Kleiza wants a contract extension

He doesn't mind the fireworks it seems.


Linas Kleiza(2.04-SF/PF) seems to be content in Athens, or actually he is quite happy there. The money is good, the playing time is good, the league is good, so no problemo. Kleiza's agent Bill Duffy mentioned in the past that Kleiza wouldn't mind staying for another season with Olympiakos. One his associates, Rade Filipovich, spoke to Greek newspaper Goal, and he said that the Lithuanian star wouldn't mind signing a contract extension with Olympiakos.

He also said that they are also looking at offers from the NBA and that his client would weigh all the options and go for the best deal. Kleiza was the top scorer of the Euroleague throughout the whole season averaging 17.1 points per game. But it all depends on whether, Dusan Ivkovic would like him to stay past his current contract.

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Keydren Clark to be released soon, Dikoudis to follow

Keydren Clark could be a free agent very soon.. even this week.


As I mentioned on Twitter back on July 1st, Keydren Clark(1.78-PG/SG) will soon be released from Aris BC and will probably head to Italy and Brindisi or perhaps another team. The American scorer with the Bulgarian passport will soon be released from Aris to seek a new team to play in the upcoming season.

Clark had signed an extension to his contract back in November 2008 so that he could be a player of Aris until the end of season 2010-2011. But the contract is soon to be mutually broken and Clark will become a free agent. The 400,000 dollars salary for next season would have been too heavy for Aris to bear so the team and the player decided to mutually part ways. Last season Clark averaged 10.1 points 1.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 28 games in the Greek A1 league.

Demos Dikoudis(2.07-PF/C) is the next to follow Clark out the door, whereas Nikos Hatzivrettas(1.95-SG) will stay with a reduced salary for next season.

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Villeurbanne added Angel Vassallo

ASVEL Villeurbanne signed Angel D. Vassallo (198-G/F-86, college: Virginia Tech) for the next season.


The 24-year shooting guard / small forward arrives to ASVEL from Puerto Rican team Galitos de Isabela. He joined them in May this year, after he finished the season with Paris-Levallois. It was the first overseas job for Vassallo, who demonstrated great performance in Pro A. He appeared in 31 games averaging 17.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.1 steals. Vassallo ended the contest as No.4 in scoring. His season-high was 29 points against Rouen (twice) and Orleans. It seems he showed enough to earn a deal with the former French champion, who will play in Euroleague qualifications next season.

Angel D. Vassallo is a product of Virginia Tech University. He spent four years there and graduated in 2009. In his senior season Vassallo had 19.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg and 2.6 apg in 34 games. He played at the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament after that. However, none of the NBA teams was interested to offer him a deal. Vassallo joined Criollos de Caguas after that for 2009 BSN season in Puerto Rico.

Daniel Vassallo is a member of Puerto Rican National Team since last summer. He appeared at the FIBA Americas Championship in San Juan last year averaging 7.3 points and 3.4 rebounds for 10 games. He helped Puerto Rico to win the Silver medal.


source : eurobasket.com

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Pekovic out, Maric in?

Out with Montenegrin, in with the Australian?


Nikola Pekovic(2.11-C) made it clear that he wants to move to the NBA and to become a part of the Minnesota Timberwolves. Pekovic spoke to vesti-online.com on Friday and said that he is leaving Panathinaikos to join Minnesota and that he couldn't resist the offer etc.

The funny thing is that all of the Greek sports websites discovered this today and that started a chain reaction that spread the news like wildfire. But it's only 3 days old. Could be worse I guess..

On another issue, Nikola Pekovic's transition to the magic world of the NBA might bring Aleks Maric(2.11-C) closer to Panathinaikos according to the latest rumors. This can be accomplished relatively easily for Panathinaikos. Pekovic's contract would amount to 1.8 million euros and according to the old tax system in Greece it would cost Panathinaikos roughly 2.2 million euros as they would also pay the taxes to the Greek State.

Now if Pekovic moves to the NBA, Panathinaikos would get one way or the other 1 million dollars because of the clause in the contract. This translates loosely to 800,000 euros and that is the biggest portion of the 1 million euros buy-out that Partizan would want for Maric. If Maric were to get a 1 million euros contract, according to new tax system in Greece it would cost Panathinaikos 1.8 million euros in total.

So in other words it's not a far fetched scenario. More on this in the days to follow..

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Partizan signed Klobucar for 3 seasons

Partizan Belgrade signed Slovenian national team guard Jaka Klobucar to a three-year contract on Monday.


Klobucar (198, 22) arrives from Union Olimpija in Slovenia where he averaged 2.3 points in nine Euroleague games and 5.9 points in the Adriatic League last season, his second with Olimpija. Klobucar, who was born in Novo Mesto, has played for Krka, Geoplin Slovan and Olimpija during his career. Among his career highlights are winning one Slovenian League and two Slovenian Cup titles with Olimpija and playing at EuroBasket 2007 and 2009 with the Slovenian national team.

"Klobucar is young and talented player who plays both guard positions," Partizan sporting director Dragan Todoric said. "Partizan has followed him for a long time and we are very happy that he is finally with us."


source : euroleague.net


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ALBA Berlin added Marko Marinovic

ALBA Berlin signed a contract with Serbian point guard Marko Marinovic  (183-G-83).

The 27-year old player is coming to ALBA from Spanish Valencia. He appeared 28 times in ACB averaging 7.2 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.4 assists. Valencia won the EuroCup last season and Marinovic helped them with 6.9 ppg and 1.5 apg for 15 games.

Before Valencia, Marko Marinovic was a member of Crvena Zvezda Belgrade. With them he appeared 24 times in Adriatic league collecting 10.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg and 3 apg. In EuroCup, Marinovic added 10.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg and 4 apg for 11 games. Season 2007/08 Marinovic spent with Vive Menorca. A year before, he played for Akasvayu Girona. The team managed to win the FIBA EuroCup and Marinovic was one of their leading players with 9.5 ppg, 2.4 rpg and 2.9 apg for 17 games. In ACB that season he had 11.6 ppg, 2.9 rpg and 2.5 apg for 34 games. In the past Marinovic also played for Reflex Beograd, FMP Beograd and Borac Cacak.

Head coach of ALBA Berlin Luka Pavicevic is happy in getting the Serbian point guard. 'Despite his age, he has a lot of experience in the top leagues in Europe. He is known for his first class attitude and positive energy that he gives to a team. We hope that he can gives us his qualities and make us better this season', stated Luka Pavicevic for ALBA Berlin official web site.


source : eurobasket.com

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Brindisi interested in Clark and El-Amin

Keydren Clark might find a new home sooner than he thought.


According to senzacolonne.it, Keydren Clark(1.78-PG/SG) is the main candidate for the starting point guard  position of Brindisi. The Italian team won their promotion to the LegaA1 league in Italy and they are interested in signing Keyren Clark from Aris BC. Clark had an extension to his contract with Aris until 2010-2011 but it seems that very soon it will be announced that he is a free agent. Clark is not in the plans of Sharon Drucker for next season and in Aris they wouldn't want to get in his way of getting a new contract. Clark also owns a Bulgarian passport that allows him to play as an EU citizen.

The other candidate seems to be Khalid El-Amin(1.78-PG/SG) but Clark seems to be the main candidate. Clark has played in Italy before, during season 2007-2008, when he played for Scavolini. Last season wasn't great for Clark as he averaged 10.1 points 1.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 28 games in the Greek A1 league. During season 2008-2009 he averaged 14.3 points 2.4 rebounds and 2.6 assists in 35 games. Clark was also the top scorer of the Greek league during season 2006-2007 averaging 18.8 points per game.

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