Ball in Europe, the European Basketball Blog

"C'mon! Don't trade me!"

With only three NBA games going last night, the most surprising story of the American evening needn’t have been too mind-blowing, but Sasha Vujacic’s performance in the Los Angeles’ Lakers surprisingly easy 101-89 win over the San Antonio Spurs was among the more remarkable at least.

Vujacic ended up with eight points on 3-of-3 shooting in the win and played 14 minutes. Sasha started the second quarter with a lineup full of showroom models just waiting to be taken away before the NBA trade deadline later this month: Along with Pau Gasol, Vujacic hit the floor with Jordan Farmar, Josh Powell and Luke Walton – all subjects of trade rumors in the past two weeks.

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Euroleague officials announced a pair of contract signings to kick off the week today: AJ Milano stole away long-time Zalgiris player Jonas “The Bull” Maciulis from his homeland of Lithuania, inducing him to sign a two-year deal in Italy. On the other hand, Maciulis’ countryman Ksistof Lavrinovic will stay right where he has played for two seasons, as the center re-upped with Montepaschi Siena through 2011-12.

And Lithuania was involved in a third deal as well when Maccabi Electra Tel Aviv officially announced the day’s coup: The signing of Chuck Eidson, who led Lietuvos Rytas to a ridiculous five titles last season, including the EuroCup competition in which he was named MVP.
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According to ESPN’s Chad Ford and Draftexpress, Nenad Kristic is leaving Russia and Triumph Lyubertsy. And since the story even ran on ESPN last night, it seems to be more than just a rumor. Sources say that GM Sam Presti of the worst NBA team so far, the Oklahoma City Thunder, is making this move to bring Nenad back to the NBA.

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The Blazers Blog at Oregon Live posted this video of Rudy Fernandez arriving at the airport in Portland. In some way to me it looks like Rudy is a perfect James Bond character, doesn’t he? Continue Reading…

Krepsinis.net lets us know about the possible offer from big-time club CSKA Moscow to get Krilenko back to Russia.

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All over the internet has the rumor spread that Ben Gordon has been offered €5.5 million Euros to join a team that already looks like they can win the Euroleague. As always, CSKA is denying this. It is also said that Ben Gordon would take an European offer of at least €7 million.

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Mario Kasun is probably (99.9%) leaving FC Barcelona, Continue Reading…

Air Avellino, an Italian club that just made it to the Euroleague for the first time, named Dan Dickau their new point guard. According to club President Vincenzo Ercolino, Air Avelino was looking for Dan, because of their aim “to find a player that could make a difference and dictate the tempo of our team. He is a serious professional with NBA experience. We have nothing to envy of any other playmaker that arrived in Italy this year.”

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Virtus Bologna’s agreement with Earl Boykins is only the latest sign: It is now clear that the Italian League is ready to return to its past and glorious times of the 1990s when Bologna was called “Basket City” and the whole movement was at the top in Europe. Serie A is on the rise again, just in time before a season that scares many general managers because of controversies and possible changes to regulations on the use of Italian players currently left at the ends of benches. The reality, however, says Italian players can’t bring you to a Euroleague title. Many countries have looked overseas and to the best European leagues to renovate their teams, and return ambitiously to Europe. Analysis of the best Italian teams shows a huge number of credible contenders; Siena and Roma aren’t alone anymore.

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Being at a basketball camp 24/7 right now does not help in staying on top of things: Today there are 129 new emails in my inbox and a lot of new developments going on. I guess I’m lucky to be at the 76ers camp, where the director has great connections and informs me about current events from time to time.

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