Yao Ming is ready to return

Yao Ming said he feels like he is ready to play .


The Rockets center has not been cleared to rejoin the team's workouts because team doctors want him to strengthen the muscles in his left ankle, weakened since his Nov. 10 injury.

"I'm waiting for the green light," Yao said. "When? I don't know. I feel better. It still has some weakness. I'm just not ready to sit out for almost 20 games, particularly when I feel I'm OK. I know when I was in the walking boot, on the crutches, OK, I understand.


"I won't push the trainer or the doctor. They all try to treat me the best that they can. I know they try to find the best way for me to get back on the court."

Yao would not say if he would be playing if the decision were his to make, but when asked if he has made it known how he feels, he laughed and said, "I tell them every day."

Coach Rick Adelman said he has not been told when Yao will be cleared to practice.


source : fanfeedr.com

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Jennings could return to Europe next season due to the NBA lockout

Brandon Jennings spent his first year of professional basketball overseas. He may also spend his fourth.


The trendsetting young Buck could easily see himself going back over the pond next season in the event of a lengthy lockout. A guy’s got to make a living, and Jennings knows the landscape having played in Italy straight out of high school.

“I’m sure my value will be higher than it was before, the first time I went over there,” he told NBA.com last night after helping Milwaukee snap the Mavericks’ 12-game winning streak. “I’m sure this time I’ll get some playing time. The will be the best thing, I’ll be able to play now, make a little money and keep some income coming in for my family.”

Jennings made the ground-breaking leap to Europe in 2008, signing with Lottomatica Roma of the Italian League, instead of going to college. The swift lefty played sparingly with Lottomatica, but did gain valuable experience and it didn’t hurt his draft stock. The Bucks selected Jennings 10th overall in the 2009 Draft.
NBA rules require players to be at least 19 and one year out of high school before being eligible to enter the league. (The union has asked to restore the minimum age back to 18 in its CBA proposal.)

It’s no secret that NBA players are considering playing in professional leagues around the world in the event of a work stoppage. The longer one lasts and the more paychecks are missed, the greater the possibility for many to find employment elsewhere. Players are within their rights to work and therefore play in another league, regardless of their current contract status with NBA teams, in the event of a lockout.

But a major obstacle would be obtaining a letter of clearance from FIBA to sign with international teams, given the relationship between FIBA and the NBA. The NBPA would undoubtedly fight any obstruction, perceived or otherwise, to its members earning a living.

Though his first move to Europe didn’t exactly open the floodgates for other prep players to follow, Jennings may well lead a new exodus to foreign lands.

“Oh yeah, of course I wouldn’t mind going back overseas,” Jennings said. “I’ve been almost everywhere overseas and I lived in Italy for a year. I know what type of game it is and I know what it’s about.”

In the second year of his rookie contract, Jennings said he’s living by a strict budget. He drives a Ford Edge, doesn’t have a fancy house and stays near the Bucks practice center.

“It’s a good thing I’m living in Milwaukee,” Jennings said, “because when the snow comes I’m not leaving the house.”


source : blogs.hangtime.nba.com

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Baskonia made an offer to Pops Mensah-Bonsu

The hero of Granada could return to Spain to the team that almost signed him last summer.


According to tubasket.com, Pops Mensah-Bonsu(2.06-PF) received an offer from Saski Baskonia and he might make it into their roster after all. Bonsu was signed by Baskonia this past summer but the deal was called off and they signed Marcus Haislip(2.07-PF/C) instead. But now Mensah-Bonsu might be released from the New Orleans Hornets and a contract with Baskonia could be a good way for him to return to Europe.

He has been seeing very little playing time in the NBA with the Hornets averaging less than 5 minutes in 7 games whereas in the Euroleague and the ACB his playing time will be significantly longer. He is a vital member of the Great Britain National Team.

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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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