International Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Central Notes: Dosunmu, White, Kalamian, Holiday, Sexton

January 20th, 2022 at 8:08pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Rookie Ayo Dosunmu and third-year guard Coby White have expanded roles in the absence of Lonzo Ball and Zach LaVine and they’ve performed well, K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago notes. Ball is out six-to-eight weeks after undergoing knee surgery and LaVine didn’t join on the Bulls on their three-game road trip due to a less serious knee injury.

Dosunmu and White have started the last three games, with Dosunmu averaging 18.0 PPG, 8.0 APG and 5.7 RPG and White posting 17.0 PPG, 4.3 APG and 4.3 RPG.

DeMar DeRozan has been impressed with Dosunmu’s maturity. “He accepts his mistakes,” DeRozan said. “He holds himself accountable. And that’s big for a young guy to be able to do that.”

We have more from the Central Division:

Pistons assistant coach Rex Kalamian has agreed to become the head coach of the Armenian national team, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnaworski tweets. Both of Kalamian’s parents are Armenian-Americans. Kalamian, who recently served as acting coach when Dwane Casey missed some games for personal reasons, will continue in his duties in Detroit.
Jrue Holiday returned to action on Wednesday after missing six games due to left ankle soreness. Though he only scored nine points in 22 minutes, he gave the Bucks a boost in numerous areas, Eric Nehm of The Athletic writes. “Wish I had a little more (time on the floor), but I think just trying to get my timing back, get my legs back, get my feel for the game back,” Holiday said. “I feel like I haven’t played in a long time, so just trying to get back right.”
Cavaliers guard Collin Sexton, who underwent season-ending knee surgery two months ago, will be a restricted free agent after the season. Bryan Fonseca of Basketball News explores the pros and cons of Cleveland trading Sexton before next month’s deadline. Fonseca ultimately concludes the Cavs should retain Sexton, providing another shot-creator and catch-and-shoot option on a team with playoff aspirations beyond this season.

Gabriel Deck Returns To Real Madrid

January 19th, 2022 at 7:42am CST by Luke Adams

JANUARY 19: Deck has finalized an agreement with Real Madrid that will cover the rest of this season and the following two seasons, running through June 30, 2024, the team announced today in a press release.

JANUARY 17: After being waived by the Thunder earlier this month, forward Gabriel Deck is returning to Spain and rejoining Real Madrid. Reports shortly after Deck’s release indicated this was the plan, and Real Madrid head coach Pablo Laso confirmed as much on Sunday, as Eurohoops relays.

The deal hasn’t been finalized yet, but Deck is expected to sign a contract that runs through the 2023/24 season, according to multiple reports.

Deck played for Real Madrid from 2018-21, leaving the club last season to sign a contract with Oklahoma City in April. Although the 26-year-old technically received a four-year deal, only his 2020/21 salary was guaranteed, so he was always considered a long shot to play out the full contract unless he made a strong impression during his first stint in the NBA.

Deck appeared in just 10 games for the Thunder last season and seven more this season, averaging 6.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG, and 1.7 APG with a .494/.211/.818 shooting line in 15.8 MPG across 17 total contests.

During his last season with Real Madrid in 2020/21, Deck recorded 10.0 PPG and 4.0 RPG on .533/.333/.862 shooting in 21 Liga ACB games (23.3 MPG), as well as 8.8 PPG and 3.6 RPG on .487/.414/.833 shooting in 31 EuroLeague appearances (24.1 MPG). He also played a key role for Argentina during the Tokyo Olympics last summer.

Discussing Deck’s impending return to Real Madrid, Laso expressed enthusiasm but added that it’s hard to glean much information from the forward’s time in the NBA.

“The only bad thing, at least from my perspective, is that Deck has just played four games since he left Madrid last April,” Laso said, per Eurohoops. “The ones at the Olympics. The others are difficult to analyze.”

Wayne Selden Signing With Turkish Team

January 18th, 2022 at 2:08pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Shooting guard Wayne Selden is signing with Turkish club Afyon Belediye of the Basketball Super League, per Turkish paper Afyon Haber.

After going undrafted out of Kansas in 2016, Selden logged time with the Pelicans, Grizzlies, and Bulls, plus several G League clubs. The 27-year-old wing then suited up for Israeli Basketball Premier League club Ironi Nes Ziona during the 2020/21 season.

Selden inked a non-guaranteed camp deal with the Knicks ahead of training camp and stuck on the roster through the start of the regular season. However, he was waived earlier this month as part of the Knicks’ Denzel Valentine/Rajon Rondo trade. Selden appeared in just three games for New York this season.

The 6’4″ guard holds NBA career averages of 7.2 PPG, 2.0 RPG, and 1.5 APG with a shooting line of .415/.344/.718 across 127 contests, including 27 starts.

Marc Gasol: “Door Is Not Closed” On An NBA Comeback

January 16th, 2022 at 10:59am CST by Arthur Hill

Marc Gasol is currently playing in Spain, but his NBA career may not be over. Gasol, who will turn 37 this month, is both an owner and player with Basquet Girona. In an interview with the Spanish publication Cadenaser, he indicated that he still has options to return to the NBA, relays Dario Skerletic of Sportando.

“In the NBA they know I haven’t closed the door,” he said. “Now I wanted to do this thing (play at Girona) and they understood it, perhaps more than many people here in Spain. The door is not closed, I am not saying that I will return or that I am evaluating it, but I know that there is interest on their part … at the moment I am focused on Girona.”

A three-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year, Gasol played 13 NBA seasons before deciding to return to his native country. He was the Lakers’ starting center for most of last season, averaging 5.0 points and 4.1 rebounds in 52 games.

However, Gasol didn’t see much playing time after Los Angeles signed Andre Drummond midway through the season. In September, he was traded to the Grizzlies, who released him five days later.

Gasol indicated that he’s not in a hurry to make a decision about his future. The Spanish League schedule runs through mid-May, and with Gasol determined to honor his commitment to Girona, it’s unlikely that he’ll be back in the NBA this season.

“The most precious thing we have is time,” he said. “We have little time and each of us decides how to invest it. to live unique experiences, I wanted to give this time to a city that supported me in difficult moments in sport, when I started my career at the age of 21.”

And-Ones: Davis, Georges-Hunt, All-Star Picks, 2022 Draft

January 15th, 2022 at 11:15am CST by Dana Gauruder

Former NBA big man Deyonta Davis has signed with a Taiwanese team, the Taoyuan Leopards, according to Sportando. Davis, an early second-round selection in the 2016 draft, last appeared in the NBA during the 2018/19 season, when he saw action in nine games with Atlanta.

We have more from around the basketball world:

Former NBA forward Marcus Georges-Hunt has signed a G League deal and will play for the Hawks’ affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic tweets. Georges-Hunt spent some time in the Chinese Basketball Association after playing in the NBA. He played a combined 47 games for Orlando and Minnesota from 2016-18.
The Athletic’s Josh Robbins and John Hollinger put their heads together and made their selections for the All-Star starters and reserves in both conferences. Some of the notable players who didn’t make the cut included James Harden, Jaylen Brown, Paul George and Damian Lillard.
Auburn’s Jabari Smith Jr. is the first player off the board in the latest mock draft from Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo. Paolo Banchero and Chet Holmgren are the next two selections with Wisconsin guard Johnny Davis elevating to the No. 4 spot.

And-Ones: Exum, Thomas, Doncic, Tatum, Yabusele

January 10th, 2022 at 8:11pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Former NBA guard Dante Exum plans to return to the NBA when his three-month contract with Barcelona expires, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Exum is averaging just 4.4 PPG in the EuroLeague after signing with the Spanish team early last month.

Exum was waived by the Rockets during training camp. He signed a three-year deal with Houston in September but the contract was non-guaranteed and Houston had 15 other players with guaranteed deals.

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Khyri Thomas has officially signed with Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to a team press release. A report surfaced over the weekend that Maccabi was interested in the former NBA guard. Thomas, a 2018 second-round pick, played in Spain last month before suffering an injury. He saw action in five games with Houston last season and came off the bench in 34 games for Detroit during the previous two seasons.
Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum remain the two players under 25 years old that NBA talent evaluators would want to build their teams around, according to an annual poll conducted by Michael Scotto of Hoops Hype. Ja Morant, LaMelo Ball and Trae Young round out the top five.
Guerschon Yabusele has agreed to a contract extension with Real Madrid, according to a team press release. The three-year extension runs through June 2025. Yabusele, a first-round pick by the Celtics in 2016, last appeared in the NBA during the 2018/19 season when he saw action in 41 games for Boston.

China Next Stop For Jahlil Okafor?

January 9th, 2022 at 10:00am CST by Arthur Hill

Jahlil Okafor is expected to sign with Guangsha in the Chinese Basketball Association, sources tell Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

The 26-year-old center appeared in 27 games for the Pistons last season, averaging 5.4 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.9 minutes per night. He was traded in September to the Nets, who waived him five days later. He signed a non-guaranteed contract with the Hawks for training camp, but was released before the season began.

The Sixers selected Okafor with the third pick in the 2015 draft, but he only lasted a little more than two seasons in Philadelphia before being traded to Brooklyn. He also spent two seasons with the Pelicans, but was never able to approach the numbers he put up in his first season when he averaged 17.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and earned first team All-Rookie honors.

And-Ones: Thomas, Goodwin, Nurkic, Herro, Hawks/Celtics Trade, Rivers, Carlisle

January 8th, 2022 at 10:43am CST by Dana Gauruder

Maccabi Tel Aviv has targeted former NBA guard Khyri Thomas to improve its backcourt depth, Donatas Urbonas of Basketball News reports. Thomas, a 2018 second-round pick, played in Spain last month before suffering an injury. He saw action in five games with Houston last season and came off the bench in 34 games for Detroit during the previous two seasons.

We have more from around the basketball world:

Former NBA guard Archie Goodwin has signed with Budivelnyk Kyiv in the Ukraine, according to Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. Goodwin had been playing in France. Goodwin played four seasons in the NBA, most recently in 2016/17 for the Pelicans and Nets.
The Trail Blazers‘ Jusuf Nurkic and Heat‘s Tyler Herro each drew $25K fines for an altercation on Wednesday, NBA Communications tweets. They were both ejected in the final minute of Miami’s victory. Herro shoved Nurkic in the back after the Portland center knocked the guard to the floor on a screen. Nurkic retaliated with a shove to the face.
Could a blockbuster deal energize the inconsistent Hawks and Celtics? Sports Illustrated’s Michael Pina proposes a Jaylen Brown trade in which the Hawks would give up De’Andre Hunter, Kevin Huerter, Jalen Johnson and two unprotected first-round picks.
Nearly half of the league’s head coaches have entered the health and safety protocols this season. Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer talks to Philadelphia’s Doc Rivers and Indiana’s Rick Carlisle on how they interacted with their assistants during their absences.

Hasheem Thabeet Signing In China

January 6th, 2022 at 4:10pm CST by JD Shaw

Former NBA center Hasheem Thabeet is signing a deal in the Chinese Basketball Association with the Fujian Sturgeons, agent Jerry Dianis told Hoops Rumors.

Thabeet most recently played in Taiwan, averaging 18.3 points, 14.3 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game while receiving Defensive Player of the Year honors. This will be Thabeet’s first time playing in China during his professional career.

“Hasheem is the best rim protector on the planet,” Dianis said. “China has 1.4 billion people and he’s excited to play on this stage. His ultimate goal is to return to the NBA, something that could happen as soon as this year.”

Thabeet, the No. 2 overall pick of the 2009 NBA Draft, has made past NBA stops with Memphis, Houston, Portland, and Oklahoma City. Known as a fierce shot-blocker at 7’3″, he also spent three collegiate seasons at UConn and holds international experience in Japan.

Prior to signing in Taiwan, Thabeet worked out for several teams, including the Knicks, Nuggets, Bucks, Warriors, and Sixers. He carries 224 games of NBA experience and joins a team that has signed veterans such as Christian Wood and Amar’e Stoudemire in past years.

And-Ones: Referees, Protocols, Thornton, Koufos

January 1st, 2022 at 3:29pm CST by JD Shaw

The NBA has reached a season-high number of referees who are in health and safety protocols, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.com. As of Thursday afternoon, Wojnarowski reported that 25 of 70 officials (36%) were in quarantine.

As our health and safety protocols tracker shows, over 100 NBA players are currently out due to the virus. Eleven games have been postponed this season, including – most recently – Thursday’s Warriors-Nuggets game.

The NBA has called up G League officials to make up for various absences. Some games have been played with two referees instead of three, but Wojnarowski reports that the league is working to limit these instances.

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

The NBA and NBPA have agreed to change the absence timeline for a player who enters protocols, Wojnarowski and Baxter Holmes write in a separate story for ESPN. The adjustment only impacts asymptomatic and vaccinated players. As the duo writes, players were allowed to return after seven days if their CT levels were above 35, but the change now allows players to return after five days if their CT levels are above 30.
Eight-year NBA veteran Marcus Thornton has signed a contract in the G League, sources told Hoops Rumors. Thornton has played 483 NBA games, making past stops with New Orleans, Sacramento, Brooklyn, Boston, Phoenix, Houston and Washington during his career. He last played with the Pistons’ G League affiliate during the 2018/19 season.
Free agent center Kosta Koufos will no longer sign with Italian club Reyer Venezia due to new guidelines and travel restrictions in the country, according to Marc Stein (Twitter link). Koufos, an 11-year NBA veteran, owns 686 games of experience since being drafted No. 23 overall in 2008.