International Rumors | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: Mirotic, Head Coaches, Gasol, Littles

September 15th, 2021 at 2:53pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran forward Nikola Mirotic shocked NBA observers and fans alike during the 2019 offseason when he opted to return to his home country of Spain as a free agent, signing with Barcelona despite reportedly having lucrative multiyear NBA offers on the table. Two years later, Mirotic said that he doesn’t really miss the NBA, with one notable exception.

“I would say I only miss playing against the best, those superstars like (Kevin) Durant, (James) Harden, Steph (Curry), Giannis (Antetokounmpo)… It’s something unforgettable,” Mirotic told Alex Molina of Eurohoops.net. “Playing against LeBron (James)… just amazing. Thinking that I also played with some of them like Anthony Davis, Giannis himself, Jimmy Butler, Derrick Rose… An amazing experience. You always want to play against these guys, but apart from that, I don’t miss the NBA.”

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

NBA coaches will once again be allowed to wear casual attire on the sidelines rather than having to wear suits and ties, tweets Marc Stein of Substack. The league adjusted the dress code for head coaches during the 2020 bubble and has opted not to revert back to the old rules.
Although the expectation is that newly-released center Marc Gasol will sign a contract with Girona in Spain, a report from Spanish outlet CCMA.cat indicates that the 36-year-old hasn’t yet made a final decision on his future (hat tip to HoopsHype).
Gene Littles, who played in the ABA and later coached the Cavaliers, Hornets, and Nuggets, has died at age 78, according to a press release from his alma mater, High Point University. Littles’ head coaching stints were short-lived, as he led Cleveland, Charlotte, and Denver to a 44-111 (.284) record across parts of four seasons. However, he did win an ABA title as a player with the Kentucky Colonels in 1975.

Noah Vonleh Expected To Join Shanghai Sharks

September 15th, 2021 at 10:02am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent forward Noah Vonleh is expected to sign with the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association, sources tell Emiliano Carchia of Sportando.

Vonleh, 26, was the ninth overall pick in the 2014 draft. Since entering the NBA, he has appeared in a total of 339 regular season games for Charlotte, Portland, Chicago, New York, Minnesota, Denver, and Brooklyn.

However, the 6’10” forward hasn’t been a regular rotation player for an NBA club since the 2018/19 season, when he averaged 8.4 PPG and 7.8 RPG in 68 games (25.3 MPG) for the Knicks. Vonleh was out of the NBA for most of 2020/21, having spent just a couple weeks in February with the Nets before being waived. He appeared in four games for Brooklyn.

For much of the offseason, the Chinese Basketball Association hadn’t permitted its teams to add foreign players due to coronavirus-related concerns. However, now that the league has opted to play its 2021/22 season in a bubble, foreign players will be allowed in the CBA.

Shanghai hasn’t wasted any time in taking advantage of the rule changes, having already agreed to a deal with ex-NBA wing Jamaal Franklin. Carchia reports that the Sharks are also expected to bring back former NBA lottery pick Jimmer Fredette, who has spent most of the last five seasons in Shanghai.

And-Ones: Rule Change, Rookies, Ignite, J. Franklin

September 14th, 2021 at 8:57am CST by Luke Adams

The NBA’s Board of Governors will vote later this month to approve a rule change to the way late-game out-of-bounds reviews are handled, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter links).

In past seasons, close out-of-bounds calls have been automatically reviewed in the last two minutes of games, resulting in prolonged stoppages that have halted the momentum of close contests and dragged out the final moments of those games. If the Board of Governors approves the rule change, a head coach’s challenge will be required to trigger those reviews, says Charania.

As John Hollinger of The Athletic points out, it’s possible some close calls would be missed as a result of this change. However, some of the calls being overturned by those automatic reviews were plays where a defender clearly knocked a ball out of bounds, but it grazed the ball-handler’s fingertips last, which was a change “nobody wanted.”

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

Mike Schmitz of ESPN (Insider link) identifies several 2021 rookies who are strong candidates to outperform their post-lottery draft positions, including Rockets big man Alperen Sengun (No. 16), Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III (No. 17), and Nuggets guard Bones Hyland (No. 26).
BIG3 director of basketball operations Thomas Scott, a former Lakers assistant, has joined the G League Ignite as an assistant coach on Jason Hart‘s staff, per an announcement from the BIG3 (Twitter link). Scott will also be the Ignite’s head of player development, tweets Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated.
The Chinese Basketball Association has lifted its restrictions on teams signing foreign players now that it has decided to conduct its 2021/22 season in a bubble, as Nicola Lupo of Sportando writes. Sources tell Sportando that former Grizzlies and Nuggets wing Jamaal Franklin – a second-round pick in 2013 – is one of the first players to take advantage, having signed a lucrative new deal with the Shanghai Sharks.

International Notes: James, Childs, Lemon, Giedraitis

September 12th, 2021 at 10:26am CST by Arthur Hill

Mike James, who finished last season with the Nets, is reportedly in “advanced talks” with AS Monaco, according to Dario Skerletic of Sportando. The 31-year-old point guard had been under contract with CSKA Moscow, but that deal was terminated this week, making him a free agent.

James joined Brooklyn in April on a pair of 10-day deals and eventually signed for the remainder of the season. He appeared in 13 games and averaged 7.7 points and 4.1 assists per night. He also spent time with the Suns and Pelicans during the 2017/18 season.

There’s more international news to pass along:

Yoeli Childs, who played for the Lakers during Summer League, has reached a one-year deal with MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg in Germany, Skerletic states in a separate piece. A 6’8″ forward out of BYU, Childs attended training camp with the Wizards last season and played for the Erie BayHawks in the G League.
Walt Lemon Jr., who had brief NBA stints with the Pelicans and Bulls, has signed with Ezzahra Sports in Tunisia, Skerletic adds in another story. Lemon played for Hapoel Tel Aviv last season.
Lithuanian swingman Rokas Giedraitis said he had an opportunity to come to the NBA this season, but opted to stay with Baskonia in the Turkish Airlines EuroLeague, writes Johnny Askounis of EuroHoops. The 29-year-old discussed his decision during the team’s media day on Saturday. “During the summer, I was able to think about my situation, what I wanted,” he said. “I had a couple of NBA offers, but I talked with my family and we decided to stay here.”

Marc Gasol Reportedly Signing With Girona In Spain

September 12th, 2021 at 8:55am CST by Arthur Hill

Marc Gasol is expected to continue his career with Girona, a team based in Catalonia, Spain, according to a report from EuroHoops.

The Lakers traded the 36-year-old center on Friday to the Grizzlies, who released him so he could finish his career in his native country. He had expressed a desire to return to Spain so he could be closer to his family.

Gasol had been linked to Girona and Barcelona, the two teams he played for before coming to the NBA. However, Barcelona was considered unlikely because of its financial situation and lack of an open roster spot, according to EuroHoops.

Gasol, who owns the team in Girona, could make the signing official as early as Monday, reports the Spanish website L’Esportiu de Catalunya. He was named Spanish league MVP while playing for Girona in 2008 and could help boost the team, which is currently relegated to the league’s second division.

Gasol played 14 NBA seasons with the Grizzlies, Raptors and Lakers and earned three All-Star appearances. He started 42 of the 52 games he played for L.A. last season and averaged 5.0 points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per night.

Amida Brimah To Play In Puerto Rico

September 10th, 2021 at 10:32am CST by Luke Adams

After being waived by the Pacers last month, Amida Brimah will resume his playing career in Puerto Rico, according to Scott Agness of Fieldhouse Files, who reports (via Twitter) that the big man has signed with Mets de Guaynabo.

Brimah, 27, was in training camp with the Pacers last fall, then signed a two-way deal with the team in April. He appeared in five NBA games for Indiana down the stretch, recording 2.6 PPG, 1.6 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in just 5.8 minutes per contest. He also played in 10 games for the Fort Wayne Mad Ants during the G League season and put up 8.0 PPG, 8.6 RPG, and 2.6 BPG for the club in 23.5 MPG.

Although Brimah’s two-way contract covered the 2021/22 season as well, the Pacers didn’t plan on bringing him back for another year, opting to use their two-way contract slots on undrafted rookies Duane Washington and DeJon Jarreau. As a result, Brimah was cut in August when the club signed Jarreau.

This won’t be Brimah’s first time playing outside of the NBA or the G League. The former UConn center was briefly a member of KK Partizan in Serbia in 2018.

International Notes: Ferrell, M. Thomas, Zhou, Canada

September 8th, 2021 at 7:58pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran guard Yogi Ferrell, who cleared waivers today after being released by the Clippers late on Sunday night, would like to find another NBA opportunity this fall. However, he isn’t ruling out the possibility of moving overseas and playing in Europe for the first time in his career, according to Stefanos Tatsios of Eurohoops.net.

The Thunder could be an option for Ferrell if he remains stateside, per Alessandro Maggi of Sportando (Twitter link). However, Oklahoma City might not have any regular season roster spots available, so Ferrell’s best chance to get some job security and regular playing time could come overseas.

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

Before he signed a non-guaranteed contract with Chicago, sharpshooter Matt Thomas drew interest from multiple EuroLeague teams, including CSKA Moscow, according to a report from Spanish outlet Encestando (Twitter link). If Thomas doesn’t make the Bulls’ regular season roster, a return to Europe seems like a possibility — he spent two seasons in Spain from 2017-19, so he’s no stranger to international basketball.
Former Rockets big man Zhou Qi, a second-round pick in the 2016 draft, has officially signed a two-year deal with South East Melbourne Phoenix in Australia’s National Basketball League, the team announced in a press release. Zhou, who appeared in just 19 total games with Houston across two seasons in 2017-18, got a second-year player option on his new contract.
Veteran basketball executive Glen Grunwald, who had stints with Denver, Toronto, and New York, is retiring as president and CEO of Canada Basketball, per a press release. Michael Bartlett will succeed Grunwald, who will remain involved with Canada Basketball in a part-time advisory role through the 2024 Paris Olympics, according to Eric Koreen of The Athletic (Twitter link).

Ty-Shon Alexander Signs With Italian Team

September 8th, 2021 at 6:58pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Former Suns guard Ty-Shon Alexander has signed a two-year deal with Italy’s Virtus Bologna, according to a team press release.

The Suns waived Alexander late last month. According to Sportando’s Alessandro Maggi, Alexander’s European contract includes an NBA opt out clause after the first season.

Undrafted out of Creighton last year, Alexander appeared in 15 regular-season games with Phoenix on a two-way contract. He averaged just 3.1 MPG in those appearances. Alexander also saw brief action in one Finals game.

Additionally, he appeared in 15 G League games, averaging 9.3 PPG and 1.9 APG in 23.7 MPG.

In his last college season, he averaged 16.9 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 2.3 APG on .431/.399/.860 shooting.

Virtus Bologna’s GM Paolo Ronci said in a statement, “Ty-Shon Alexander is a young player with great prospects who has already gained experience in an important franchise like the Phoenix Suns. His arrival allows us to complete the roster with characteristics useful in the immediate future and at the same time with a perspective of future development of our team.”

And-Ones: Ntilikina, Draft Prospects, Nets, Pistons, Primo

September 5th, 2021 at 8:04pm CST by JD Shaw

Free agent guard Frank Ntilikina is receiving interest from Italian club Virtus Bologna as a potential replacement for Nico Mannion, according to BasketNews.com. Mannion will miss the beginning of the season as he recovers from an intestinal infection.

“We are looking on the market for an element to be included, a point guard who can also remain in the future,” head coach Sergio Scariolo said as part of a larger quote, according to EuroHoops. Because of that, we focus on young people who can give something important, rather than a veteran addition.”

Ntilikina fits the bill for what Virtus Bologna is looking for. The defensive-minded 23-year-old was drafted eighth overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, spending the past four years with New York.

Across those four seasons with the Knicks, Ntilikina has averaged 5.5 points, two rebounds and 0.8 steals in 19.5 minutes per game. He’s struggled with his shooting at the NBA level, owning a 36.6% mark from the field and 32.8% mark from deep in his career.

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

Bryan Kalbrosky of HoopsHype takes a look at the top prospects for the 2022 NBA draft, crafting an early aggregate mock draft for the event based on the rankings of various draft experts. Among the projected high-lottery picks is Duke freshman Paolo Banchero, whom Kalbrosky pegs as most likely to be drafted first overall.
Kevin Pelton of ESPN.com (Insider link) examines the recent Nets–Pistons trade featuring veteran center DeAndre Jordan, grading both sides and giving his opinion on which team won the trade. Brooklyn, which received an A grade from Pelton, dealt Jordan, four second-round picks and $5.78MM in cash in exchange for Jahlil Okafor and Sekou Doumbouya. The Pistons, who got a C-plus, then reached a buyout agreement with Jordan, allowing him to sign with the Lakers.
Spurs rookie Joshua Primo has signed a multi-year shoe and endorsement deal with Nike, according to Jeff Garcia of KENS 5. Primo, 18, was selected No. 12 overall in this year’s draft after spending one season at Alabama.

And-Ones: Big3, Giannis, Overtime Elite, GM Candidates

September 5th, 2021 at 10:41am CST by Arthur Hill

Jarrett Jack has joined the Suns’ coaching staff, but his playing career isn’t completely over. Jack hit the game-winning shot Saturday as the Trilogy defended its Big3 title, writes Jack Maloney of CBS Sports. Jack, who was named Co-Rookie of the Year in the summer three-on-three league, had 29 points in the championship game.

“Got a little emotional,” he said. “To be honest, man, this was crazy. This was my first time hitting a game-winner in front of my son. I’m happy for him to be a part of it. Our coach stuck with us through and through every week. We had a hell of a group man. I just want to shout out these guys, my teammates.”

Former NBA All-Star Joe Johnson was named league MVP for the second straight season (Twitter link). Other award winners were Kevin Murphy joining Jack as Co-Rookie of the Year, Isaiah Briscoe as Fourth Man of the Year and Larry Sanders as Defensive Player of the Year.

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

Finals MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is considering a return to international basketball in the 2022 EuroBasket tournament, according to EuroHoops. He had to miss this year’s Olympic qualifying tournament because of the playoffs, and Greece failed to earn a spot in Tokyo. “Taking it day by day. But I can’t wait,” Antetokounmpo wrote in response to a tweet by FIBA previewing EuroBasket.
In a press release, Overtime Elite announced the signing of three more players — Jahzare Jackson, Jaylen Martin and TJ Clark. The league, made up of top high school prospects, now has 24 players for its inaugural season. OTE is also hoping to sign Kamari Lands, who recently decommitted from Syracuse, tweets Adam Zagoria.
The Bucks’ championship makes assistant general manager Milt Newton one of the top GM candidates in the league, per Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report. Newton has experience running a team in Minnesota and he helped build a title-winning roster in Milwaukee. Fischer also examines several other candidates who may be considered for the next GM openings.