International Basketball Blog – Page 48 – NBA Blog

Spurs draft pick Cory Joseph joins Canadian national team

The Canadian Press reports:

The Canadian men’s national basketball team got an infusion of talent Wednesday.

Cory Joseph, a first-round pick at this year’s NBA draft, has announced he will join the squad ahead of 2011 FIBA Americas men’s championship in Argentina.

“It’s an honour to play for your country and I’m excited to get on the floor and represent Canada as best as I can,” said Joseph, who was taken 29th overall by the San Antonio Spurs in June. “I know we have a young, great group, with Joel (Anthony), (Carl) English and (Andy) Rautins coming in.

“Hopefully we come back with the gold, but if not, qualify for the Olympics.”

Dwyane Wade will play somewhere next season, whether in NBA or elsewhere

Tim Reymonds of the AP reports:

Though he remains cautiously hopeful that a deal between owners and players can be struck to end the lockout and ultimately save the 2011-12 NBA season, Wade told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he will be playing somewhere this winter — whether that’s with the Miami Heat, as he’d obviously prefer, or an international club.

“I’m going to play basketball this year,” Wade said from New York, where he’s taking some business meetings. “I don’t know where, but I love the game so much that I will play it. And we will figure that out.”

Wade denied receiving any international offers yet, including a widely circulated report of a $2 million-per-month proposal from a Chinese team. He has said throughout the summer that he would review any offers that come his way, a stance he reiterated Tuesday, while noting that he was overwhelmed at times by the support he received from Chinese fans during a nine-day trip to their nation that ended last week.

On Monday, Wade’s Heat teammate LeBron James told The AP he’s “very optimistic” the season will take place, possibly even on time. Wade and James agree on plenty, but on that point, they differ a bit. Wade has started his offseason workout regimen, just in case, though hardly sounds convinced that the league will get its planned slate of 82 games in starting this fall.

InsideHoops.com editor says: As with Deron Williams, if D-Wade or any other really good player was to sign overseas, there’s a 99.9 percent chance it would be with an opt-out clause, allowing him to return to the NBA as soon as the lockout ends.

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Earl Clark signs in China

Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo reports:

Orlando Magic free agent Earl Clark has reached an agreement on a one-year contract with Zhejiang of the Chinese Basketball Association, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The deal will pay Clark in the “high six figures,” one source said.

Clark, a 6-foot-10 forward, has played 93 games for the Magic and Phoenix Suns in parts of two NBA seasons. He will stay the full season in China without an out clause to return to the NBA should the league-imposed lockout end.

Kevin Durant in early negotiations with Turkish team

Marc Stein of ESPN reports:

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant is in the early stages of contract negotiations with the same Turkish team that has signed Deron Williams and has been pursuing Kobe Bryant, according to Durant’s agent.

Agent Aaron Goodwin told ESPN.com on Tuesday night that he has met with officials from Turkish club Besiktas and has likewise begun exploring opportunities for Durant in Spain and Russia. Goodwin added that playing in China is not something Durant is considering at this time.

“The Turkish option is very intriguing,” Goodwin said. “We’re looking at other countries as well. Kevin hasn’t agreed to play anywhere yet, but we’re looking for the best fit.”

InsideHoops.com editor says: I’ll keep repeating that if any good or great NBA player signs overseas, there is a 99.9 percent chance that they’ll have an out-clause that allows them to return to the NBA when the lockout ends. But as for this, man, imagine if one overseas team did have both Deron Williams and Kevin Durant! With smart teammates who move and cut like good international team players are supposed to. That would be worth watching no matter what flavor of basketball you’re into.

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Yao Ming primed to receive Hall of Fame nomination in 2012

Scott Howard-Cooper of NBA.com reports:

Yao Ming appears destined to be an unexpected member of the next Hall of Fame class.

Officials of the basketball museum said representatives from the Chinese Basketball Association and media in China signaled plans to nominate Yao in the contributor category and bypass the usual five-year waiting period for retired players.

While there is no such thing as certainty in a balloting so secretive that even the voters are never revealed, let alone the results, Yao being nominated as a contributor removes the debate that might have accompanied his nomination as a player after an injury-plagued career. Plus, after announcing his retirement from the Rockets in July, he would not have been eligible for enshrinement until 2017.

This unique approach would put Yao on the ballot that is submitted in late-2011 and faces two rounds of voting before inductees for the Class of 2012 are announced at the Final Four in New Orleans. The actual enshrinement would be later in the summer, likely August, in Springfield.

InsideHoops.com editor says: I wouldn’t put Yao Ming in the Hall of Fame as a player, because he simply didn’t play enough. A very good center who was often pretty great, Yao wasn’t as healthy as needed for a full career. But I have no objection to putting Yao in the Hall as a “contributor” to basketball, which is term that is extremely open to interpretation. And in this case, it seems reasonable. He helped bring millions of new fans to basketball, and inspired millions of others to care more. And lots of them will stick around and be a part of the sport, even as Yao’s playing days are finished.

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Suns swingman Mickael Pietrus on mend after knee surgery

Paul Coro of the Arizona Republic reports:

The good thing these days about a minor July knee surgery on a NBA player is that the lockout leaves next to no concern that he will miss any training camp or games.

The better thing about Suns swingman Mickael Pietrus’ surgery is that it was apparently routine. Pietrus’ agent, Bill McCandless, said Pietrus had a right knee arthroscopy to remove loose bodies almost three weeks ago in France and will be finished with rehabilitation by the end of this month.

“One piece of loose cartilage was lodged in a spot that impinged his movement and caused him pain during the season,” McCandless said. “He says he’s much, much better. The good news is he’s been forced to work. He has his strength back and no pain.”

Pietrus rented a house across the street from his rehabilitation center in France.

Ben Gordon ruled out of EuroBasket 2011

FIBA reports:

Ben Gordon will not be making his international debut for Great Britain this summer after all.

British Basketball on Monday confirmed that the Detroit Pistons guard won’t be a part of Chris Finch’s charges as they head for EuroBasket in Lithuania at the end of the month.

The 28-year-old guard decided to sit out because of complications regarding the NBA lockout and the proposed insurance coverage.

“We are obviously very disappointed that Ben is not able to join us this year but we fully understand and respect his decision,” said British Basketball Performance Director Chris Spice.

Mario Hezonja stands out in FIBA U16 European basketball Championship

Dan Casey of FIBA Europe reports:

Croatian do-it-all forward Mario Hezonja was voted MVP of the U16 European Championship Men after carrying his team all the way to the gold medal.

Hezonja showed his outstanding talent all through the tournament. Not only did he finish 4th in the overall rankings for scoring in the tournament with 20.0 points per game, but his all-round contributions were felt with 8.2 rebounds per game (rank 8th), 2.7 assists per game (rank 20th) and 2.2 steals per game (rank 6th).

Hezonja’s best game came in the quarter-final against Russia with 30 points, 11 rebounds and 4 steals in a performance coach Ante Nazor described as “perfect”. Hezonja followed this up with 24 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the semi-final win over Spain, and scored 21 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the final win over the Czech Republic.

Turkish team not signing Utah Jazz center Mehmet Okur

Steve Luhm of the Salt Lake Tribune reports:

Utah Jazz center Memo Okur will not sign with Fenerbahce Ulker, an Istanbul-based professional club in his native Turkey.

The team’s general manager denied reports Saturday that his club was pursuing Okur.

Aydin Ors told Salsabasket.net, a basketball website in Turkey, that Fenerbahce Ulker wasn’t planning to sign any new players.

Hours earlier, website MixBasket reported that Fenerbahce Ulker and Okur were negotiating a one-year contract, which would have included an opt-out clause in case the NBA lockout is settled.

Milwaukee Bucks second round pick Jon Leuer signs in Germany

Marc Stein of ESPN reports:

Milwaukee Bucks second-round pick Jon Leuer, selected 40th overall in the June draft from the Wisconsin Badgers, has signed a contract to play with Skyliners Frankfurt in Germany, according to his agent.

Agent Mark Bartelstein told ESPN.com on Friday that the deal includes an opt-out clause that will allow Leuer to make an immediate return to the NBA when the lockout ends.

Many foreign teams are insisting that players who don’t have existing contracts sign deals that commit them to stay abroad for the entire season. But Leuer is the second Bartelstein client to secure the opt-out provision, joining Boston Celtics second-rounder E’Twaun Moore, who recently signed a deal with Benetton Treviso in Italy.