Olimpia Milano announced Juan Fernandez

An early snatch for Olimpia.


While most players coming out of the NCAA don't even have an agent yet, Olimpia Milano announced via their official website the signing of Argentinian/Italian point guard Juan Fernandez(1.93-PG). This is the extract from their site:

Olimpia Milano basketball EA7 Emporio Armani announces that it has reached a multiyear agreement with the Italian national player of Juan Fernandez, playmaker, 1.93 in height, which has just finished his university degree at the Temple University in Philadelphia.He was born in Rio Tercero in Argentina July 22, 1990 to parents of Italian origin, for four years at Temple, Fernandez these days is playing in the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament, reserved for the best college players, after leading his team to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. In the season just ended has scored 11.1 points with 3.8 assists and average of 43.1% in the three-point shooting.

Fernandez is currently playing at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament although he is not doing as well as expected. It's very likely that he will be sent on loan to another team in the upcoming season to get experiences at pro level and sharpen his skills. He averaged 11.4 points 2.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 32 games in the NCAA playing for Temple.

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Azovmash signed Othello Hunter

Azovmash deepened their frontcourt.


The Mariupol team agreed on terms of contract with Hunter Othello (203-F-86, agency: David Lee services, college: Ohio St.). The forward started the season in China. He played for Shandong Flaming Bulls.

Hunter Othello averaged 18.1 points, 12.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in CBA. Last season the forward spent in Italy. He had a spell for Dinamo Sassari. Hunter Othello produced 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in Seria A. He participated at Seria A All-Star Game. Eurobasket.com named the forward into All-Italian Seria A 2nd Team. Previously the forward had stints in Greece, NBA and D-League.


source : eurobasket.com

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Bootsy Thornton returns to Siena

Mens Sana Basket informs you that the club has signed Bootsy Thornton through the end of the season.


Born in Baltimore on July 30, 1977, the player spent the last three seasons in Turkey with Efes Pilsen, to whom he was linked by a very generous contract. The player satisfactorily dissolved the agreement with the Turkish club, thus creating the circumstances where he could reach an agreement with Mens Sana Basket.

Bootsy’s first words were, “I’m very linked to the club and the city. My hope has always been to return to Siena.” 

Bootsy Thornton began playing basketball at Dunbar High School in Florida before proceeding to Tallahassee Junior College at age 19. He’s chosen by the prestigious St. John’s University in 1998, winning the 1999/2000 Big East Conference title and earning the title of tournament MVP. After being chosen by some minor U.S. leagues (Cba, Usbl, Ibl) in the 2000 Draft, Bootsy Thornton chooses Europe and goes to Pallacanestro Cantù in January 2001.  He spends two and half very impressive seasons in Brianza, which earn him his first call from Montepaschi Siena in 2003. The Bootsy-Mens Sana Basket match-up is immediately a success. Thanks also to his performance, they win an Italian title (2003/2004) a SuperCup (2004/2005), and qualify for a Euroleague F4 (2004) all in a two-year period. Thornton becomes a hot commodity on the international market, and switches from Siena to Fc Barcelona. After getting off to a great start, the second half of the season is conditioned by some physical problems that prohibit him from performing to the best of his ability, but don’t stop him from playing a starring role in the 2006 Euroleague F4. This gained credibility allows Bootsy to immediately find a new home in Spain for 2006/2007 at the ambitious Akasvayu Girona lead by coach Svetislav Pesic. As “specialist” (approx. 15’ court time per game), Thornton competes in the Liga ACB arriving at the quarterfinals (year average of 5.2ppg and 1.6rpg) and wins the 2007 Fiba Eurocup, closing with an average of 7.2ppg and 3.2rpg. The following season he returns to wear Montepaschi’s jersey, with whom he wins the Supercoppa and Italian National Title, and makes the Final Four in Barcelona. His performances in Europe earn him a spot on the All Euroleague Second team. The 2008/2009 season, he heads to Turkey to play for Efes Pilsen Istanbul, where he spends three seasons and wins the championship, the Turkish National Cup and the Turkish President Cup.








source : menssanabasket.it


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Dimitris Tsaldaris returns to Aris?

The saga might come to an end today or tomorrow.


Dimitris Tsaldaris(1.96-SG/SF) will be a much welcomed addition to the ailing roster of Aris BC giving them much needed experience and basketball IQ. Aris BC went to other extreme this season and instead of investing on players who are drained physically and emotionally, they decided to invest on college graduates with no experience of European basketball whatsoever. Although their talent cannot be denied they lack in other parts of the game that seasoned veterans do not.

Tsaldaris has played for Aris in the past for 3 seasons (2006-2009) and last season he played in Lega A1 for Dinamo Sassari. This time he wants to play in Greece and he is also going for a closed 2 season contract.

The president of Aris leaked through a close friend of his, that writes for pressaris.gr, that the deal will be sealed in Athens today when he will meet Tsaldaris' agent and possibly the player himself. This is done in order for Tsaldaris' salary to be guaranteed possibly through some of the money of the TV rights or the league sponsorship deal. Panionios was rumored earlier today to try and cut through the deal (to sign the player for themselves) although this could be a "strategy move" and nothing else..



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Keith Benson joins Dinamo Sassari

A "steal" for Sassari.



Banco di Sardegna Sassari announced the agreement with Keith Benson (210-C-88), a big man who impressed a lot during his college career, spent with Oakland.

Benson, who has been drafted by Atlanta Hawks (number 48 of second round) averaged 17.9 ppg and 10.1 rpd during his senior year (17.3 ppg and 10.5 rpg during the third college year). Benson is also an incredible shot blocker. His nickname is 'Kito'. This deal increases the ambition of Dinamo Sassari and is an interesting addition for Italian Serie A   


source : eurobasket.com

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Von Wafer to play for Cremona

Von Wafer has agreed to a deal to play for Italian team Vanoli Cremona, according to his agent.


Wafer, an unrestricted free agent who spent the 2010-11 season with the Celtics, secured a coveted opt-out clause and will be able to return stateside should the lockout end during the international season.

Wafer averaged 3.2 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.6 assists over 9.5 minutes per game last season. He appeared in 58 games for Boston and seemed to be asserting himself before a late-season calf injury limited his playing time into the playoffs.

Last month, Wafer's agent, Terrance Doyle of the Veritas Venture Group, suggested his client would be interested in a return engagement with the Celtics.

"Von would love to be back [with Boston]," Doyle said of the 6-foot-5 swingman who has played for seven teams since being drafted by the Lakers in the second round (35th overall) of the 2005 draft. "He's never gotten that opportunity to go back with a team."

Wafer signed a one-year, non-guaranteed deal with the Celtics last August and fended off numerous charges at his roster spot and endured a locker room dust-up with teammate Delonte West to stick for the entire campaign. Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge often voiced praise for Wafer and he would seemingly be a candidate to fill out the end of the Boston bench next season should the team need a depth swingman.

This will be Wafer's second voyage overseas. He chased an international payday following a breakout season with the Houston Rockets in 2009, but soon parted ways with Greek squad Olympiakos. After earning $915,852 on a minimum contract last season (and roughly $3 million in NBA contracts over six seasons), this overseas opportunity allows Wafer to earn some cash and keep sharp while waiting for the owners and players to work out a new collective bargaining agreement.

Venoli Cremona competes in Italy's Lega Serie A, the same highly regarded league that Celtics second-round draft pick E'Twaun Moore is set to join (Moore signed with Benetton Treviso last month).

source : espn.com

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Jeff Adrien to play for Benetton Treviso

One of the most underrated big men lands in Italy.


According to Marc J. Spears of Yahoo! Sports via a source, Jeff Adrien is set to sign a one-year deal with Benetton Treviso in Italy. Spears also added that the deal allows for an out whenever the lockout ends.

Adrien was cut by the Warriors at the end of August, so he could find himself in camp with a team via an invite in hopes of making a final roster on the other side of the lockout. If not, Adrien could try the D-League route, where he played for the Erie Bayhawks and Rio Grande Valley Vipers before joining the Warriors last season.


source : espn.com

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E'Twaun Moore signed with Benetton Treviso

A great pick for Benetton but with an NBA-out clause.


Boston Celtics second-round draft pick E'Twaun Moore has officially signed a deal with Benetton Treviso of Italy's Lega Serie A, according to his agent.

Moore's deal includes the much-coveted opt-out clause that will allow him to return stateside should the NBA lockout end during Treviso's season.

"It's a great situation for E'Twaun," Moore's agent, Mark Bartelstein, said. "Treviso is a terrific team that plays top European competition and, if the lockout ends, there's an option to terminate the contract -- a small window of time -- so we'll just see what happens.

"It's an exciting chance for him to play -- play at a high level -- and make some money in a great environment."

Overseas reports indicated Moore, the 55th pick in June's draft, had secured a deal with Cimberio Varese of the same Italian league earlier this week, but the deal never got finalized, in part because of Moore's desire to have a non-restrictive opt-out clause.

Moore's camp expressed gratitude toward Treviso for structuring the contract in a way that will give him the chance to compete for an NBA job.

"Treviso was willing to show the flexibility and realize E'Twaun's dream of playing in the NBA," Bartelstein said. "We're extremely grateful for that flexibility."

Moore is expected to head overseas around Aug. 15 in order to join the team before it opens its 2011-12 training camp.

Treviso -- whose colors are, coincidentally, green and white -- wasted little time promoting Moore on its website, and general manager Claudio Coldebella expressed great satisfaction in bringing him aboard.

"He's a mature player despite his young age," Coldebella said in a release. "And as such, the choice of another young player fits in with choices we've made before, to form a group of young players who has talent and enthusiasm."


source : espn.go.com

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Varese announced Yakhouba Diawara

Colpo grosso by Varese!


Varese announced the signing of French forward Yakhouba Diawara(2.01-SF) via their official website. The deal is valid until the season and so they bagged themselves a quality player with a European passport. Diawara is no stranger to Italy and before playing for Brindisi he had played for Fortitudo Bologna.

He started his career in Dijon as a youngster and after graduating from Peperdine he went back to Dijon and then played for Fortitudo. After that he played in the NBA for 3 seasons playing for Denver and Miami before returning to Europe for Brindisi. Last season he averaged 13.6 points and 4.5 rebounds in 30 games in the LegaA1.

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Olimpia Milano announced Malik Hairston

Interesting choice for Olimpia.


The latest addition for Olimpia Milano is American small forward Malik Hairston(1.97-SF), formerly of the San Antonio Spurs. The deal is valid until the end of the season and it was announced via Olimpia's official website. Hairston played for the enemy last season, namely for Siena and he did quite well. He was drafted in 2008 in the 2nd round and the 48th overall position by the Suns, but consecutive trades brought him to San Antonio.

He played 2 seasons in the NBA for the San Antonio Spurs although his playing time wasn't that great nor were his stats with them. He also spent some time in the NBDL but he made his debut in Europe this past season signing with Siena. However he was injured in the beginning of the season. It was a back injury that could have ended his contract but Siena chose to wait for him and it wasn't in vain. Hairtson averaged 8.6 points and 3.2 rebounds in 16 games in the Euroleague and also 10.3 poits and 2.7 rebounds in 23 games in the LegaA1.

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Olympiacos made increased offer to Zisis?

It's curious how this player makes so much money.


According to sday.gr, Nikos Zisis(1.95-PG/SG) has a better offer from Olympiacos. The Greek finalists want to have a decent partner in the backcourt for Vassilis Spanoulis, who all of a sudden has found himself all alone, with Gordon, Teodosic, Halperin and Papaloukas gone.

At the moment he only has Kostas Sloukas and Kalin Lucas to back him up, who might be young and ambitious but they lack the quality to take up such a task. It's rumored, yet unconfirmed, that there is a buy-out clause in the contract of Zisis around the order of 200,000 euros. Should that be paid, then Zisis would be free to join Olympiacos if he wants. At the moment there is nothing solid on this but it would be a good comeback for Olympiacos should they manage to secure Zisis. He averaged 6 points 1.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 22 games in the Euroleague with Siena and also 6.5 points 1.9 rebounds and 3 assists in 36 games in LegaA1.

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Benetton Treviso announced Vlad Moldoveanu

A good catch for Benetton.


Benetton Treviso announced the signing of Romanian power forward Vlad Moldoveanu(2.06-PF) via their official website. It's no wonder he did this well as he has listened to his mother, Carmen Tocala who is none other than the president of the Romanian Basketball Federation.

This will be Moldoveanu's first pro contract in Europe but he is no stranger to the European style of play. He is a vital part of the Romanian National Team and one of their top scorers and certainly the team's top prospect. The deal was announced via Treviso's official site and it will be valid until the end of next season. Moldoveanu will be eligible for the NBA draft next season so it's only natural he wants to take his chances there before signing another contract.

Playing for the American University eagles he averaged 20.4 points 6.4 rebounds and 2 assists in a total of 30 games. He also played in the Portsmouth Invitational tournament averaging 10.7 points and 3.7 rebounds.

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Triple strike from Bayern with Foster, Ford and Benzing

In Bayern they're not sparing expenses!


Perhaps it was the wild card to the Eurocup that immediately showed Bayern that Uleb and FIBA want another commercial German team to make things a bit more exciting. The administration of Bayern went large with German star Jan Jagla and now they've followed up with the 3 great transfers that will bolster their ranks for the upcoming season. The transfers were announced via the official website of the team.

Sharrod Ford(2.06-PF), the permanent top rebounder of the Italian League and blocker extraordinaire will be adding his skills to the front line of Bayern bringing athleticism and power to the table. Ford played once again for Montegranaro last season averaging his usual double-double of 15.8 points and 10.4 rebounds in 30 games in the LegaA1. Ford is no stranger to Germany as he started his European career in Alba Berlin and that made him instantly noticable in Europe.

The other addition is prolific scorer Je'Kel Foster(1.91-PG/SG) who also played in Italy last season for Cremona. Foster is no stranger to Germany from his time in Oldenburg and Ludwigsburg. This past season he averaged 12.2 points 3.3 rebounds 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals in 29 games in the LegaA1.

Last but not least is German prospect Robin Benzing(2.08-SF) who played last season for Ulm averaging 15.1 points and 4.5 rebounds in 33 games in the Bundesliga.

All 3 players signed a 2 season deal with Bayern.

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Drew Nicholas heading to Milano?

Another one to jump ship? In Olimpia they are shopping from Greece this summer..


Drew Nicholas is the main target of Emporio Armani Milano for the coming season. The American shooting guard is very close to returning to Italy after three seasons spent in Greece with Panathinaikos with whom he has won twice Euroleague and three times the Greek Championship. Montepaschi Siena tried to sign him few weeks ago but the two parts did not reach an agreement.

UPDATE: As reported by sources close to the situation, Drew Nicholas already signed the contract with Emporio Armani and will be the shooting guard of the team. So far, included Malik Hairston not official yet, the lineup of Milano is: Cook, Nicholas, Hairston, Fotsis, Bourousis


source : sportando.net

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Biella announced Linos Chrysikopoulos

A great prospect for Biella and a great loss for Aris.


Biella announced the signing of Linos Chrysikopoulos(2.05-SF/PF) for 3 seasons and in this way they secured the best Greek prospect at his age for the next 3 seasons. The deal was announced via their official website. Linos Chrysikopoulos has been part of the youth and mens teams of Aris BC for the last 3 years but it seems that the Greek team made no real effort in promoting him. The team are currently more occupied trying to settle the debts that the administration accumulated over the last 4 years or so and Chrysikopoulos decided to go to a team that will be able to utilise his talents.

Chrysikopoulos is considered to be one of the best Greek talents of his generation and he also has the body of a modern player with impressive wingspan and a mindset for the game. In Biella he is expecting to find a team that can work with young talents and that can promote them further. Biella has had a good run with young players with the likes of Pietro Aradori(1.95-SG), Jonas Jerebko(2.08-PF) and Thabo Sefalosha(2.01-SF) who moved on to the NBA and the Euroleague. Chrysikopoulos didn't get much playing time last season averaging 1.4 points and 1 rebounds in 6 minutes of playing time in 9 games in the Eurocup and also 2.3 points and 2 rebounds in 9.9 minutes of playing time in 21 games in the Greek A1 league. He's also had a great run with the youth Greek National Teams.



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Milovan Rakovic to sign with Zalgiris

Back in the Euroleague but with a different team..


According to Serbian portal novosti.rs, Milovan Rakovic (2.08-C) will not be renewing his contract with the Italian champion Siena but he will continue his career in Zalgiris Kaunas instead. Rakovic was also implicated in rumors with Olympiacos like many other players but it seems that Zalgiris won him instead.

Rakovic played for 3 seasons for Spartak St Petersburg before moving to Siena. He averaged 8 points and 3.8 rebounds in 22 games for Siena in the Euroleague helping them reach the Euroleague Final Four.

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Olimpia Milano added Bouroussis for 2 seasons

It didn't take him very long to find a new team.


Emporio Armani Milan confirmed the addition of former All-Euroleague team member forward Ioannis Bourousis for the next two seasons. Bourousis (2.10 meters, 28 years old) arrives from Greek League runners-up Olympiacos, for whom he averaged 10.7 points and 6.6 rebounds last season in 18 Turkish Airlines Euroleague appearances over 17 minutes per game. Bourousis ranked eightth in index rating overall last season in the Euroleague (14.2), fourth in total rebounds (6.6) and thirdin defensive rebounds (4.9).

Bourousis had played five straight seasons with the Reds. He was named to the 2008-09 All-Euroleague first team and has appeared at two Euroleague Final Fours, in 2009 and 2010. He won the 2010 and 2011 Greek Cup with Olympiacos. Bourousis started his pro career at AEK Athens of Greece in 2002 and stayed there until 2006. On May of that year he moved to Spain for a brief stint with Regal FC Barcelona to play in the Spanish League Playoffs but after two months there he left and joined Olympiacos that summer.

source : euroleague.net

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Cantu to bring in David Lighty

Another solid choice by Cantu.


Bennet Cantu are looking for the ways to strengthen their backcourt. They are negotiating contract with David Lighty (195-G/F-88). The deal may be announced soon. The 23-year-old shooting guard has just graduated from the Ohio State University.

He averaged 12.1 points, 4.0 boards, 3.3 assists and 1.5 steals per game in his senior season. David Lighty made it into All-Big Ten 2nd Team. He was also named into Big Ten All-Defensive Team. David Lighty was the member of the USA U19 National Team. He participated at U19 World Championship in Serbia back in 2007. David Lighty notched 8.8 points and 3.9 boards per game in Novi Sad.

source : eurobasket.com

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Biella made offer to Bogris for 3 seasons

Offers like that don't come every day.


Giorgos Bogris(2.09-C) got an offer for 3 seasons from Biella according to basketblog.gr. The Greek center who was a star in the young National Teams was part of the roster of Panathinaikos for the last 2 seasons but he got very little playing time and was mostly polishing the bench.

Panathinaikos recently opted out of the contract of Bogris and released the player so they didn't need to keep him for 2 more seasons. Bogris went over to have some workouts with the Chicago Bulls in order to boost up his profile and it seems to be working. Apart from Greek teams, like Peristeri and Paok that wanted to sign him, he recently received another offer from Biella this time in Italy. According to the article the player is thinking very seriously about it but more will be made known once he's back from the Chicago.

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Siena announced Dajuan Summers

Siena taking advantage of the NBA lock out in style.



Mens Sana Basket announces the signing of American guard, DaJuan Summers, who agreed to a two-year deal with the Viale Sclavo club. Summers is 203 cm tall and was born in Baltimore on January 24th, 1988.

After Georgetown, he was chosen second round in the draft by the Detroit Pistons, with whom he played two NBA seasons. He ended last season with a 3.4 ppg average in 9 minutes of court time.


source : menssanabasket.it

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