginning of the 2011–12 season after the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him with the fifth overall choice in the 2009 draft. He joined Barca in 2010 as a winner of the EuroLeague, and he has since attended 712 NBA games.

via Eurohoops.

29 May 2023

29/05/2023 13:23

Olympiacos reportedly Offers Nikola Milutinov €1.5M Seasonal Contract

Olympiacos has reportedly put forth an offer of 1.5 million euros per season to Nikola Milutinov, according to Sport24.

According to Stavros Barbarousis, the contract would be for two years. Sport24 doesn’t rule out an increased bid from Virtus Bologna, which would have to offer well over one and a half million per season to persuade the Serbian center to leave the Piraeus club and Greece, where he has lived since his first stint with the team.

As reported to Sportando, once the season in Greece concludes, Olympiacos will announce the renewal of Kostas Sloukas’ contract and the signing of Nikola Milutinov.

29 May 2023

29/05/2023 11:22

Ronald March signs with Prometey for the next season

Ronald March signs with Prometey for the next season.

March averaged 21.4 points this season with Chorale Roanne in Betclic Elite.

29 May 2023

29/05/2023 11:10

Sasha Vezenkov: I’m ready for new challenges

Sasha Vezenkov, EuroLeague MVP, is in the final stages of this season with Olympiacos. In an interview with Bulgarian television, the player has deferred any decisions about his future.

“I’m only thinking about how to win the title in Greece and what will be the right decision for me at this stage of my career,” he said to BNT. “Nobody knows what will happen in a few years, so I will decide how to proceed when the time comes. We agreed that it would be best to finish the season and then talk. We’ll see if they have a specific offer and what I will decide. I’m ready for new challenges, but as I’ve said before, Athens and Olympiacos are my home and I feel great.”

The Sacramento Kings acquired Vezenkov’s rights in the 2022 NBA Draft, when they sent a draft pick to the Cleveland Cavaliers that later became Isaiah Mobley.

27 May 2023

27 May 2023

27/05/2023 16:29

Le Mans extends Williams Narace and signs Will Yeguete

Le Mans announced the two-year extension of Williams Narace and the signing of Will Yeguete.

The Cameroonian forward averaged 10.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game this year in BetClic Elite.

Yeguete comes from a season with Limoges CSP, where he produced 5.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals.

 

27 May 2023

27/05/2023 15:13

Fenerbahce reportedly in talks with Onuralp Bitim and Georgios Papagiannis

Like most Euroleague teams, Fenerbahce has started working on the roster for next season.

According to Encestando, the Turkish club is negotiating with guard Onuralp Bitim and big man Georgios Papagiannis.

Bitim, a 24-year-old guard who scored 18.2 points and 3.4 assists per game between BSL and Eurocup with Bursaspor, is also on the notebooks of Anadolu Efes and Valencia.

For Papagiannis, Fenerbahce will have to fend off competition from Panathinaikos, which has reportedly already made a rich multi-year offer to keep the center in Athens.

27 May 2023

27/05/2023 14:18

Virtus Bologna reportedly in talks to keep Awudu Abass

According to George Zakkas, Virtus Bologna is working to retain Awudu Abass, but the parties are reportedly still far from an agreement.

Should the deal fall through, the Italian club will try to replace Abass with Openjobmetis Varese guard Tomas Woldetensae.

Abass carved out a role as a defensive specialist in Coach Scariolo’s rotation. The 30-year-old is producing 3.7 points in 13 minutes per game.

In Varese, Woldetensae put together averages of 9.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and one steal per game in LBA

25 May 2023

25/05/2023 23:03

Hiroshima Dragon Flies keep Dwayne Evans, Kai Sotto, Kenny Blackshear Jr

The Hiroshima Dragon Flies have announced that Dwayne Evans, Nick Mayo, Kenny Blackshear Jr and promising big man Kai Sotto -currently in the States for some NBA tryouts – will remain with team for the 2023/24 B.League season.

 

Evans this year has produced over 16 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists per game, while Blackshear averaged 15.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 25 minutes.

 

 

 

25 May 2023

25/05/2023 20:15

Rolands Smits signs multi-year contract extension with Zalgiris Kaunas

Zalgiris Kaunas announced the contract extension of Rolands Smits.

In the EuroLeague Smits appeared on the court in all 37 Zalgiris games and averaged 9.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists.

The forward signed a deal until 2026, with exit clauses after each season, except this summer.

25 May 2023

24 May 2023

24/05/2023 20:50

Terry Tarpey leaves Le Mans after 6 seasons

After losing in game 2 to ASVEL, and the subsequent elimination from the BetClic Elite playoffs, Terry Tarpey was greeted from the Le Mans crowd with a standing ovation.

The French national team’s all around guard is expected to continue his career with AS Monaco.

Tarpey leaves Le Mans after 6 seasons, the last one with averages of 9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.5 steals.

24 May 2023

24/05/2023 19:19

Fenerbahce among Euroleague teams reportedly interested in Nico Mannion

According to Christos Harpidis, Nico Mannion is reportedly on the notebook of a number of Euroleague teams for next season.

Fenerbahce is reportedly considering a long-term plan with the Italian national team’s point guard, while among other interested teams the Greek reporter lists Bayern Munich and ASVEL.

Mannion is scoring over 10 points with 3 assists in his second season with Virtus Bologna in the Italian LBA, and he wrapped up the Euroleague with 5.9 points and 2.6 assists in 19 games.

Mannion’s deal with the Italian club will expire at the end of the season.

24 May 2023

24/05/2023 11:15

Naz Mitrou-Long Reported to be Heading to Zalgiris Kaunas Next Season

Naz Mitrou-Long is reportedly set to join Zalgiris Kaunas next season, according to Matteo Andreani, with the news confirmed by Basketnews.

The Canadian point guard signed a two-year contract with Olimpia Milano last summer. His name has also been associated with Panathinaikos, but only in the case of acquiring a Greek passport.

23 May 2023

23/05/2023 20:23

Baskonia reportedly close to sign Nikos Rogkavopoulos

ACB and Euroleague side Baskonia is reportedly close to sign Greek rising star Nikos Rogkavopoulos, according to SDNA and Gazzetta.gr. A 2-year contract is believed to be on the table and a final agreement is expected soon.

Rogkavopoulos comes off a season in Turkey with Yukatel Merkezefendi in which he averaged 15.4 ppg and 4.5 rpg.

23 May 2023

23/05/2023 14:58

Anadolu Efes reportedly targets Darrun Hilliard

Anadolu Efes is showing interest in Darrun Hilliard for next season as reported by Arel Ginsber.

Hilliard has an option in his contract to continue with Maccabi for another season. Also Panathinaikos is in the mix for former Bayern.

23 May 2023

23/05/2023 08:53

From Italy: “Real Madrid Unchanging: Scariolo’s Return Gets Closer to Virtus”

According to Walter Fuochi of La Repubblica, Bologna edition, the EuroLeague title points towards Chus Mateo’s continuance in Real Madrid. What about Sergio Scariolo? The prospect of moving to Monaco has not faded and a second round of talks with the Raptors is imminent. However, for the Brescia-born coach, “Virtus is more tangible today than it was yesterday.”

Thus, the idea of a contract extension with Virtus Bologna should not be discarded: “Between the coach and the club, there’s another year of the contract, valid until 2024, potentially extendable if both parties are willing to discuss (…) It’s possible to stay together, but separation is also an option.”

22 May 2023

22/05/2023 20:49

Panathinaikos reportedly interested in Mario Hezonja, Kevin Punter

Panathinaikos has been working on next season for some time, with the goal of returning among the best teams in Euroleague.

The new project will be led by Ergin Ataman, who has reportedly prepared a list of players to improve the level of the roster.

According to Gazzetta.gr, two of the main targets are Mario Hezonja and Kevin Punter.

The Croatian forward is under contract with Real Madrid but has a very strong connection with the Greek club, where he played in the 2020/21 season.

Punter has reportedly made a request of more than 1.5 million euros, which Panathinaikos would be ready to meet to pair the scoring guard alongside Luca Vildoza in the backcourt.