International Rumors | Hoops Rumors

Trent Forrest Signs With Baskonia

August 8th, 2024 at 9:01am CST by Dana Gauruder

Free agent guard Trent Forrest has signed a two-year contract with Baskonia, Sportando relays. The Spanish club announced the signing on its Twitter feed.

Forrest spent the past two seasons with the Hawks. He signed a new two-way contract in September after spending the 2022/23 on a two-way deal with Atlanta.

Forrest had his contract converted to a standard, rest-of-season deal in late February. He became an unrestricted free agent after the season and appeared in two Las Vegas Summer League games with the Lakers.

The 26-year-old appeared in a total of 38 games for Atlanta last season, all off the bench. He averaged 2.2 points and 2.4 assists in 10.9 minutes per game. During the previous season, he saw action in 23 Hawks games, including three starts.

Forrest suited up for Utah in his first two NBA seasons after going undrafted out of Florida State in 2020. Overall, he has appeared in 151 NBA contests, including nine starts. He has averaged 2.8 points and 1.9 assists in 11.6 minutes per game, converting 44.4% of his field goal attempts but just 18.5% of his three-point tries.

And-Ones: Blatt, Patton, Trade Candidates, Wade

August 7th, 2024 at 9:22am CST by Tristan Tucker

Former Cavaliers coach David Blatt is continuing to live his basketball dream despite a multiple sclerosis diagnosis six years ago that took away his ability to walk. In an interview with Sam Amick of The Athletic, Blatt discussed his health and role with the Canadian Olympic team.

“That’s the way you’ve gotta be,” Blatt said of his resilience. “That’s the way you’ve gotta be. That’s what this sport and this business has taught me. If you ain’t working, you ain’t living. And if you’re not trying to improve, then you’re going backward. That’s the only thing you can do.”

Despite not coaching from the sidelines, he has been serving as a consultant for Canada. Blatt took part in all team activities and spent his time helping Canada head coach Jordi Fernandez determine what was and wasn’t working with the team’s rotations.

“I think the thing more than anything else is that you learn, when you’re faced with this kind of thing, is that you learn how to be as effective and fulfilled at the same time as you can, when you can,” Blatt said. “You can be as good as you want to be within the limitations that you’re faced with.”

We have more from around the basketball world:

Former NBA first-round pick Justin Patton signed with Greek club Peristeri BC, the team announced in a release. Patton was the 16th overall pick in 2017 and was part of the draft-night trade that sent Jimmy Butler to the Timberwolves. He was also part of the deal that sent Butler to Philadelphia a year later. Patton played four seasons in the NBA with Minnesota, Philadelphia, Oklahoma City and Houston from 2017-21. In 22 career games (six starts), he averaged 3.9 points and 2.7 rebounds.
While it’s possible a few more trades will be made before the regular season begins, the next major flurry of movement will likely occur once more players become trade-eligible after Dec. 15 and Jan. 15. A total of 25 in-season trades occurred in 2023/24, with notable names like Pascal Siakam, OG Anunoby and Immanuel Quickley on the move. We’ll likely see more big names dealt at this year’s deadline, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report, whonames D’Angelo Russell, Brandon Ingram, Jerami Grant, Cameron Johnson, Kyle Kuzma, Zach LaVine, Bruce Brown, Collin Sexton and Trae Young as some of the players who could dominate trade rumors this coming season. Pincus also sees members of the 2021 draft class like Jonathan Kuminga, Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green and Corey Kispert as potential trade candidates if they can’t come to terms on extensions, much like Quickley last season.
In the same piece, Pincus notes that the Rockets holding onto Jeff Green, Jock Landale and Jae’Sean Tate‘s contracts is a sign they’re working on a bigger trade. Pincus’s sources also ponder whether Jaden Ivey or Miles Bridges could be on the move this season.
NBA legend Dwyane Wade made his debut as a color commentator at the 2024 Paris Olympics on NBC. NBC, alongside Amazon and ESPN, acquired the media rights to broadcast NBA games starting in 2025/26. However, Wade said it was too early to say whether his activities this offseason hint at a potential broadcasting future, according to Donatas Urbonas of BasketNews. “I’m just having fun with it as well, and I think it could be a future if everything lines up the way it needs to. But I’m not going to put any pressure on it either,” Wade said.

Furkan Korkmaz Signs With AS Monaco

August 7th, 2024 at 7:53am CST by Luke Adams

After spending the past seven seasons in the NBA, Furkan Korkmaz is returning to Europe, having signed a contract with AS Monaco Basket, according to a press release from the team. The deal includes one guaranteed season, with a second-year option.

The 26th overall pick in the 2016 draft, Korkmaz was initially a draft-and-stash prospect who made the move to the NBA in 2017. Across seven seasons with the Sixers, he averaged 6.8 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 16.6 minutes per game across 328 total outings (49 starts). He posted a career shooting line of .406/.356/.761.

Korkmaz’s time in Philadelphia came to an end in February, when he was traded to Indiana as part of the three-team deal that sent Buddy Hield to the 76ers. He was immediately waived by Indiana and has been a free agent since then. Earlier this week, he sent a belated farewell message (via Twitter) to the fans in Philadelphia.

“Thank you to the Sixers organization, to the amazing fans, and to my coaches and teammates,” he wrote. “Your support and love have been incredible. I’ve made incredible friendships along the way, and I’m grateful for every moment spent on and off the court. We’ve shared so many good and tough times together. Philadelphia, The City of Brotherly Love, you will always hold a special place in my heart.

“Thank you for the memories and the journey. Now, a new chapter begins in my career.”

Korkmaz, who was born in Istanbul, is no stranger to international basketball, having played for Anadolu Efes, Pertevniyal, and Banvit in his home country of Turkey between 2013-17.

He’ll be joining an AS Monaco club that’s coming off an impressive season in 2023/24 — the team went 29-5 in the LNB Elite (France’s top league) and had a 23-11 record in EuroLeague competition. Monaco won a championship in France, but was knocked off by the lower-seeded Fenerbahce in the EuroLeague playoffs.

D’Moi Hodge Signs With Greek Team

August 6th, 2024 at 2:56pm CST by Luke Adams

Former Lakers guard D’Moi Hodge has signed with Aris Thessaloniki, the Greek team announced in a press release. The contract will cover the 2024/25 season.

Hodge signed a two-way deal with the Lakers last summer after going undrafted out of Missouri. Although he opened the regular season with the team, the 25-year-old was waived in January ahead of the league-wide salary guarantee date, making him a free agent after he logged just 41 total minutes in seven NBA games.

Hodge subsequently joined the Rip City Remix for the rest of the 2023/24 campaign, averaging 13.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 2.0 steals in 28.1 minutes per game across 26 outings for Portland’s G League affiliate. He posted a shooting line of .391/.355/.774 for the Remix.

While Hodge only earned about $248K of his two-way salary as a result of being waived in January, he claimed a $250K bonus when the Lakers won the NBA’s first in-season tournament in December, so he nearly earned the equivalent of a full-season two-way salary.

Hodge will be joining an Aris team that registered a 12-10 record in Greek League action last season before falling to Panathinaikos in the semifinals in the postseason.

Xavier Moon Signs With Zenit St. Petersburg

August 6th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA guard Xavier Moon is headed overseas for the 2024/25 season, having signed with Zenit St. Petersburg, the Russian team announced in a press release. It’s a one-year deal, according to the team.

Moon, 29, played in several non-NBA leagues around the world after going undrafted out of Morehead State in 2017. He spent time playing in France, Canada, and Israel before catching on with the Clippers’ G League team in 2021. His strong play in the NBAGL earned him a shot at the NBA level and he has spent parts of the past three seasons under contract with Los Angeles, primarily on two-way deals.

In 28 career NBA appearances, Moon has averaged 3.5 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 rebounds in 9.9 minutes per game, with a shooting line of .406/.235/.571. He has been more effective in the G League, including in 2023/24, when he registered averages of 19.8 PPG, 6.4 APG, and 4.9 RPG and an impressive .480/.410/.900 shooting line across 29 total Showcase Cup and regular season contests.

Moon finished the ’23/24 season with the Clippers, but didn’t receive a qualifying offer from the club in June and became an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

He’ll join a Zenit St. Petersburg team that is coming off a 26-10 season in VTB United League play and will be looking to knock off perennial powerhouse CSKA Moscow next season. Zenit has been prohibiting from EuroLeague competition since February 2022 due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Olympic Notes: Team USA’s Focus, Quarterfinals, Curry, LeBron

August 5th, 2024 at 6:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Team USA plays Brazil in the quarterfinals of the Paris Olympics on Tuesday and coach Steve Kerr says that his team’s preparation has been centered on defense, according to Brian Windhorst of ESPN.

“We know what wins a FIBA game,” Kerr said, referring to the international rules played at the Olympics. “We are just completely focused on our defense … and then the beauty of our team and the talent, the depth of our talent is that from one game to the next, we’ve got lots of guys who have the ability to get rolling.”

No one has been the focal point of the offense from game to game, which makes Team USA even more dangerous as it exits group play.

“That’s how we can overwhelm teams. It’s just everybody has to be ready for your moment whenever it is,” Stephen Curry said. “I think that’s a challenge because you don’t know from quarter to quarter from game to game who it’s going to be, [but] it’s a fun way to play. If you’re bought into ‘Let’s just win the basketball game’ and after that, who cares what it looks like.”

We have more on the Olympics:

The other quarterfinal matchups will also be played on Tuesday — Germany vs. Greece, Serbia vs. Australia, and France vs. Canada. Sportsnet’s Blake Murphy previews all of those matchups, taking a deeper dive into the France/Canada showdown.
In what areas are Team USA most vulnerable? Rebounding and half-court offense, according to Windhorst, who looks at the main strengths and weaknesses of all eight remaining teams.
Curry has struggled somewhat offensively during the tournament but he’s excelled as a screener, as The Athletic’s Joe Vardon details. Curry has set screens for LeBron James, leading to smaller overmatched defenders switching onto James. “I’m a good screener and can cause some confusion for a guy like (LeBron) having the ball,” Curry said. “We do it a little bit in Golden State where you have somebody else having the ball and me setting it, and I have a lot of different actions you can run, but if you get (LeBron) going downhill, good luck to anybody trying to stop him and having me come off into space.”
James is the game’s global ambassador, Tania Ganguli of The Athletic writes, and now some who idolized him in their youth are facing him in Paris.

Luka Samanic Signs One-Year Contract With Fenerbahce

August 5th, 2024 at 9:20am CST by Arthur Hill

Former Jazz power forward Luka Samanic has signed with Fenerbahce in Turkey, according to Eurohoops. It’s a one-year deal, and although there were discussions about adding an option, that didn’t happen, the report states.

Samanic, 24, began his career in Barcelona and later played for Petrol Olimpija before being selected by San Antonio with the 19th pick in the 2019 draft. He appeared in 36 games over two seasons with the Spurs before being waived in October of 2021.

Samanic joined the Knicks on a two-way contract, but spent the entire 2021/22 season in the G League. He signed a training camp deal with the Celtics in September of 2022, but was released before the start of the season.

He came to Utah on a 10-day deal in March of 2023 and made an immediate impact, starting four of the seven games he played and averaging 9.9 points and 4.3 rebounds per night. That earned him a contract that ran through the end of the 2023/24 season.

Samanic’s role diminished last season, as he appeared in 43 games and made seven starts. He saw just 9.4 minutes per night and his averages dipped to 4.1 points and 2.3 rebounds.

Jordan Nwora Signs With Anadolu Efes

August 5th, 2024 at 8:01am CST by Arthur Hill

Jordan Nwora, who split last season between the Pacers and Raptors, has signed with Anadolu Efes, the Turkish team announced (via Twitter). The 25-year-old small forward is headed overseas for the first time after four NBA seasons.

Nwora has been part of significant trades the past two winters. He went from the Bucks to the Pacers in the four-team trade in February 2023 that sent Kevin Durant to Phoenix, then was shipped from Indiana to Toronto in January 2024 in the Pascal Siakam deal.

Nwora saw limited time in 18 games with Indiana last season before being moved. He got a greater opportunity to play with the Raptors and responded by averaging 7.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 34 games while logging 15.6 minutes per night. However, he wasn’t in Toronto’s long-term plans and became a free agent when his two-year contract expired at the end of last season.

Nwora was selected by Milwaukee with the 45th pick in the 2020 draft. He spent his first two and a half years with the Bucks and enjoyed his best season in 2021/22 when he appeared in 62 games and averaged 7.9 PPG.

With Anadolu Efes, Nwora will team with former NBA player Shane Larkin, who has become one of the top stars in Europe.

International Notes: Fournier, France, Okobo, Zagars, Lundberg

August 4th, 2024 at 12:13pm CST by Rory Maher

Free agent swingman Evan Fournier, who is currently competing with France at the Olympics in Paris, was critical of his team’s tactics following its group stage loss to Germany, as BasketNews.com relays.

“I think we lack fundamentals,” Fournier told Yann Ohnona of L’Equipe. “We have to move on. At times, I think we get it wrong in the way we want to play. And we pay the price for that. These days, the best defense is offense. It’s no longer the game of the 1990s or 2000s where you could defend half-court. Offense is essential. Balance on the court, transition game. Especially when you play a team as strong in transition as Germany is.”

The French national team, which went 2-1 in group play, will face undefeated Canada in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.

Here are a few more international notes:

French point guard Elie Okobo, who did not make the cut for the Olympics, has signed a two-year extension with EuroLeague squad A.S. Monaco Basket, the team announced in a press release. The 31st pick of the 2018 draft, Okobo spent two seasons with Phoenix from 2018-20.
Latvian guard Arturs Zagars will play for Turkish powerhouse Fenerbahce during the 2024/25 season, the team announced on Sunday (hat tip to Kevin Martorano of Sportando). Zagars, who drew NBA interest last summer but has never played in the league, sustained a meniscus injury last fall while on loan with the BC Wolves of Lithuania.
Former NBA guard Gabriel Lundberg recently spoke to Vreme Citanja of Mozzart Sport about his decision to sign with Serbia’s Partizan. “I am excited. I will be part of a new project, a new team is being built,” Lundberg said, per Matorano of Sportando. “I could not miss the opportunity to play in Belgrade: Every time I played against Partizan it was incredible. I always told myself that one day I would like to play here, and I am happy that this wish came true. I am on a legendary team, with a legendary coach and a fan base that is all over Europe. I really imagined playing in front of those fans one day.” A 29-year-old guard from Denmark, Lundberg spent the past two seasons with Virtus Bologna of Italy after playing four games with Phoenix in 2021/22 while on a two-way deal.

NBA, FIBA Have Discussed Idea Of New League Or Tournament In Europe

August 3rd, 2024 at 1:22pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA has ramped up talks with FIBA and has considered the idea of launching a new league or annual tournament in Europe, commissioner Adam Silver confirmed in a conversation with Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press.

While the discussions between the NBA and FIBA aren’t new, Silver referred to them as “much more serious” than they’ve been in the past, according to Reynolds, who notes that the league may feel the time is right to take advantage of the sport’s popularity in Europe. The level of European basketball star power has never been higher than it is right now and the NBA recently finalized a media rights deal that will run through 2036, opening the door for the league office to focus on new endeavors.

“We certainly haven’t made any definitive decisions,” Silver said from the Olympics in France. “I continue to believe there’s enormous opportunity here. It’s not something where we’ll transform a league structure in the short term. But I think that there’s an appetite among our team owners for additional investment in global basketball. We have a huge initiative in China. We have a huge initiative in Africa. Given the quality of the basketball here in Europe, it would seem to make sense that we should be doing something here as well.”

According to Reynolds, Silver said he has no preference on whether to pursue the establishment of a league or a tournament in Europe. For now, he and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum are using their trip overseas as an opportunity to get feedback from FIBA officials, league executives, and other stakeholders about the NBA’s potential options.

“We want to make sure we have a true grasp of the opportunity,” Silver said. “We’ll take the time we need to before we decide to move forward on any initiative.”

As Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic writes, many existing European teams compete separately in domestic and international leagues, so a new international league run by the NBA could give teams across the continent additional options beyond established competitions like the EuroLeague and EuroCup.

According to Vorkunov, many top European basketball clubs lose money or at least don’t turn a significant profit, so there’s a sense that an NBA-run league could provide an “improved economic structure.” However, there’s also concern that the quality of the product could suffer as a result — with no salary cap currently in place in the EuroLeague, some teams are in the red because they’re spending aggressively in pursuit of championships.

“The fear has always been if the NBA comes in, it’s going to be what the NBA is in the States: it’s business and it’s entertainment, and then it’s sports,” one EuroLeague source told Vorkunov.

As Vorkunov observes, the NBA has shown with its Basketball Africa League that it’s capable of effectively organizing and maintaining an international competition that incorporates teams from several countries and operates separately from those teams’ domestic leagues.

“No one was waiting for the NBA to come in but at this point, there’s a certain need to structure the markets and the competitions in a certain way,” a EuroLeague team president said to Vorkunov. “There is one brand that has proven they can do that.”

According to Reynolds, Silver stressed that if the NBA were to launch a league in Europe, the goal wouldn’t be to replace the EuroLeague or other top competitions.

“We certainly don’t want to do damage to the strong bones of the basketball infrastructure that are in place,” Silver said. “On the other hand, in terms of regional and pan-regional competition here in Europe, it would be my sense — and again, I’m still studying — that lots of investors are losing significant amounts of money every year. And while this isn’t just about money, most things that continue to lose money without a trajectory towards profitability ultimately do not survive. And so, whatever we do here, I think it’s important that it’s additive to the European basketball structure.”