David Blatt no longer the favourite for the Greek NT

It all comes down to money in the end.


According to sport24.gr, the reason that David Blatt is no longer the favourite to replace Jonas Kazlauskas is because Russia stepped in with a better offer. David Blatt has yet to receive a considerable amount of money from the Russian Federation that comes to 150,000 euros. Moreover the president of the Russian Federation met with David band made him another offer for 2 more seasons that will pay Blatt 300,000 euros per season.

This put David Blatt in an awkward position where his agent called the Greek federation and asked for a little more time before his final answer is given. Hence the Greek Federation is no longer rooting for Blatt and another candidate will be sought. Chances are that this time it will be a Greek coach but the article only makes speculations as to whom it might be in the end. Elias Zouros is currently free and coach Giorgos Bartzokas might be free at the end of the season whereas Fotis Katsikaris is bound by ACB rules so he can't coach a National Team.


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Donta Smith to take McCants' place after all

If Rashad McCants is looking to get out of the D-League, he can cross China off as one his potential escape routes.


Contrary to a report released yesterday by ESPN.com, former NBA lottery pick, Rashad McCants, who is currently under contract with the NBA D-League’s Texas Legends, will not be signing a contract with a Chinese team after Liaoning Panpan — the only team in the league who had not signed its full allotment of import players as of last night — has officially signed swingman Donta Smith to a contract, according to multiple sources with NiuBBall.com.

Sources in both China and the United States confirmed to NiuBBall.com that Liaoning had been negotiating a deal to bring McCants to northeastern China for the upcoming season, but with the season opener only two days away, the club opted instead to play it conservative by going with the more familiar Smith, who has been in the country with the team since earlier this week on a try-out.  Though the team had serious interest in McCants, the fact that Smith was physically present with the club was a major reason why the Hunters, nervous about signing another import in time for their first game on Sunday, came to their final decision.

A source also shared that in addition to Smith already being in the country, Liaoning feels comfortable investing in someone who has already played a full season in China.  Smith played with Shanxi Zhongyu in 2008-09 and part of 2009-10 before he was waived mid-season to make room for Bonzi Wells.

Besides their familiarity with Smith, economics appears to have also contributed to Liaoning’s decision to go away from McCants and his $45,000 buyout clause, which would have had to be paid in order to release him from his contract with the Legends.  When combined with the large salary the team would have had to pay him, the price tag for McCants was simply too high.

Smith was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2004 and spent three years in the NBA before playing domestically in the D-League and abroad in Belgium, Australia, China and Venezuela among other countries.

Liaoning’s other import this year is center Chris Richard, who played last year with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Other late import transactions to report: Tianjin has released Trevor Lawrence and signed Lee Benson, according to Sina Sports.  The 37 year-old Benson has played previously with Yunnan, Shaanxi and Shanxi.


source : niubball.com

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Rashad McCants moving to China?

Rashad McCants' NBA D-League foray lasted just fifty-six minutes as the sweet-shooting guard has decided to buy out his D-League contract and take his talents to China.


McCants, the 14th overall pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, had earlier turned down lucrative European offers to pursue another shot at the NBA, telling FanHouse last month "I think that playing in the D-League is the quickest option to return to the NBA."

Apparently, though, McCants decided that after averaging fewer than 20 minutes per game in his first three D-League games for the Dallas Mavericks-affiliated Texas Legends, the NBA was further away than planned, prompting him to take the overseas opportunity.

McCants' agent, E. Lindsey Maxwell, confirmed in an e-mail to FanHouse that his client is leaving the D-League.

"As always, as an agent, it is my job to communicate to him offers for his services (as) a professional athlete," Maxwell wrote. "Yesterday morning, through one of our overseas contacts, we were contacted by a Chinese team with a fair monetary offer for Mr. McCants to come and play for them." 

McCants did elect to give the Mavericks, whose general manager Donnie Nelson is also co-owner of the Legends, an opportunity to match the offer.

"This offer was promptly communicated to my client and he immediately asked me to contact the Mavericks organization to explain the situation and to give them the opportunity to match it, offer him a roster spot or some assurances of a roster spot in Dallas," Maxwell continued. "After some discussions between myself, Donnie Nelson and (Legends President of Basketball Operations) Spud Webb, my client decided that he should explore his options in China. That process is ongoing and we hope to have that deal finalized later today."

This sort of deal isn't uncommon in the D-League as a similar situation occurred last season between Will Conroy, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers and the Houston Rockets. That ended differently, however, as the Rockets agreed to call up Conroy once 10-day contract options were available.

It is a bit surprising that McCants has elected to buy out his D-League contract, which will cost him $30,000, after originally announcing that he'd be donating his D-League earnings ($25,500 for the season) to charity. The relationship between he and the Mavericks, however, have seemed rocky since they originally brought him into training camp to make sure the Legends would obtain McCants' D-League rights.

"We are disappointed that it didn't work out with them and we look forward to Rashad getting a REAL shot at making it back into the NBA," Maxwell wrote in a e-mail to FanHouse prior to joining the Legends. "If he decides to go to the D-League, he will have to play for that team. I can't speak as to Dallas' motives, but (McCants) did not get much of a chance to 'compete for a roster spot' as Dallas had announced a couple of days ago."

McCants averaged 12.3 points for the Legends, shooting 59 percent from the field.

source : nba.fanhouse.com



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Aris announced Bobby Brown

Not the singer..


Aris announced Bobby Brown(1.88-PG/SG) via their official website and the signing is valid until the end of this season. This was a "last minute bargain" for Aris as the player was ready to return back to his home in California, but then the offer from Aris arrived so he decided that it would be a good opportunity to stick around. Brown comes from Prokom Gdynia that released the player 2 days ago.

Brown graduated from California State Fullerton back in 2007 but he went undrafted. He has played for Alba Berlin in Germany and the Eurocup back in season 2007-2008 and then he played in the NBA for the Sacramento Kings, New Orleans Hornets, Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Clippers before moving to Prokom.Aris also secured Oliver Lafaytte but they decided to go with Bobby Brown instead. Kenny Hasbrouck also a target, decided to stay in the US. Brown averaged 12.6 points 2 rebounds and 2.2 assists in the VTB league and 10.7 points 3 rebounds and 4.3 assists in 6 games in the Euroleague. He has already started training with Aris BC and his first appearance will be tomorrow in the game against Kavala BC if coach Drucker believes that he is ready to play.

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Dusan Katnic looking for a new team

Dusan Katnic  (194-G-89), upon his request terminated contract with KK Crvena Zvezda Beograd.


Katnic was not satisfied with the playing time in the last couple of games, as well as with relationship with coach Uvalin. Last game against Hemofarm, he did not play at all. Katnic, averaged 7,4 points and 1,5 assists, with excellent 3 points percentage of 47,4%, in his 8 games, played in Adriatic league. Katnic, showed his potential in 2 games, when he got more playing times, scoring against Buducnost 17 points and Igokea 22 points.

Both games have been played away. Katnic, grow up with Mega Vizura, and was extremely successful with Serbian young national teams won European U18 and U20 gold medals, as well as World U19 gold medal. He was listed among 24 candidates for seniors national team of Serbia, for qualification round of EC 2009. Couple of teams already showed interest in signing Katnic, and his new destination will be be known soon.

source : eurobasket.com

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Mike Harris to sign for the Shanghai Sharks

Unlike a lot of guys who are coming over to China via the NBA, Mike Harris has done this before.


In 2007-08, he played for the Dongguan New Century Leopards before signing a 10-day contract in March with the Houston Rockets. Since that time, he’s had numerous call-ups from the D-League, mostly with Houston, to go alongside an NBDL MVP trophy that he was awarded last year.

Now, according to Asia-Basket, Harris is coming back to the CBA, this time with the Shanghai Sharks.  After being cut by Houston just prior to the regular season, it was reported that Harris had a contract all lined up with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls.  Since then, however, Zhejiang has moved on, signing both Mike James and Josh Boone to deals and now Harris is a Shark.

To some, coming back to play in China could be considered as a backwards move for a guy who is close to getting on a regular season roster.  But, if you were to think that, then you don’t know what’s going on down in Shanghai:  The team is owned by Yao Ming and coached by American Bob Donewald Jr., who in addition to his domestic duties, also serves as the Chinese national team coach.  In his first season as coach last year, Donewald surprised everyone by turning around a squad that had finished 6-44 the year before into a top four regular season team.


source : niubball.com

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Alicante want Rancik but he has more offers

Rancik seems to be hot in Europe.


Alicante want to sign Slovakian forward/center Martin Rancik(2.04-PF/C) as he is the best value for money solution in the European player market at the moment according to tubasket.com. The Spanish site says that Rancik might be a bit reluctant to join Alicante as they are currently last on the ACB leaderboard with a 1-8 record.

On the other hand there could as many as 4 teams from Italy and Greece that put an offer through for the Slovakian veteran. Rancik started the season in Bilbao helping in with Hervelle's injury and then he moved to Baskonia for a weeks to help there with Haislip's injury. Rancik averaged 9.6 points and 3 rebounds in 5 games in the Euroleague and also 3.3 points and 0.7 rebounds in 3 games in the ACB playing for Baskonia.

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