Siena announced Denis Marconato

Siena announced the signing of Italian veteran center Denis Marconato (2.13-C) via their official website. Marconato had not found a team for during the off-season but he was practicing with Siena during their
preparation games.

Jaric permitted to find new team

Memphis Grizzlies guard Marko Jaric is expected to seek a contract buyout from the Grizzlies if a team willing to trade for Jaric can't be found, his agent said Monday.

CSKA announced Ivan Radenovic

Forward Ivan Radenovic (25 years, 208 cm) signed a 1-year contract with our club today. Serb played for Greek Panellinios last season.

Vuk Radivojević back in Red Star

Red Star brought back its ex-player Vuk Radivojević, who signed a one-year contract on Saturday.

Jamie Arnold agreed with Peristeri

According to sportnet.gr, Jamie Arnold (2.03-SF/PF) will be playing for Peristeri BC in Greece. The American forward has sent his signed contract back to Peristeri and very shortly he will be announced officially.

Anatoly Kashirov will play in Germany

Center Anatoly Kashirov has become a player of Mitteldeutscher Weissenfels (German Bundesliga). The player’s contract with CSKA was terminated due to mutual agreement.

Cholet announced Samuel Mejia

Today Cholet Basket announced signing of 1-year deal with small forward Samuel Mejia  (198-G-83, college: De Paul). The 26-year old player from Dominican Republic spent last season with Greek AEL 1964 Larisa. 

Cheikh Samb is being tested by Real Madrid

According to marca.com, Cheikh Samb(2.16-C) is being tested by Real Madrid. The Senegalese center will be replacing the injured Darjus Lavrinovic(2.12-PF/C) and Tomas Van Der Spiegel(2.16-C) in the paint, if his tryouts are successful.

Gravelines added Alfred Aboya

BCM Gravelines-Dunkerque agreed one-year deal with Cameroonian player Alfred Aboya  (206-F/C-85). The 24-year old PF/C is coming to France from University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), where he graduated few months ago.

 

Goettingen signed Dwayne Anderson

The 23 year old Dwayne Anderson from Villanova University has signed his first professional agreement overseas with the German Bundelisga team MEG Goettingen; one the top teams of the BBL League.

Obradoiro announced Marc Jackson

Another transfer for Obradoiro and this time it's the American former NBA star Marc Jackson(2.06-C) who returns to Spain after many years. The Spanish team announced the transfer via their official website.

Curtis Stinson practicing with Chicago

Former Iowa State guard Curtis Stinson is the next Jason Kidd, if only for the fact that he rebounds a lot for a 6'3 player. Last year in the D-League, Stinson averaged Kidd-like numbers of 16.1 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 8.4 apg and 2.2 spg, playing 44.6 mpg in 50 games for the Iowa Energy. 

CSKA owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, buys NJ Nets.

MOSCOW — Moscow’s CSKA basketball club was nearly bankrupt when a young banker and metals magnate named Mikhail D. Prokhorov came to the rescue.

Krasnoyarsk announced scorer Lionel Chalmers

Enisey Krasnoyarsk announced the signing of American combo-guard Lionel Chalmers(1.83-PG/SG) via their official website. Chalmers is a great signing for Krasnoyarsk as he was one of the top scorers last season in Russia.

Trefl Sopot announced Saulius Kuzminskas

Trefl Sopot announced the signing of Lithuanian center Saulius Kuzminskas(2.11-C) via their official website.

Mahmudi a favorite for the Italian NT?

The visit of the officials of the Italian Basketball Federation to the final stage of the recently concluded EuroBasket 2009 in Katowice, had obviously working character, as serious steps were taken in order to secure the new coach of Italian National Team.

Partizan and Aleksic part ways

The golden medalist from this year Universiade in Belgrade, point-guard Vukašin Aleksić, split with Partizan on Wednesday after he didn’t succeed to guarantee a sufficient playing minutes during the practicing period.

Aco Petrovic to coach Red Star

Three weeks before the beginning of the new NLB season the list of coaches for all 14 clubs is confirmed. The last one, which confirmed the coach for the upcoming period, is Crvena zvezda, which signed Aco Petrović on Thursday.

Paok close to signing Ivan Radenovic

According to sportnet.gr, Paok is close to booking Serbian forward/center Ivan Radenovic(2.09-PF/C).

Obradoiro announced Maximiliano Stanic

Obradoiro announced the signing of Argentinian/Italian point guard Maximiliano Stanic(1.78-PG) via their official website.

Turow announced Wright and Deane

PGE Turow Zgorzelec announced the signings of a pair of proven Eurocup stars, big man Michael Wright and point guard Willie Deane, on Tuesday.

Orleans and Philippe Herve together for 4 more seasons

Orleans ensured the services of their head coach Philippe Herve for four more years. The specialist will guide the team through 2014.

Vasiliev signed a new contract with Dynamo Moscow

Dynamo Moscow signed a new contract with forward/center Yuri Vasiliev(2.07-PF/C) and it was announced via their official website.

CB Qalat Cajasol signed Rolands Freimanis

CB Qalat Cajasol reinforced its roster with Latvian player Rolands Freimanis (208-F-88). The 21-year old big guy is coming to Spain from ASK Riga, where he spent last couple of years.

Kalampokis has offers from 3 teams

Ioannis Kalampokis(1.95-SG/SF) spoke to Greek radio station SentraFM 103.3 about the next step in his career. The 31-year old player said that he had 3 offers, 2 from Greece and one from Italy.

Vonteego Cummins signed with Ilisiakos

Ilisiakos signed american veteran point-guard, Vonteego Cummings(1.91-PG) who played for Estudiantes and Cedevita last season.

Prokom signed Jan Jagla

Polish champion Asseco Prokom Gdynia fortified its frontline by signing big man Jan-Hendrik Jagla for the coming season.

Michael Wright to sign with Turow

According to sportowefakty.pl, American forward/center Michael Wright(2.03-PF/C) will sign a contract with Turow in Poland. The 29-year old player suffered an injury last season that knocked him out for the second half of the season.

Jamar Butler to play in Greece?

According to greek media, Jamar Butler(1.85-PG) will be the first transfer of foreign players for the newly created team of Larissa. The name of the team is yet unknown and coach Kalafatakis that was going to be the head coach resigned.

Azovmash signed Erik Daniels

Azovmash Mariupol added a major force to its frontcourt with the signing of Erik Daniels. The forward has experience in the competition, helping Akasvayu Girona reach the 2008 ULEB Cup final. Daniels (204, 27) arrives from Erie of the NBDL, where he was an all-star last season, posting 21.1 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists in 50 games.

Uros Slokar signed with Olimpija Lubljana

Slovenian League champion Union Olimpija improved its frontcourt for the upcoming 2009-10 season by inking a one-year deal with power forward Uros Slokar on Monday morning.

Iverson had an offer from Olympiakos

Allen Iverson was present at the Finals of the Eurobasket 2009 and as it was expected he gathered a lot of media attention. The NBA star was asked whether he had an offer from Olympiakos this summer and his answer was 'yes'.

Gelabale to make comeback with the Lakers

The Lakers will add even more international flavor to its roster with the signing of swingman Mickael Gelabale, who will be the second French player in franchise history after Ronny Turiaf. The former Sonic will join the team for training camp on a make-good contract. Gelabale, whose career has been recently derailed by injury problems, is understandably excited about the prospect of playing for the NBA champions.

“It’s a dream come true for me,” Gelabale said. “It’s a legendary team, with guys like Magic, Kareem, Kobe… I was a fan of the team as a kid.” Gelabale’s second season with the Sonics, where he averaged 4.5 ppg and 2.1, was cut short due to to an ACL injury. He’s been trying to recover from it for the last year and a half, even making an appearance in the D-League last season with the L.A. D-Fenders, the Lakers’ affiliate.

The French swingman claims he’s fully recovered now. “The knees are very good. It’s 100 per cent,” Gelabale said. “We had some tests in Los Angeles and both of my knees are very, very strong. I’ve been working out a lot and now I’m even able to do things I couldn’t do before.”

source : hoopshype.com

Alba to part ways with Lee Cummard?

According to sportal.de, a newspaper based in Berlin (Berliner Morgenpost) has reported that Lee Cummard(2.01-SF) and Alba Belrin will be parting ways.

The article says that the player is unfit to play for Alba and so his agent and the team have already started the negotiations that will lead to the dissolution of his contract.

Cummard graduated from Brigham Young University in 2009 where he played for the Cougars averaging 16.8 points 6.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 33 games.

Gabriel Hermann to sign with Estudiantes

Gabriel German(2.07-PF/C) will be the latest addition of Estudiantes according to solobasket.com. The spanish forward/center that was born in Venezuela has been playing for Malaga for the last 3 seasons and his next team will be Estudiantes.

German will be replacing Iker Iturbe(1.98-PF). He has played for Estudiantes before in seasons 2001-2003 and he has also played for Bilbao and Girona as well. He is more known for his ability to shoot behind the arc but his height allows him to cover both 4&5 positions in the front-line. German averaged 3.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 24 games in the ACB with Malaga.

Real Madrid released Marko Tomas

Real Madrid and Marko Tomas have reached an agreement for the rescision of the latter's contract with the Club.

source : realmadrid.com

The next team of Marko Tomas(2.01-SF) is rumored to be Cibona Zagreb. Although the transfer was announced by the official site of the Adriatic League, nothing has been announced by the official website of the team. Axel Hervelle(2.05-PF) and Jeremiah Massey(2.02-PF) are rumored to follow suit.

Nikos Hatzis agreed with Ilisiakos

Nikos Hatzis(1.94-SG) will be the next addition for Ilisiakos according to goalday.gr. The greek veteran shooting guard fell out with his former team AEK after he seized cheques to cover his contract, that left AEK in serious financial troubles.

Hatzis has been practicing for most of the pre-season with Ilisiakos and it looks like he will become a full-time member of the team now. Last season for AEK he averaged 8.5 points 1.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 26 games in the Greek A1 League.

Simmons out, Sullivan in?

Cedric Simmons(2.06-PF) might not be playing for Peristeri after all, according to sportnet.gr. Simmons was found to be physicall unfit and the administration of the team might waive his contract and look swiftly for a replacement. The article says that Simmons has not trained for the last 3 days due a sprained ankle but the team of Peristeri are already looking for a replacement.

Another addition for Peristeri, according to the same website, is likely to be the captain of the UK National Team Andrew Sullivan(2.03-SF/PF) who played for CSK Samara last season averaging 7.4 points and 4.5 rebounds in 16 games in the Russian Superleague. Nothing has been officially announced by Peristeri as of yet and this means that all options are open.

Prima Veroli signed Dusan Jelic

Prima Veroli ensured the services of Greek-Serbian Dusan Jelic (211-C-74) for the upcoming season. The 35-year-old veteran began the last season in Serbia. He averaged 4.7 points and 2.6 boards for Swisslion Vrsac.

DSM to sue BC Kalev?

While Josh Pace prepares for the NBA D-League Draft, his agent Nate McCray has advised that his firm DSM will file a 1 million dollar lawsuit against Estonia's BC Kalev, which is run by President Ivar Valdmaa for the team's breach of contract.

Baskonia announced Andres Rodriguez

Saski Baskonia announced the signing of Puerto Rican point guard Andres Rodriguez(1.84-PG) via their official website. Rodriguez comes to fill the gap that the injury of Marcellinho Huertas left behind. Huertas is expected to be sidelined for about a month.

Malaga signed Pooh Jeter

A week after one point guard went down with injury, Unicaja has signed Eugene "Pooh" Jeter to fill that role at least temporarily. Jeter (179, 25) arrives from another Spanish club, ViveMenorca, where he averaged 16.3 points, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals in 32 games last season. The season before that, Jeter was among the top 30 performers in the ULEB Cup, leading BC Kyiv to the Last 16 of that competition with averages of 14.5 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists in 14 games.

Kyiv finished runner-up for both the Ukrainian League and Ukrainian Cup titles that season. Jeter had previously spent four seasons at the University of Portland in the United States and one with Colorado of the NBDL. Jeter will arrive in Malaga this weekend to undergo Unicaja's standard medical exams before joining the team on a temporary contract. Unicaja lost another point guard, Joseph Gomis, to an Achilles tendon injury last week. Gomis underwent surgery and is expected to miss the first couple months of Euroleague play.

source : euroleague.net

Aris announced Quinton Day

Aris BC announced the signing of american point guard Quinton Day(1.82-PG) via their official website. Day graduated from the University of Missouri in Kansas City in 2007, as one of the best players of his conference.Since then he tried to make a name for himself playing pro in Europe. The deal with Aris is for 3 seasons.

Quinton Day is rumored to replace Curtis Stinson(1.91-PG) but that has not been confirmed yet. After graduating from University of Missouri he went to Hungary and play pro for Kaposvari and then FMV Isikspor in Turkey. Last season he played for Sokol Znicz in Poland averaging 17.7 points 34. rebounds 3.2 assists and 2.9 steals in 13 games.

Massey's saga continues

According to metrosport.gr, Jeremiah Massey has not started yet his negotiations with Real Madrid. Metrosport.gr contacted Antonio Madeiras, technical director of Real Madrid to ask for more information regarding the case of Jeremiah Massey. Madeiras told them that they haven't started talks with Massey or his agent and that the matter is still pending. He said that if Aris or any other team want to acquire Massey they should contact Real Madrid and a loan agreement or sale can be worked out.

Massey will be returning to Madrid where he will be practicing with the second team of Real Madrid as he is not in the plans of Ettore Messina. The dissolution of Alex Hervelle's contract might be coming first though as it happened with Lazaros Papadopoulos

Adam Wojcik hangs up his shoes

Yesterday's game against Spain will be the last for Polish national team big man Adam Wojcik. Prior to the Spain match the 39-yearold, and Poland's most experienced player had yet to make an appearance.

"This was my last appearance in the Polish national jersey," Wojcik briefly commented. His top performance in EuroBasket history was in 1997 when he led Poland to the seventh spot and averaged 11.2 ppg and 4.1 rpg.

The Polish forward has played in four EuroBaskets, the first of which came as early as in 1991 in Rome, where Poland ended in the seventh place. His participation in this EuroBasket bestows him with the honor to be written down in the books as the oldest player ever to play in EuroBasket with the exact age of 39 years, five months and 27 days.

Mike D'Antoni, Head Coach of the New York Knicks, was pushed to the second place after playing the 1989 EuroBasket at the age of 38 with Italy. During the Polish EuroBasket, Wójcik was recuperating from a calf injury, but in the game that decided the Polish team's fate in this tournament coach Muli Katzurin included him in the in-game substitutes rotation. The experienced forward played for 11 minutes, scored six points and added one rebound.

source : eurobasket2009.org

Spartak announced Sharrod Ford

Spartak St. Petersburg announced the signing of american power forward Sharrod Ford(2.06-PF) for the next season. Ford comes from the troubled Virtus Bologna that decided to release him because of his high contract that came up to 1.1 million dollars.

Sharrod Ford is known for his tremendous rebounding and blocking skills and will certainly add a massive defensive presence in the front-line of Spartak St. Petersburg. After graduating from Clemson in 2005 he earned his first pro contract with the Phoenix Suns but that was short-lived, as in January of 2006 he moved to the NBDL and the Fayetteville Patriots but he preferred to play in Europe so he signed with Alba in February, where he stayed on until 2007. After that he played for Montegranaro in Italy having a spectacular season by becoming the top rebounder and blocker of the Italian League for the regular season. Last season he did the same thing played for Virtus Bologna averaging 11.3 points and 9.3 rebounds in 35 games and becoming once again the top blocker and rebounder for the Italian LegaA1.

Becirovic returns to Olimpija

Star guard Sani Becirovic will return to his roots this season after signing with Union Olimpija. Becirovic (196, 28) played two seasons for Olimpija early in his career and was the Euroleague runner-up in scoring when he averaged 20.7 points per game with the club in the 2000-01 season. He arrives from Virtus Roma, where he proved himself to be one of the elite guards on the continent after injuries had previously derailed his career.

Becirovic averaged 14.8 points and 3.8 assists over 25 minutes in 13 Euroleague games last season. His excellent start to the season earned him Euroleague MVP of the Month honors for November. Before that spent two seasons with Panathinaikos, where he was a starter when the Greens won the 2007 Euroleague title.

source : euroleague.net

Massey and Tsaldaris returning to Aris

Jeremiah Massey(2.02-PF) and Dimitris Tsaldaris(1.95-PG/SG/SF) will be returning to Aris according to greek media. According to one source, Jeremiah Massey and Real Madrid are going to part ways very soon, much like the case of Lazaros Papadopoulos earlier today. The administration of Aris seem to have agreed with Massey and all that's left now is the official announcement from Real. Massey wasn't in the plans of Ettore Messina but he had a decent season in the ACB. He averaged 8.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 38 games in the ACB.

On a sidenote, Dimitris Tsaldaris still has an offer from Aris in the region of 160,000 euros but he is requesting a higher amount in the region of 200,000 euros. Tsaldaris became a free agent this summer and he waited until after his obligations with the Greek National Team before signing with any team. Aris are quite close to re-signing the player according to this source.

Palacio returns to Partizan

Milton Palacio(1.93-PG) returns to the team that he had his best season with. Partizan Belgrade announced the signing of the american point guard via their official website. Palacio played for Khimki BC last season in Russia but he was released as he wasn't in the plans of coach Skariolo.

Palacio played for Vancouver, Boston, Phoenix, Cleveland, Toronto and Utah in the past in the NBA and in Europe he has only played for Partizan, before moving to Khimki. Last season he averged 6.4 points 2.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 33 games in the Russian Superleague for Khimki.

Real released Lazaros Papadopoulos

Real Madrid today announced via their official website that they are releasing Lazaros Papadopoulos (2.13-C) who had one more season in his contract with the Spanish team. Papadopoulos is not part of Messina's roster design and last season he was unwelcome by coach Plaza.

He was sent on loan to Fortitudo although that didn't help the Italian team very much since they were ultimately relegated. Papadopoulos on the other hand displayed a very improved physique and put on a good performance for Fortitudo Bologna. He averaged 11.5 points 7.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals in 21 games for Fortitudo in the LegaA1.