International Rumors | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: Speights, BIG3, Jenkins, Jersey Ads

February 27th, 2020 at 11:14am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA big man Marreese Speights will be joining the BIG3, Ice Cube’s professional three-on-three league, for the 2020 season, tweets Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. According to Spears, Speights will be a player and co-captain for Bivouac this year.

Bivouac, one of the teams introduced in the BIG3’s 2019 expansion, was captained last season by former NBA forward Josh Smith, and he’s one of several captains who have re-signed for the coming season, per ESPN’s Eric Woodyard (Twitter link). Speights will fill one of just seven open captain or co-captain slots available around the league.

Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Former first-round pick John Jenkins, who suited up for the Wizards and Knicks last season, has signed with Hapoel Eliat in Israel, the team announced (hat tip to Sportando). Jenkins had just joined a team in China last month, so it seems he was let out of that contract when the CBA went on hiatus due to the coronavirus outbreak.
According to Terry Lefton and John Lombardo of L.A. Biz, the next round of jersey sponsorship deals for NBA teams could be worth at least 30% more than the original deals (hat tip to RealGM).
HoopsHype provides an informative breakdown on which NBA players are on track to earn bonuses in their contracts this season and which will fall short of those incentives.
In an interesting piece for NBC Sports, Tom Haberstroh and Monte Poole take an in-depth look at marijuana use in the NBA. Despite league rules prohibiting marijuana use, six players surveyed by Haberstroh and Poole estimated that more than half of the NBA’s active players use it in some form.

International Notes: Randle, Olympics, Broekhoff, Yabusele, More

February 25th, 2020 at 2:18pm CST by Luke Adams

The coronavirus outbreak continues to have an impact on the international basketball world, with ESPN’s Jonathan Givony reporting that guard Chasson Randle is among the players affected by the Chinese Basketball Association’s hiatus.

Agent Darrell Comer tells Givony that Randle has twice tried to sign a 10-day contract with an NBA team since returning stateside last month. However, his club in Tianjian blocked him from receiving FIBA clearance in both cases, despite there being no official word yet on if or when the CBA will resume play this season.

“His payments are currently behind with no date provided of when he will receive salary owed,” Comer said of Randle. “He has been offered opportunities to sign 10-day contracts with NBA teams, but Tianjin has denied his FIBA clearance despite the fact that the 10-day contracts will expire before all rumored dates if the China season will resume.

“Chasson is not only being prevented from making income, but also from furthering his career as a NBA player. We are speaking to bring awareness to this unfair issue for Chasson, but also for the other talented players who are back from China and may experience similar issues soon.”

The coronavirus epidemic could also be bad news for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound told Stephen Wade of The Associated Press that the IOC will likely have to make a decision by May on this summer’s games. Pound still anticipates the Olympics will move forward as planned, but if the IOC determines that the risk related to coronavirus is too high, “you’re probably looking at a cancellation” rather than a postponement, he said.

Here are more basketball-related notes from around the world:

After being waived two weeks ago by Dallas, sharpshooter Ryan Broekhoff is drawing interest from EuroLeague team CSKA Moscow, a source tells Sportando. Before joining the Mavericks in 2018, Broekhoff spent several seasons with EuroCup club Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia.
Former Celtics first-rounder Guerschon Yabusele has returned to his home country of France, signing a new deal with ASVEL Villeurbanne, according to the team (hat tip to Sportando). It’s a rest-of-season contract for Yabusele, who played in 74 games for Boston between 2017-19.
Veteran guard Jordan Crawford, who has appeared in 281 NBA games, appears likely to join Brose Bamberg for the rest of the season, according to Ennio Terrasi Borghesan of Sportando. Crawford worked out for the German club earlier this month.
Italy’s Pallacanestro Cantu has announced the signing of former NBA swingman Rodney Purvis (hat tip to Sportando). Purvis, 26, appeared in 16 games for Orlando during the 2017/18 season.

Alex Abrines Talks About Possible NBA Return

February 22nd, 2020 at 5:23pm CST by Arthur Hill

In an interview with Georgios Kyriakidis of TalkBasket, former Thunder guard Alex Abrines says he hasn’t given up on a potential return to the NBA.

Abrines, 26, spent two and a half years with Oklahoma City before being waived last February in a mutual agreement with the team so he could focus on his battle with depression. Abrines was a regular part of the rotation during his first two years in OKC, but was limited to 31 games last season as he struggled with mental health issues.

Abrines returned to Spain after being released and signed with Barcelona in July. He picked up a high-profile teammate in former NBA forward Nikola Mirotic, and the team is cruising through the EuroLeague with a 19-6 record.

“I think I needed a change, although I had some great times in Oklahoma,” Abrines said. “After what happened with my depression, it was tough. I needed a change, to come back home and I think FC Barcelona was the best team. I knew the club, I have friends in Barcelona and it’s pretty close to my hometown. I needed a change of air.”

Abrines describes European basketball as more intense than the NBA because the schedule is shorter and each game is more important. He also “missed playing for so many trophies,” with the King’s Cup, the Spanish League title and the Euroleague all at stake, rather than just the NBA championship.

Still, Abrines enjoyed the chance to compete against the best players in the world and would consider an NBA return in 2021 once he hits free agency again. He signed with Barcelona for two years, along with a third-year option.

“I haven’t closed the door on the NBA,” he said. “Right now, I’m focused on FC Barcelona. I’ve got one more year with them, but you never know what’s going to happen in the future. If I got the chance to go back, maybe I would take it. But it’s not an answer that I have right now.”

International Notes: Thybulle, Liggins, Patterson, Smith

February 17th, 2020 at 4:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Ben Simmons, who spoke in November about wanting to play for Australia in the 2020 Olympics under Sixers head coach Brett Brown, is looking to bring one of his NBA teammates with him. As Olgun Uluc of Fox Sports Australia details, Simmons said over the weekend that he’s confident rookie swingman Matisse Thybulle will play for the Boomers this summer in Tokyo.

Thybulle, the Sixers’ first-round pick last June, is a dual citizen of the U.S. and Australia. He has yet to make a decision regarding his international status, but playing for Australia would create a much clearer path to being a part of the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

“I can’t say I’ve put too much thought into which one I’d like to go to, which (opportunity) I’d like to take,” the Sixers rookie said last week, per Uluc. “But I think this season is going to be a good opportunity to showcase myself and figure out what opportunities I have at the end of the season.”

Here are a few more notes from around the basketball world:

NBA journeyman DeAndre Liggins, who suited up for seven different teams over the course of five NBA seasons, is joining Panionios B.C. in Greece, according to an Instagram post from agent Vassilis Kouros (hat tip to Sportando). Liggins last appeared in the Association in 2017/18, when he appeared in 58 total games for Milwaukee and New Orleans.
Veteran swingman Lamar Patterson, who appeared in 40 NBA games for Atlanta between 2015-17, is continuing his professional career in Puerto Rico with Piratas de Quebradillas, the team announced on Sunday (hat tip to Sportando). This will be Patterson’s second stint with a Puerto Rican club.
Russ Smith, a second-round pick out of Louisville in 2014, will also play in Puerto Rico, having signed with Los Cariduros de Fajardo (hat tip to Sportando). The 28-year-old guard appeared in 27 NBA games from 2014-16 for New Orleans and Memphis.

And-Ones: Doncic, Crawford, Cook, Edwards

February 16th, 2020 at 9:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Luka Doncic, who played in both the Rising Stars and All-Star games this weekend, has another non-Mavericks event circled on his calendar for later this year. Asked about his potential participation for Slovenia in this June’s Olympics qualifying tournament, Doncic responded, “I’m gonna play for sure” (Twitter link via Donatas Urbonas).

The Mavericks star didn’t get the chance to suit up for his home country during the 2019 FIBA World Cup, since Slovenia wasn’t able to qualify for the event. This June’s tournament will represent the last chance the squad has to earn a spot in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Doncic and the Slovenians won’t have it easy — they’ll have to beat Lithuania and Poland, among others, in that qualifying tournament to secure one of four Olympic berths up for grabs this summer.

Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Former NBA guard Jordan Crawford is working out for German team Brose Bamberg, according to Ennio Terrasi Borghesan of Sportando. If the audition – which will take place within the next 10 days – goes well, Crawford will sign a rest-of-season deal with the German club, Borghesan adds.
In a conversation with Ian Begley of SNY.tv, veteran NBA agent Todd Ramasar provided an interesting, behind-the-scenes look at his typical approach to the NBA trade deadline.
The Canton Charge and Oklahoma City Blue completed a trade sending Tyler Cook to the Thunder‘s G League affiliate and Vince Edwards to Cleveland’s NBAGL team (Twitter link). Both players have some NBA experience, with Cook having spent time with the Cavaliers this season on a two-way deal, a standard contract, and a pair of 10-day pacts.
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony examines a few of the notable prospects who took part in the Basketball Without Borders Global Camp during All-Star weekend in Chicago.

Dwight Buycks Agrees To Deal With Greek Team

February 16th, 2020 at 3:44pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Dwight Buycks, a former NBA point guard, has agreed to a two-year deal with EuroLeague Greek team Olympiacos that will last through the 2020/21 season, per Nicola Lupo of Sportando.

The 6’3″ Buycks went undrafted out of Marquette in 2011. After several years working at the periphery of the NBA in the Summer League and the then-D-League (now G League), Buycks finally broke through with the Raptors in the 2013/14 season, playing 14 games in Toronto. He signed a 10-day contract with the Lakers and appeared in six games for L.A. in April 2015.

After a stint in the Chinese Basketball Association, Buycks returned to the NBA during the 2017/18 season, when he inked a two-way contract with the Pistons. He appeared in 29 games with Detroit. He has averaged around 20 PPG for the CBA’s Shenzen Leopards over the past two seasons, per Sportando.

Marcin Gortat Announces Retirement

February 16th, 2020 at 11:39am CST by Arthur Hill

Former NBA center Marcin Gortat confirmed his retirement from basketball in an interview with TVP Info (hat tip to Eurohoops.net).

“It’s time to end my career,” Gortat said. “I think this is the moment when the year has passed – as I said at the beginning, I give myself a year [off] to see what life will bring me – and it brought me to this decision, that I am going to retire, I’m finishing my professional playing.”

The Polish native played 12 NBA seasons, spending most of his time with the Magic, Suns and Wizards. His career ended when the Clippers waived him before the end of the 2018/19 season. He reportedly had a chance to play in Poland last month, but turned it down because of health concerns.

After being taken with the 57th pick in the 2005 draft, Gortat went on to appear in 806 NBA games. He averaged 9.9 PPG and 7.9 RPG for his career.

Hasheem Thabeet Garnering Interest From Teams In Asia, Spain

February 15th, 2020 at 2:56pm CST by JD Shaw

Former No. 2 pick Hasheem Thabeet is evaluating interest from multiple teams in Asia and Spain, with the former UConn center hoping to resurrect his NBA career by proving his worth, agent Jerry Dianis told Hoops Rumors.

In addition to clubs overseas, several teams in the G League have maintained an interest in Thabeet, Dianis said.

Thabeet signed an NBA G League contract and started the season with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants, the Pacers’ G League affiliate. He parted ways with the team last month after averaging four points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game in fairly limited time (16.4 minutes per contest), appearing in nine total games.

Thabeet, 32, remains a valuable defensive asset for teams in need of rim protection. He’s established himself as an elite shot-blocker during his professional career, using his 7’3″, 260-pound athletic frame to contest shots and play strong defense.

Thabeet worked out for multiple NBA teams before being drafted by Fort Wayne in the fall, including Golden State, Denver and New York. He also attended two workouts with Milwaukee.

Thabeet, who spent three seasons at UConn from 2006-09, has shown impressive durability and worked hard on improving his body in recent years. He has made past stops with the Grizzlies, Rockets, Blazers, Thunder, Pistons and Lakers, which includes an array of G League stints.

Samardo Samuels To Play In France

February 15th, 2020 at 1:30pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Former Cavaliers and Louisville big man Samardo Samuels has signed a deal with French club Chorale Roanne, per Dario Skerletic of Sportando.

Samuels, 31, played for three seasons in Cleveland from 2010-2013 after going undrafted in 2010. Cleveland waived Samuels in January 2013.

Following a brief 2013 stint with the then-D-League’s Reno Bighorns, Samuels has logged time overseas in Israel, Italy, Spain, China, Serbia and France. Samuels also played in Ice Cube’s Big3 three-on-three basketball league, during the summer of 2019.

Earlier this season, Samuels played 15 games for Panionios in Greece, averaging 17.1 PPG and 6.1 RPG.

And-Ones: Free Agency, Goodwin, Robinson, Brown

February 9th, 2020 at 7:48pm CST by JD Shaw

An active 2020 trade deadline has likely watered down the free-agent market this summer, a pattern far from the norm after a combined $4 billion was spent on more than 150 players last July, Bobby Marks of ESPN.com explores.

There were a total of 12 trades within the 48-hour window of the trade deadline this year, with high-profile players such as D’Angelo Russell, Andre Drummond, Andrew Wiggins and Clint Capela switching teams.

As Marks notes, the 2020 free agency class is projected to be mediocre for the most part. The Knicks could have upwards of $50MM to spend (though they’ll likely wait until the following summer for stronger talent), with the Hawks, Pistons, Hornets, Suns, and Heat also set to have north of $20MM.

Beyond Anthony Davis, some of the top unrestricted free agents this summer include Fred VanVleet, Montrezl Harrell, Danilo Gallinari and Serge Ibaka. Drummond ($28.7MM), DeMar DeRozan ($27.7MM) and Evan Fournier ($17MM) all have player options in their contracts, while Brandon Ingram and Bogdan Bogdanovic are set to enter restricted free agency.

Here are some other odds and ends from around the basketball world:

Free agent guard Archie Goodwin has signed in Germany with Ratiopharm Ulm, the team announced, as relayed by Sportando. Goodwin, 25, holds NBA experience with the Suns, Pelicans and Nets, most recently playing in Turkey. Goodwin was drafted with the No. 29 overall pick by Oklahoma City back in 2013.
Former NBA forward Thomas Robinson has signed in Russia with BC Khimki, the team announced on social media. Robinson signed a one-month deal with an extension until the end of the season. The 28-year-old has played for Sacramento, Houston, Portland, Philadelphia, Brooklyn and Los Angeles across his professional career, spending time with the Spurs during summer league in 2019.
Warriors associate head coach Mike Brown has agreed to be the head coach of the Nigerian men’s basketball team, according to Marc J. Spears of ESPN’s The Undefeated (Twitter link). Brown will coach Nigeria during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics this summer, with Nigeria BB president Musa Kida reportedly looking for a high-profile coach that holds NBA experience.