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Draft Notes: Hollatz, Baldwin Jr., Guerrier, Slawson, Bothwell, Akot

May 28th, 2022 at 11:02am CST by Dana Gauruder

German guard Justus Hollatz declared himself eligible for the draft but the international prospect is signing a two-year contract with the Spanish club Broegan Lugo, according to a Eurohoops.net story. Hollatz played last season with the Hamburg Towers of the EuroCup League.

We have more draft-related decisions:

  • Potential first-round pick Patrick Baldwin Jr. is staying in the draft and believes he’ll move up draft boards in the coming weeks, he told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “I still think I’m one of those top guys in the class, and I think the circumstances I had to deal with this year were a little bit unique,’ said Baldwin, who has an upcoming workout with the Thunder. “I’m looking to go into workouts and show them what I look like when I’m healthy and fully able to go.” Baldwin, ranked No. 34 on ESPN’s Best Available list, played only 11 games for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee due to an ankle injury.
  • Oregon’s Quincy Guerrier is pulling out of the draft and returning to school, Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports tweets. The Canadian-born forward averaged 10.1 PPG and 5.3 RPG last season.
  • Furman early entrants Jalen Slawson and Mike Bothwell are withdrawing from the draft and will play for the Paladins again next season, according to Jeff Goodman (Twitter links). They averaged a combined 30.2 PPG last season.
  • Emmanuel Akot, who is in the transfer portal, will be playing college ball again next season rather than staying in the draft, Rothstein tweets. He averaged 12.4 PPG for Boise State last season.
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And-Ones: BIG3, Canada, Hezonja, Coaches

May 24th, 2022 at 2:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Ty Lawson, Corey Brewer, Jordan Crawford, Jonathon Simmons, Norris Cole, Festus Ezeli, and Jordan Hill are among the many former NBA players whose names are in the BIG3 draft pool for the 2022 season, per the league’s official website.

The BIG3 will hold its draft on Wednesday evening in Los Angeles as it gears up for the coming season. As we previously relayed, the first games of 2022 are scheduled for June 18 and this will be the first year in which the BIG3 holds an All-Star Game.

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

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Bulls, Pistons To Play Regular Season Game In Paris

May 24th, 2022 at 7:57am CST by Luke Adams

The Bulls and Pistons will play a regular season game in France during the 2022/23 season, according to a press release. The game will take place on January 19, 2023 at the Accor Arena in Paris.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the NBA’s Global Games initiative has been on hiatus for the last two-plus years. The most recent regular season contest played outside the U.S. or Canada also took place at the Accor Arena in Paris on January 24, 2020, when the Bucks defeated the Hornets.

Next season’s Bulls/Pistons contest will be the NBA’s 12th game in France since 1991 and the third time the Bulls have played there — Chicago took part in two preseason games in Paris in 1997. This will be the Pistons’ first time playing in the French capital.

With COVID-19 restrictions loosening around the world, the NBA is expected to play several preseason and regular season games outside of its teams’ home markets in 2022/23. The league has already announced a pair of preseason matchups in Abu Dhabi, and the Spurs are expected to play a couple “home” games in Mexico.

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Hawks Notes: Bogdanovic, Draft Workout, Trade Tiers

May 23rd, 2022 at 10:10pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Bogdan Bogdanovic‘s lingering knee issue will likely prevent the Hawks wing from participating with the Serbian National Team in the EuroBasket tournament during September, according to MozzartSport.com (hat tip to Eurohoops.net). Bogdanovic, who was limited to 63 regular-season games,  played through the pain in the first round of the playoffs, and MozzartSport’s report suggests offseason surgery is a possibility.

We have more on the Hawks:

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International Notes: Satoransky, Micic, Larkin, Bryant

May 22nd, 2022 at 9:56am CST by Arthur Hill

Andalou Efes is the latest European team to express interest in signing NBA guard Tomas Satoransky, tweets Bugra Uzar of EuroHoops. A report last month indicated that Spain’s FC Barcelona is also targeting Satoransky, so the Turkish club is likely to have some competition if he decides to return to Europe.

Satoransky played for three teams last season, starting with the Pelicans, who acquired him from the Bulls in an August trade. New Orleans moved him to the Trail Blazers prior to February’s trade deadline, and he was flipped to San Antonio in a three-team deal a day later, but he appeared in just one game for the Spurs before being waived. He signed with the Wizards two days later. Satoransky averaged 3.6 points and 3.3 assists in 55 combined games.

The 30-year-old guard played eight seasons in Europe before leaving for the NBA in 2016. Returning home would be an attractive option if he doesn’t receive another NBA opportunity, and Andalou Efes, which claimed its second straight EuroLeague title Saturday, should receive strong consideration.

There’s more international news to pass along:

  • Satoransky could be a replacement for Vasilije Micic, who is rumored to have interest in trying the NBA after winning his second consecutive Final Four MVP trophy. Micic, whose draft rights are held by the Thunder, said he wants to join two-time MVP Nikola Jokic as examples of the quality of Serbian basketball. “What we have in common with Jokic is that we both make Serbia proud,” Micic said in a post-game press conference, per a EuroHoops report. “He is a unique person. He makes a small country so recognizable, so famous, he represents us. I’m supporting his achievements and I’m proud.”
  • Former NBA guard Shane Larkin has become a star in Europe and he’s happy to stay there, according to Antonis Stroggylakis of EuroHoops. Larkin expressed a desire to return to the NBA amid the pandemic crisis two years ago, but he has since changed his mind. “I grew up in America. I didn’t know much about European basketball,” he said. “To be here, to see the passion, to be in this atmosphere. To do the things that I’ve been able to accomplish here. I wouldn’t trade this for the world. Even if I could’ve gone back in the NBA and sign for a max contract, I would much rather choose this. Being able to play in front of these fans, with this passion and experience this in my life. This has been amazing and I’m very happy with everything.”
  • Elijah Bryant, who was on the Bucks’ roster last season, achieved the rare feat of winning NBA and EuroLeague titles in consecutive seasons, tweets BasketNews.
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And-Ones: Mirotic, In-Season Tourney, Transition Take Fouls

May 18th, 2022 at 3:04pm CST by Luke Adams

Nikola Mirotic finished only fourth in Spanish League MVP voting this season, but he has been named the Most Valuable Player for the EuroLeague, per an official release.

The former NBA forward had a terrific year for FC Barcelona, averaging 16.6 PPG and 5.1 RPG with a shooting line of .566/.455/.875 in just 24.2 MPG (36 games) in EuroLeague play. Mirotic ranked second in the league in points per game, behind only Thunder draft-and-stash prospect Vasilije Micic, and was among the league leaders in total three-pointers made.

Mirotic, who appeared in 319 NBA games from 2014-19, has been back in Europe for the last three seasons after making the surprising decision to turn down lucrative NBA offers at age 28. His Barcelona squad is set to face Real Madrid at the EuroLeague Final Four on Thursday.

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

  • The NBA continues to discuss a possible in-season tournament and could implement it as soon as the 2023/24 season, sources tell Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). The league has been encouraged by the success of the play-in tournament and is ramping up its planning on a mid-season tourney, Charania adds.
  • According to Charania (Twitter links), the NBA is strongly considering tweaking the rules on take fouls in transition by awarding the offensive team a free throw and the ball. The proposal, which will be voted on in July at the Board of Governors meeting, had “widespread support” at this week’s GM meeting, per Charania.
  • During an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio, commissioner Adam Silver floated the idea of requiring a minimum number of games played for end-of-season award eligibility, tweets Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. There’s no indication the NBA is seriously considering implementing such a rule, but the fact that Silver even mentioned it is interesting.
  • FIBA continues not to allow the national teams from Russia and Belarus to participate in international competitions, announcing in a press release that the countries have been withdrawn from a series of upcoming events, including the 2023 World Cup qualifiers. FIBA first banned the two countries from international play on March 1 following their invasion of Ukraine, and shows no signs of reversing the decision.
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And-Ones: Musa, Scola, Mannion, Nigeria

May 17th, 2022 at 3:00pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Nets wing Dzanan Musa, a first-round pick in 2018, has been named the Most Valuable Player of Liga ACB, Spain’s top basketball league, for the 2021/22 season, per an official press release.

Fans, reporters, players, and coaches vote on the award, and Musa was the top pick among all four groups, earning the maximum 100 points. Ex-NBA forward Nikola Mirotic finished fourth with 30 points.

After appearing in just 49 games in his two seasons with Brooklyn from 2018-20, Musa returned to Europe and has played in Turkey and Spain over the last two years. He averaged 20.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 3.1 APG on .494/.381/.787 shooting in 29 Liga ACB games (32.0 MPG) for CB Breogan this season.

Former NBA forward Mirza Teletovic stated earlier this year that he’s confident Musa, who just turned 23 years old this month, will return stateside sooner or later.

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

  • Veteran forward Luis Scola, who played in the NBA from 2007-17, will exercise his option to assume majority ownership of the Italian team Pallacanestro Varese, the club announced in a press release. Once the paperwork is official, Scola will own 51% of the franchise’s shares.
  • Former Warriors guard Nico Mannion is drawing some interest from NBA teams as a possible Summer League player, tweets George Zakkas of SDNA in Greece. Mannion remains under contract with Virtus Bologna in Italy for the time being.
  • Having opened a league office in Lagos earlier this year, the NBA is on the lookout for the next Giannis Antetokounmpo in Nigeria, according to Lindsay du Plessis of ESPN, who spoke to NBA Africa VP Gbemisola Abudu about NBA Nigeria’s goals in the country.
  • David Aldridge of The Athletic takes a look at what the offseason for the holds for the four teams eliminated in round two, examining the key areas for the Grizzlies, Bucks, Sixers, and Suns to address this summer.
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Tornike Shengelia Seeking Return To NBA

May 16th, 2022 at 11:12am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran forward Tornike Shengelia, who last played in the NBA in 2014, is looking to return to the league, sources tell Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews.com.

Shengelia was drafted 54th overall in 2012 and spent most of his two NBA seasons with the Nets before being dealt to the Bulls prior to the 2014 deadline. In total, he appeared in 45 games with Brooklyn and Chicago from 2012-14, averaging 1.3 PPG and 0.9 RPG in just 5.5 minutes per contest.

Following his underwhelming stint in the NBA, the 6’9″ Georgian forward returned to Europe, playing for Baskonia in Spain from 2014-20, CSKA Moscow in Russia from 2020-22, and Virtus Bologna in Italy since March.

During that time, Shengelia made the All-EuroLeague First Team in 2018, was named the Spanish League’s Most Spectacular Player in 2019, and won a series of titles in the Spanish League (2020), VTB United League (2021), and EuroCup (2022). He was also the Spanish League’s MVP runner-up (to Luka Doncic) in 2018.

As Urbonas details, the 30-year-old is a free agent this summer and has been linked in recent months to FC Barcelona and Virtus Bologna. However, sources tell Urbonas that any talks with EuroLeague teams are on hold for the time being, since Shengelia’s primary goal is to make an NBA comeback.

It’s unclear at this point which NBA teams might have interest in Shengelia.

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And-Ones: Super Teams, LeBron, Draft Sleepers, Foster

May 14th, 2022 at 9:36pm CST by Arthur Hill

The super-team model for winning an NBA championship is becoming less effective, writes Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News. The Nets and Sixers are two of the latest examples to fail with that strategy, both by acquiring James Harden. The Big Three in Brooklyn captured just one playoff series before Harden was shipped to Philadelphia, where his pairing with Joel Embiid resulted in a second-round exit.

In the Western Conference, injuries have prevented Kawhi Leonard and Paul George from reaching their full potential with the Clippers, Bondy notes, and the Lakers’ decision to team Russell Westbrook with LeBron James and Anthony Davis was a complete disaster. Bondy adds that the teams remaining in the playoffs were all built mainly through the draft, with later additions focusing mainly on defense.

Here’s more from around the basketball world:

  • James tops the list of the world’s 100 highest-paid male athletes released this week by Sportico. James made $36.9MM in salary over the past year and $90MM in endorsements, putting him $4.6MM ahead of soccer star Lionel Messi. Three other NBA players finished in the top 10: Stephen Curry at No. 6 with total earnings of $86.2MM, Kevin Durant at No. 7 with $85.9MM and Harden at No. 9 with $76MM. It’s the most James has ever earned over a 12-month stretch, according to Kurt Badenhausen of Sportico.
  • Jeremy Woo of Sports Illustrated lists five unheralded players to keep an eye on in this year’s draft. On his list are North Carolina State freshman guard Terquavion Smith, Alabama senior guard Keon Ellis, Connecticut senior forward Tyrese Martin, Loyola Chicago senior guard Lucas Williamson and Texas Tech senior forward Bryson Williams. Woo doesn’t expect them all to be drafted, but he does believe they’ll exceed expectations and carve out a spot in the NBA.
  • Marcus Foster, who played for the Rockets’ G League affiliate in Rio Grande Valley this season, has signed with Promitheas Patras for the Greek League playoffs, according to Sportando. The 26-year-old guard, who was in Houston’s training camp prior to the start of the season, has an option to sign with an NBA or EuroLeague team this summer.
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And-Ones: Beasley, Delaney, Bolmaro, Duarte, EuroLeague, Ticket Prices

May 12th, 2022 at 10:59pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Michael Beasley has officially committed to play in the BIG3 league with 3’s Company this summer, Hoops Rumors’ JD Shaw tweets. ESPN’s Marc J. Spears recently reported Beasley was expected to play in the league. The former No. 2 pick, who last played in the NBA with the Lakers during the 2018/19 season, has hired agent Andre Buck and will continue pursuing an NBA comeback. 

We have more from around the basketball world:

  • Former NBA player Malcolm Delaney will miss the remainder of Olimpio Milano’s season due to an abdominal injury, Emiliano Carchia of Sportando tweets. Delaney won’t return to Milan next season. “Two special years, in which I played in two of the best teams I’ve ever been a part of, but with a lot of bad luck,” Delaney said. “I enjoyed my experience in Milan, on and off the court.”
  • Timberwolves rookie Leandro Bolmaro and Pacers rookie Chris Duarte will be among the coaches at the Basketball Without Borders (BWB) Americas camp next week, according to an NBA press release. The camp will be held from Monday to Thursday in San Luis Potosí, Mexico and will bring together the top high-school age boys and girls from Latin America, Canada and the Caribbean.
  • This year’s EuroLeague First Team selections have a distinct NBA flavor. NBA veterans Mike James, Shane Larkin and Nikola Mirotic were all selected to the First Team along with Walter Tavares and Sasha Vezenkov, Eurohoops.net tweets.
  • Ticket prices around the NBA continue to rise as attendance drops, Josh Kosman and Brian Lewis of the New York Post report. According to the Post, fans are now paying an average of $109 per ticket, an 18.6% increase since 2018/19. However, the number of paid fans at arenas has dropped 7.1% to 13,603 per game. Those numbers could impact the league’s negotiations with its broadcast partners.
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