International Basketball Blog – Page 76 – NBA Blog

Omri Casspi is first Israeli player to make the NBA

The Sacramento Bee (Ailene Voisin) reports on Omri Casspi, the first Israeli player who will play in the NBA: He can run. We know that. He plays both forward positions. He is long and wiry, 6-foot-9 and 220 pounds, and he must be as tough as his reputation suggests, because the second of the Kings’ two first-round draft choices (No. 23) is carrying an entire nation along for the ride. Forget the champagne and night-long celebration. Israeli President Shimon Peres called to offer congratulations. “I wouldn’t say I feel pressure, though,” said Casspi, 21, shortly after arriving with his mother, Ilana, from Tel Aviv. “Everybody is just trying to encourage me.” … Former Israeli stars such as Doron Sheffer, Oded Katash, Lior Eliyahu and Yotam Halperin either failed to make rosters or signed deals overseas.

Ricky Rubio skips Minnesota Timberwolves draft press conference

The AP reports: Ricky Rubio was not present when the Minnesota Timberwolves introduced their 2009 draft class on Friday. Sixth overall pick Jonny Flynn and 28th pick Wayne Ellington attended with new president David Kahn. But the Timberwolves say Rubio decided to stay behind because of his contract situation.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Rubio has a buyout that is reportedly around $6.5 million, give or take half a million. He may wind up staying in Spain for a year or two before coming to the NBA. And other teams are probably contacting the Timberwolves right now to see if they can get Rubio. According to several local newspaper reports, the Knicks will be one of those teams.

Players announced for USA National Team mini-camp

Twenty-five top rising NBA players have accepted invitations from USA Basketball to participate in the 2009 USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp that will be conducted July 22-25 in Las Vegas, Nev. The selections were announced by USA Basketball Chairman Jerry Colangelo.

The July USA Basketball Men’s National Team mini-camp will feature practice sessions on July 23 and July 24 at Valley High School, and the mini-camp will be capped by the USA Basketball Showcase, a Blue-White intra-squad game, on Saturday, July 25, 8 p.m. (PDT) at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of UNLV.

The player list is on the InsideHoops.com USA Basketball page.

Left foot of Yao Ming not healing properly

Rockets center Yao Ming underwent a medical evaluation by Rockets Team Physician Dr. Tom Clanton today which revealed that the hairline fracture in Yao’s left foot has not responded to the current treatment program. A bone scan conducted Wednesday night at Memorial Hermann Sports Medicine Institute revealed that the hairline fracture on the top of the foot has not yet healed.

Yao and the Rockets will consult with doctors who have previously participated in his care before proceeding with a new course of action. No timeline has been set for his return to basketball activities. There will be no further comment by the team until the best course of action has been determined.

“Yao is not experiencing any pain in his left foot, however, the results from the CT and bone scans we performed over the past two days indicate that the hairline fracture has not responded to the degree that we expected,” said Clanton. “We will review a variety of treatment options before proceeding.”

The hairline fracture was discovered following the Rockets’ May 8th loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The original treatment plan called for Yao to cease all physical training and to use a walking boot in order to immobilize the foot and promote healing.

Brandon Jennings played limited overseas minutes

The New Orleans Times-Picayune (Andrew Lopez) reports: The Oak Hill Academy product played in 43 games this season in Italian Lega A as well as in Euroleague, primarily as a backup point guard. When he did play, Jennings production was solid but not mind-blowing. He averaged 6.3 points and 2.0 assists in 17.8 minutes. Despite his production, Jennings feels he is a better basketball player because of the experience. “I’m more mature,” Jennings said after a recent workout with Golden State, who have the seventh pick in the draft. “I think more than the other guys because of the year I had in Europe, just not even playing. Going through that, tough times up and down, the challenges that I faced. So I think I have the upper hand against some of these guys.”

Pacers, Nuggets to play preseason game in Taipei (Taiwan)

The National Basketball Association (NBA) today announced it will play its first-ever game in Taipei when the Denver Nuggets and Indiana Pacers tip off at the Taipei Arena on October 8, 2009. The announcement took place today in Taipei with NBA Greater China CEO Tim Chen, Mayor of Taipei Hau Lung-bin, Minister of the Sports Affairs Council Tai Hsia Ling, and President of Chinese Taipei Basketball Association Wang Ren-Da. Taipei will become the seventh Asian city to host an NBA game, following Beijing, Guangzhou, Macao, Shanghai, Tokyo and Yokohama.

More info on the NBA game in Taipei.

Raptors extend qualifying offer to Carlos Delfino

The Toronto Raptors announced Tuesday they have extended a qualifying offer to restricted free agent guard-forward Carlos Delfino. Per team policy, financial details were not disclosed.

In accordance with the league’s collective bargaining agreement, in order for a team to retain its rights of first refusal with respect to a restricted free agent it must tender the player a qualifying offer prior to June 30. A restricted free agent may sign an offer sheet with any team, but is subject to a right of first refusal in favour of the NBA team for which the player last played.

Delfino played last season in Russia with BC Khimky Moscow in the Russia-A Superleague. He averaged 10.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 23.2 minutes in 26 games. He had a season-high 25 points against Krasnoyarsk. He also appeared in 10 Eurocup outings, averaging 13.0 points and 3.6 rebounds in 27 minutes. He scored in double figures in eight games with a high of 19 points against Benetton.

The Raptors acquired Delfino from the Detroit Pistons on June 15, 2007 in exchange for a second-round pick in 2009 and 2010. He appeared in all 82 games in his lone season with the Raptors (2007-08), averaging 9.0 points and 4.4 rebounds. He set career highs in points (738), rebounds (359), three-point field goals made (40) and attempted (123), free throws made (116) and attempted (156) and minutes (1928). He paced the reserves in scoring a team-best 31 times and scored in double figures a career-high 32 times, with five games of 20 or more points.

A first-round pick by Detroit (25th overall) in 2003, Delfino has averaged 5.8 points and 3.0 rebounds in 282 regular season NBA games. He also played four seasons in Italy, two with Reggio Calabria (2000-02) and two with Skipper Bologna (2002-04). He has won an Olympic gold medal (2004) and a bronze medal (2008) as a member of the Argentina National Team.

2009 Mavericks free agent camp

The Dallas Mavericks free agent mini-camp will take place June 11 and 12, 2009.

Click that link to see more info and a list of the players involved.

There are 20 free agents playing at it. I would guess that the best player, or couple of players, will have a good shot at being invited onto the Mavericks summer league team. And if one guy really stands out, perhaps the team will offer him a contract; probably something short, like one year, maybe two at the most, probably nonguaranteed.

Most of the players on the list are known guys.

Fabricio Oberto has heart-related surgery

San Antonio Spurs forward/center Fabricio Oberto underwent a successful Ablation procedure on 6/4. The procedure was done to correct the electrical system of the heart that was sending Oberto into Atrial Fibrillation. Oberto’s procedure was performed in Austin by Dr. Andrea Natale.

One week following his procedure Oberto will start a gradual, conservative cardiovascular exercise program. After four weeks and with his doctor’s approval, he may begin strenuous exercise.

Carlos Arroyo helps Maccabi Electra win Israeli championship

LatinoSports reports: Former NBA star and current Puerto Rican National team player Carlos Arroyo recently led his new team, Maccabi Electra of Tel Aviv, to the Israeli Championship and a place in next year’s Euroleague Championships. Arroyo, who left the Orlando Magic after the 2007-2008 season to join Maccabi Electra after signing a three year, $2.5 million per year contract, was named MVP of the Israeli Championships after scoring 22 points and adding 6 rebounds as Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv defeated Maccabi Haifa Heat 85-72 in the final.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Arroyo was not a “star” in the NBA. But he was a very good backup point guard for stretches of time. And an extremely good international player.