Haddadi to extend with Memphis

TEHRAN - Memphis Grizzlies’ center Hamed Haddadi returned to Iran after his team did not qualify for the post-season tournament.

Haddadi had offer from Barcelona

The seven-foot-three center Hamed Haddadi who joined Memphis Grizzlies in August 2008, is currently on holiday in Tehran. He will go back to the U.S. on June 20 and after 10 matches in the NBA Summer League he will join the Iranian national team and accompany them in the FIBA Asian Championship.

“I’ve won most of the Asian trophies and my dreams go beyond the continent. At the moment my target is world honors and I have to concentrate to achieve more success,” Haddadi said. Paying tribute to Huston Rockets’ Chinese player Yao Ming, he said, “I respect Yao Ming. He has played in NBA for nine years. I will keep working hard to be the best Asian NBA player. I want to be an Asian symbol like him.”

“I received many offers from other teams such as European basketball champion Barcelona. But they (Memphis) requested to extend my contracts until 2013 and I am thinking about that,” Haddadi stated.

Defending champions Iran will participate in the FIBA Asian Championship which will be held in Tianjin, China in August. Haddadi said, “Iran is the Asian champion but we have to accept that China is the most powerful Asian team. We can beat them without Yao Ming in the tournament.”

source : basketballfollowers.com

Jackson Vroman to play for Lebanon NT

After double checking on the issue from both parties, Basketball Followers can assure now that Jackson Vroman had accepted to receive the Lebanese citizenship for an undisclosed fee and play for Lebanon National Team for the long summer's journey untill the big Asian event (FIBA Asia Championship in Tianjin, China) next August, The player signed the contract before few days and will arrive to Lebanon soon.

Vroman ("6'9" born June 6, 1981 in Laguna, California) is an American professional basketball player, formerly in the NBA and played last season with Saba Mehr of Iran then later on with Mahram, The American power forward was chosen as MVP of the last West Asian and Asian Clubs Championships as he starred in both tournaments in scoring, rebounds and assists.

Adding to Vroman, Four players abroad joined the trainings of the Lebanese National Team under the command of the Serbian head coach Dragan Racca and they're: Daniel Faris (6'9, University of New Mexico "US-NCAA"), Omar Krayem (6'1, California Baptist University "US-NAIA"), Ali Kanaan (6'9, Massachusets-Lowell University "US-NCAA2") and Sean Taibi (6'3, University of North Colorado "US-NCAA").

source : basketballfollowers.com

AEL 1964 is falling apart - players signing abroad

AEL 1964 has started falling apart. Basic players and the head coach left the team already. 

Head coach Vangelis Alexandris resigned on Thursday and Torin Francis(2.10-C) is rumored to be heading to Hapoel Migdal. The 26 year old center averaged 16.3 points 8.9 rebounds and 1.4 blocks per game in 20 games.

Nestoras Kommatos(2.03-SF/PF) is rumored to have signed to play in Iran while Sammy Mejia(1.98-PG/SG/SF) has still not decided what will be his next team. Mehia averaged 14.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 19 games.

The NBA is currently blocking Ehadadi's transfer

A letter was sent out to all NBA teams by the NBA legal counsel saying the following:

"It has come to our attention that representatives of Hamed Ehadadi, an Iranian basketball player, may be contacting NBA teams to discuss the possibility of signing Mr. Ehadadi to an NBA player contract. We have been advised that a federal statue prohibits a person or organization in the United States from engaging in business dealings with Iranian nationals.”

The NBA is applying to the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control for a license that, “if granted,” the league said, would allow teams to negotiate with the 23-year-old Ehadadi. Until then, no franchise is allowed to do so.

The Grizzlies after Ehadadi

According to the press of Memphis, Iranian center Hamed Ehadadi (2.19-C) could sign with the Grizzlies over the next week.

Ehadadi is currently concentrated in playin in the Olympic Games in Beijing, where an injury to his ankle almost got him out of the competition. In matches leading up to the Olympic Games, Ehadadi has been the best player of the Iranian National Team, aveeraging 16 points and 11 rebounds per game and an outstanding 20 points 20 rebounds against Serbia. He had offers from big European clubs, despite their desire to sign his wish is to play in the NBA.