International Rumors | Hoops Rumors

And-Ones: O’Quinn, Stone, Overtime Elite, 2022 Draft

September 2nd, 2021 at 7:40pm CST by Luke Adams

Veteran NBA big man Kyle O’Quinn will continue his career in France, having signed a contract with Paris Basketball, according to the team (Twitter link).

An eight-year NBA veteran, O’Quinn began his career in 2012 after being selected 49th overall by Orlando. In 472 career regular season NBA contests for the Magic, Knicks, Pacers, and Sixers, O’Quinn averaged 5.4 PPG, 4.6 RPG, and 1.0 BPG in 14.2 minutes per contest. He signed with Turkish team Fenerbahçe for the 2020/21 season and will now return to Europe for at least one more year.

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

Free agent big man Diamond Stone has agreed to sign with the Taiwan Beer of the Super Basketball League, sources tell our JD Shaw (Twitter link). Stone, 24, was the 40th overall pick in the 2016 draft, but appeared in just seven games for the Clippers. He spent several seasons in the G League and played in Puerto Rico earlier this year.
The Overtime Elite league for top high school prospects continues to fill out its ranks for its inaugural season. OTE announced the additions of Malik Bowman, Devontes Cobbs, and Kok Yat earlier this week, then finalized deals with Bryson Warren and Dominick Barlow today, as ESPN’s Jonathan Givony writes. Warren, a five-star recruit, ranked No. 14 in ESPN’s list of class of 2023 recruits.
Jeremy Woo of SI.com has unveiled his early big board for the 2022 NBA draft, headed by the usual suspects, including Paolo Banchero, Chet Holmgren, and Jaden Hardy.
A handful of ESPN writers identified some under-the-radar concerns for some of the NBA’s best teams. The Suns‘ ability to repeat last season’s good health luck and Anthony Davis‘ willingness to play big minutes at center are among the topics highlighted by ESPN’s panel.

Caleb Homesley Joining German Team

September 2nd, 2021 at 5:18pm CST by Luke Adams

After finishing the 2020/21 season on the Wizards’ 15-man roster, free agent wing Caleb Homesley will head overseas for the ’21/22 campaign, having agreed to join the Hamburg Towers. The German club announced the deal on its website.

Homesley, who went undrafted out of Liberty in 2020, joined the Wizards for training camp last fall but was waived before the regular season began. He later suited up for the Erie BayHawks (the G League team the Wizards shared with New Orleans in 2020/21) and appeared in 15 NBAGL games (24.9 MPG), averaging 9.3 PPG, 4.1 RPG, and 2.3 APG.

The Wizards liked what they saw from Homesley in the preseason and in the G League enough to sign him to a multiyear contract during the last week of the regular season. That was a four-year contract, but the last three years – including ’21/22 – were non-guaranteed, allowing Washington to cut the 24-year-old last month without incurring a cap hit.

Homesley’s new team plays in the BBL, Germany’s top league. The club put up a 21-13 record in 2020/21, but was swept in the first round of the postseason by Alba Berlin. Homesley will be looking to help the team make a deeper playoff run in 2022.

And-Ones: 2023 World Cup, Offseason Grades, M. Miller

August 31st, 2021 at 12:21pm CST by Luke Adams

The draw for the 2023 FIBA World Cup qualifiers took place on Tuesday. According to a press release from FIBA, Team USA’s qualifying group in the Americas event will include Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Cuba.

The 2023 World Cup will take place in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia two years from now, while the first qualifying matches will take place in November 2021. During the qualifiers for the 2019 World Cup, Team USA fielded a team made up of G League standouts, since those events overlapped with the NBA season. That roster made up of NBAGL vets put up a 10-2 record in qualifying games, so I’d expect a similar approach this time around.

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

In a pair of Insider-only stories for ESPN.com, Kevin Pelton handed out offseason grades for all the teams in both the Eastern Conference and Western Conference. The Hawks and Wizards were the two teams to earn an A, while the Cavaliers and Pelicans were the only two to receive a D.
Former Raptors forward Malcolm Miller has signed with Italian team Vanoli Cremona for the 2021/22 season, the club announced in a press release. Miller appeared in 53 total games across three seasons with Toronto from 2017-20 and was a member of the championship squad in 2019.
Although the NBA’s 2021/22 schedule will still include some MLB-style two-game sets between the same teams in the same arena, there will be just 23 of them this season, compared to 84 in 2020/21, writes Marc Stein (subscription required). As Stein explains, not playing in front of fans last season – along with a desire to reduce travel – made those sets a logical addition to the schedule, but the league was less motivated to include them this time around.

Former First-Rounder Omari Spellman Signs With Korean Team

August 31st, 2021 at 10:52am CST by Luke Adams

Free agent big man Omari Spellman has signed to play in South Korea with Anyang KGC, as our JD Shaw relays (via Twitter). The club, which competes in the Korean Basketball League, has formally announced the signing (Instagram link).

Spellman, 24, was one of three players selected by the Hawks in the first round of the 2018 draft, along with Trae Young and Kevin Huerter. While Young has become a star and Huerter was a key rotation player for Atlanta during the team’s run to the Eastern Conference Finals this year, Spellman – the No. 30 overall pick out of Villanova – struggled to adjust to the NBA and was traded to the Warriors during the 2019 offseason.

Spellman was later flipped to the Timberwolves at the 2020 deadline in the Andrew Wiggins/D’Angelo Russell trade, then was sent to the Knicks last November. He began the 2020/21 season on New York’s roster, but was waived in January to make room for Taj Gibson.

In 95 total NBA appearances for the Hawks and Warriors, Spellman averaged 6.8 PPG and 4.3 RPG on .417/.366/.766 shooting in 17.8 minutes per game. He also played in a total of 24 G League games for three different teams, recording 12.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.8 assists in 25.3 minutes per contest.

Robert Franks Signs In Australia

August 29th, 2021 at 7:33pm CST by JD Shaw

Free agent forward Robert Franks has signed with the Brisbane Bullets of Australia’s National Basketball League, the team announced in a press release.

Franks, who went undrafted in 2019, played seven games on two 10-day contracts with the Magic last season. He played 14.4 minutes per contest, averaging 6.1 points and 2.0 rebounds on 46% shooting.

“His unique skillset and versatility provides everything we’ve been looking for at this position,” Bullets general manager Sam Mackinnon said. “I spoke to Robert yesterday, he’s looking forward to joining his teammates and meeting all the Bullet fans. He’s hungry and motivated to take the next step with us.”

Prior to signing his 10-day deals, Franks inked an Exhibit 10 contract with Orlando and spent time with the team’s G League affiliate. He averaged 12.1 points and 6.6 rebounds per game across those 14 contests with the Lakeland Magic.

Dellavedova Seeks Eventual Return To NBA

August 28th, 2021 at 11:59am CST by Dana Gauruder

When Matthew Dellavedova signed with an Australian team this summer, it was fair to assume he had played his last NBA game.

That’s not necessarily the case. Dellavedova hopes to revive his career in his native country, then return to the NBA, according to Kane Pitman of ESPN. Dellavedova, who played for the Cavaliers last season, signed with Melbourne United in early July.

“My goal is to get back to the NBA. I feel like I’ve got a lot more left in the tank, a lot of things to improve on,” Dellavedova said. “There were some talks with NBA teams, nothing concrete at this stage. Overseas there were pretty significant offers, but I’ve always wanted to come and play here.”

Dellavedova, who turns 31 next month, had a rough NBA 2020/21 campaign. He appeared in just 13 games due to a variety of ailments, including a concussion, whiplash, an emergency appendectomy, and a neck strain. He then entered the summer as an unrestricted free agent.

Better health has Dellavedova feeling optimistic about his future.

“The body is feeling great. That’s the main thing, I feel like I just need to put a good chunk of time together training but also games,” he said. “Playing a lot of minutes and having the ball in my hands, making decisions and things like that. I’m going to have a great opportunity to do that with United.”

In 447 career NBA games, Dellavedova averaged 5.5 PPG and 3.7 APG. Melbourne United is the NBL’s reigning champion.

He played for the Australian national team in the Olympics but had a limited role.

And-Ones: Cunningham, Whitehead, Law, Christon, Bluiett

August 28th, 2021 at 11:07am CST by Dana Gauruder

Free agent forward Dante Cunningham has signed with France’s Le Mans, according to Sportando. Cunningham, a 10-year NBA veteran, played 10 games in Puerto Rico with Cangrejeros de Santurce last season. During his NBA career, he played with the Blazers, Bobcats, Grizzlies, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Nets and Spurs, Hoops Rumors’ JD Shaw notes (Twitter link).

We have more overseas news:

Free agent Isaiah Whitehead has signed with Besiktas in Turkey, Shaw tweets. Whitehead played 89 games with the Nets from 2016-18. He last played in Montenegro.
Former Magic two-way player Vic Law has signed with Australia’s Perth Wildcats of the NBL, Shaw tweets. Law, who played college ball at Northwestern, saw action in eight regular season games and one playoff game with Orlando during the 2019/20 season.
Former Thunder guard Semaj Christon has signed with Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm, Shaw relays in another tweet. Christon played 64 games with Oklahoma City during the 2016/17 season.
Italy’s Vanoli Cremona is targeting Trevon Bluiett, according to La Prealpina, Sportando relays. The former Xavier star averaged 10.8 PPG with the Cavaliers’ summer league squad in Las Vegas.

And-Ones: Hinton, Vaccinations, Wallace, Selby

August 27th, 2021 at 2:13pm CST by JD Shaw

Free agent guard Amir Hinton is signing in Finland with Kouvot Kouvola, agent Jerry Dianis of Team Entertainment Sports confirmed to Hoops Rumors.

Hinton has also been selected to play for the Syrian National Team, Dianis said. The 24-year-old signed an Exhibit 10 deal with the Knicks as an undrafted free agent in 2019, attending training camp with the team later that fall. He spent all of the 2019/20 season with the club’s G League affiliate.

Throughout his 36 games in the G League, Hinton averaged 7.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 15.7 minutes per contest. The 6-foot-6 swingman played collegiately at Lock Haven and Shaw University.

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

The NBA is requiring that all team, arena and league personnel who interact with players and referees be vaccinated for the 2021/22 season, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). As Charania notes in a separate tweet, this includes staff in coaching, performance/medical, equipment, player development, security, public relations, social media, scorer’s table and attendants. More specifically, this applies for staff that come within 15 feet of a player or referee, according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst and Tim Bontemps. The league has set an October 1 deadline for personnel to be vaccinated, the duo adds.
Sixteen-year NBA veteran Rasheed Wallace has joined the University of Memphis as an assistant coach for the men’s basketball team, the school announced in a press release. Wallace joins a coaching staff that includes Larry Brown and Cody Toppert as assistants, along with Penny Hardaway as head coach.
Former Grizzlies guard Josh Selby has signed in Lithuania with Pieno Zvaigzdes, the team announced today (via Instagram). Selby holds 38 games of NBA experience and was the No. 49 pick in the 2011 draft. He has spent most of his professional career overseas.

And-Ones: Kilpatrick, Bennett, Bates, Mahmoud, 2022 Draft, Baker

August 25th, 2021 at 7:14pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Israel’s Hapoel Jerusalem continued its push to sign former NBA players, adding Sean Kilpatrick and Anthony Bennett to its roster, according to the team’s social media feed (Twitter links). Kilpatrick played in Turkey last season and hasn’t appeared in an NBA contest since 2018. Bennett, a former No. 1 overall pick, had his contract with a Puerto Rican franchise terminated last month. He hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2016/17 season. As previously noted, Hapoel Jerusalem also announced the signing of Pistons and Cavaliers big man Thon Maker.

We have more from the basketball world:

Emoni Bates, considered the best high school prospect in the country, has committed to the University of Memphis, Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets. He reclassified into the Class of 2021 but still won’t be eligible for the NBA draft until 2023 because his 19th birthday isn’t until January 2023. A 6’9″ small forward from Ypsilanti, Michigan, Bates committed to Michigan State last summer, but he de-committed in April.
Anas Mahmoud played with the Raptors in the Las Vegas summer league and is looking to become the first homegrown Egyptian player to make the NBA. Blake Murphy of The Athletic takes a closer look at the 7-footer, who could be ticketed to the G League if he doesn’t gain a spot on the Toronto roster. “I’ll probably be the first Egyptian coming out of the Egyptian league,” Mahmoud said. “I was a little different (from other Egyptians who have made the NBA) because I only got here right (before) college and went back to play in the (Egyptian) league. It’s a pleasure and it’s an honor.”
Gonzaga power forward Chet Holmgren, Duke power forward Paolo Banchero and G League Ignite shooting guard Jaden Hardy top ESPN Jonathan Givony’s initial top-100 list for the 2022 draft. Givony also explores a number of storylines surrounding next year’s projected draft class, including the lack of point guard depth.
Former NBA guard Ron Baker quietly retired last year and he’s got a new job, according to Shelby Kellerman of the Wichita Business Journal. Baker has been hired as a project manager in Ascension Via Christi’s strategy and business development department. Baker, 28, appeared in 96 games during his NBA career, including a combined 15 with the Knicks and Wizards during the 2018/19 season.

Justin Patton Agrees To Sign With Hapoel Eilat

August 25th, 2021 at 3:46pm CST by Luke Adams

Another NBA big man is headed to Israel, as Justin Patton has agreed to sign with Hapoel Eilat, according to a report from Yakov Meir of Israel Hayom (via Twitter). A source confirmed the news to our JD Shaw (Twitter link).

Word of Patton’s agreement comes on the heels of former No. 10 overall pick Thon Maker signing a deal with Israeli club Hapoel Jerusalem.

Patton, 24, was selected with the 16th overall pick in the 2017 draft and began his career with the Timberwolves, having been included in the deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota. However, a series of foot injuries limited the center’s availability in his first few years in the NBA as he bounced around from Minnesota to Philadelphia to Oklahoma City to Houston.

In four total seasons, Patton has appeared in just 22 NBA games. Thirteen of those appearances came in 2020/21, as he spent several weeks on a two-way contract with the Rockets, averaging 5.4 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 1.1 BPG in 19.0 minutes per contest. He was released in April, then suited up for the Jazz and Knicks in Summer Leagues in Utah and Las Vegas earlier this month.