Zalgiris announced Robertas Javtokas

Javtokas returns to Lithuania.


After a great season in the domestic leagues, Zalgiris decided to strengthen up the team’s front court for next year by signing the Lithuanian national team’s captain Robertas Javtokas to a two-year deal
with an option in the team’s hands to extend it for an extra year. The 31-year-old big man will arrive in Kaunas after a season in Power Electronics Valencia, with which he reached the quarterfinals stage in
Euroleague.

Javtokas has previously played for teams such as Khimki, Dynamo Moscow and Panathinaikos Athens, but he is mostly associated with his time at Zalgiris’ main rivals Lietuvos Rytas, where he spent six years of his career. The experienced big man was also the captain of the Vilnius team for quite a long while, too.

“I grew up with Lietuvos Rytas and I will always remember that time, but I’m a professional and I choose the best available offer. Zalgiris showed in interest and Lietuvos Rytas didn’t, Zalgiris will play in Euroleague and it’s still not clear whether Lietuvos Rytas will. They have their own players, their own centers and are dealing with their own problems,” Javtokas said after agreeing with Zalgiris.

The Lithuanian center averaged 8.2 points and 5.3 rebounds for Valencia last season in Euroleague, while his statistics in the Spanish ACB were fairly similar – 7.8 points and 5.8 boards per game.

source : lithuaniabasketball.com


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Thomas Heurtel moving to Baskonia?

The next logical step..


According to elcorreo.com, Thomas Heurtel(1.86-PG) could be Marcelinho Huertas' next backup. The French point-guard is still bound by contact with ASVEL Villeurbanne but the article implies that Baskonia has already to pay 145,000 euros to Villeurbanne in order to break the contract and will be offering Heurtel a 5-season contract. There will also be an NBA buy-out clause for every season in his contract as scouts believe Heurtel could make that step one day.

Heurtel has been a member of the Young National Teams of France and started his pro career in Pau Orthez. This season he played for Alicante in Spain on loan from Villeurbanne where he averaged 9.5 points 1.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31 games in the ACB.

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Chuck Eidson to sign with Barcelona?

This might be too soon to say..


According to Israeli portal one.co.il, Chuck Eidson(2.02-SG/SF) will be playing for Barcelona next season. Maccabi Tel Aviv went into negotiations with the player but in the end it seems that he will be signing with Barcelona for a total of 4 million dollars for 2 seasons.

Eidson was one of the most important players of Maccabi Tel Aviv the last 2 seasons and one of the cornerstones of the team's great run this past season. He also led Lietuvos Rytas to the Uleb Cup title back in season 2008-2009 among other things. This season he averaged 9.7 points 4.3 rebounds 3.5 assists and 2.6 steals in 22 games in the Euroleague and also 10 points 4.3 rebounds 4.6 assists and 1.6 steals in 32 games in the Israeli League helping Maccabi regain the title.

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Mike Brown could have Messina in Lakers

And why not?


Ettore Messina could be the newest addition to the coaching staff of the LA Lakers according to their new head coach Mike Brown. He spoke to Gazzetta Dello Sport and said that he'd like to have Ettore Messina with him. The news would have been finalised on Thursday according to Brown's statements on Tuesday but still nothing has been made known about it.

Messina stepped down as head coach of Real Madrid earlier this season citing differences with the attitude of certain players and so he took the fall for the team in a way. Others said it was a tactical move and he never really left giving instructions via his assistant who stayed on.. who knows really? If Messina makes the next step in his career towards the other side of the Atlantic, it will immediately put an end to many rumors lurking in the shadows about him moving back to Italy among other things.

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David Blu renewed with Maccabi TA

Another one renews with Maccabi.


Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv, who are attempting to preserve as far as is possible the same team that brought them the Israeli Cup, the vice-championship of the Euroleague, and the Israeli League Championship this past season, have successfully added David Blu to the list of players who will be returning for the 2011 – 2012 season. Blu, who was named MVP of the Israeli Final Four last month, has signed for an additional year with the club. It will be his third straight season, and sixth overall, with Maccabi.

Blu, who is known for his smooth touch from outside the arc, finished the Israeli League last season with averages of 10.9 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, and no less than 49.2% shooting from three point range. The forward also enjoyed an excellent season in the Euroleague, averaging 8.9 points and 3.1 rebounds and 42.7% shooting from downtown. Blu was also outstanding in the Euroleague Final Four in Barcelona, where he finished with 10 points against Real Madrid in the semi-final, and 14 points against Panathinaikos in the final.


source : maccabi.co.il

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Seibutis denies rumors about Galatasaray

He is saving himself for someone else?


According to lrytas.lt, Reinaldas Seibutis(1.96-SG/SF) has not signed a contract with Galatasaray and denies any rumors implicating him with that. He did say though that Galatasaray are interested in him but he hasn't signed a contract with them.

He even said that his agent went to China, perhaps a contract to be found there, but Seibutis just wants to relax now with relatives in Lithuania. He did have a very good season with Olin in Turkey leading the team in scoring with averages of 18.7 points 2.7 rebounds and 4 assists in 33 games.

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Lietuvos Rytas signed Predrag Samardziski

His good season in Turkey paid off.


Lietuvos Rytas announced the signing of center Predrag Samardziski(2.14-C) via their official website for 1 season with the option to extend the contract for one more season. This will hopefully be Samardziski's first gig in the Euroleague after a long career in the Adriatic League playing for Partizan and FMP Zeleznik.

This season he played in Turkey for Olin where he was the starting center averaging 12.1 points 8.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 35 games.

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