HoopsHype.com Draft Rumors

Monday, November 16

He took the detour heard around the world, and he's been hearing since from a growing global chorus that he's on the wrong track. But despite three turbulent months in Israel, Jeremy Tyler says he's undeterred in his quest for the promised land of the first round of the 2011 NBA draft. "There's never a day that I regret my decision," Tyler, 18, said this week. ESPN.com

As for the schoolboy superstar's early opinion of himself, Hasin said, "I cannot say we knocked it down from 10 to 0, but I think from 10 to 7." After an up-and-down preseason and highly publicized struggles adjusting to life on his own 7,500 miles from home, Tyler's early regular season has been a virtual bust. Through three league games, he has played a total of only 20 minutes and scored just two points, both on free throws. ESPN.com

Makhtar Ndiaye, an agent with the company that represents Tyler, has been in Israel for more than two weeks and has a different perspective. "I don't think he realized how hard it would be," Ndiaye says. "We did." Ndiaye, the first player from Senegal to reach the NBA, says he can identify with the pressures Tyler is experiencing as a pioneer in his own right. "It's an honor and a burden, and you're under the microscope." "Sometimes Jeremy doesn't realize the effect of what he's saying," Ndiaye says. "He's a kid finding his way. He's a kid who needs guidance, and all parties need to step up [to support him]." ESPN.com

With a little more than three minutes left in a blowout loss Saturday, Tyler and 6-9 Moti Moscovitz of Gilboa Galil exchanged shoves. Then, according to Tyler, "He [Moscovitz] grabbed my jersey, and I accidentally head-butted him when he pulled me closer to him." Tyler was ejected, which also meant an automatic suspension for the next game. Moscovitz received two free throws and no penalty. Teammate Davon Jefferson, who played a year at Southern California and is Tyler's longtime friend, corroborated his account. "I don't think he did anything wrong, and the refs were real ridiculous," Jefferson said. "The other guy faked it with a flop, and Jeremy's a foreigner and a rookie." ESPN.com

After transferring this summer from a tiny team competing in a small league in his local first division to Italian based Benetton Treviso, we’re witnessing the first steps taken by top Lithuanian prospect Donatas Motiejunas. So far, the transition hasn’t been easy, which is to be expected considering the immense jump in the level of competition he's facing, but he has been making progress from week to week, something we’ll have to continue to track as the season moves on. Motiejunas is coming off the bench for Benetton, playing most of the frontcourt minutes (16.4 on average at the moment) left over by power forward Judson Wallace and center Sandro Nicevic. In contrast to last season, he’s not a focal point for his team offensively in the least bit, mostly living off scraps in the form of pick and roll finishes, weak-side cuts, spot-up jumpers, easy finishes recieving the ball in transition, and the occasional post-up play. Considering his rookie status and the stage of development he’s currently at, this is not a surprise in the least bit. This season has been a learning experience for Motiejunas thus far, one that will very likely be very beneficial as he makes the transition to first round draft pick and eventually, NBA player. DraftExpress.com

One of the best NBA draft oriented storylines developing in the always-interesting Adriatic league revolves around 19-year old Serbian wing player Andreja Milutinovic. Despite coming off a lackluster spring and summer at the junior level, when he played very uninspired basketball, Milutinovic has bounced back in a major way, emerging as the go-to guy of his very young FMP Zeleznik squad, and leading them in scoring thus far with nearly 14 points per game. DraftExpress.com

Wednesday, November 11

Now, Calipari. They vacated his Final Four with Memphis and I think that’s a crime. I don’t think that should be vacated. On three occasions, the NCAA clearinghouse was there in Memphis and cleared Derrick Rose to play. Flat out said, ‘play him, he’s eligible.’ Why have a clearinghouse? If they tell you somebody is eligible … don’t you have to take some responsibility as the clearinghouse? I don’t think they have any right to take away that banner. You said he was eligible. The Big Lead

One-and-done seems to be a problem plaguing college hoops right now - the latest ESPN 2010 mock draft has seven freshman going in the lottery. What needs to be done? Dick Vitale: I don’t like the one-and-done. I think it’s a disgrace to the game. I think it embarrasses the term “student-athlete.” It makes that a farce. Kids like Rose and Beasley - there’s no way in the world those kids wanted to be in college. Why should we deny them the NBA? I’d like to see this plan, we can call it the V Plan - I would love to see a panel of experts - Jerry West, Larry Bird - guys that are GMs and presidents in the NBA and have great knowledge of players’ ability - designate 5-6 kids a year that they think are legit 1st round draft choices. Those kids should have an option - college or pros. But if they go to college, they should not be allowed out until they complete their 3rd year. One and done is a joke. The Big Lead

How much longer do you want to work? You just turned 70 this summer … Dick Vitale: My idols are people like Vin Scully and Ernie Harwell. You work as long as you possibly can. Physically, emotionally, if you can handle the travel … Obviously ESPN has become a big-time player in all sports now, but I think it’s going to be really tough for CBS to give the NCAA tournament up. The Big Lead

This summer, two coaches dominated the headlines - Pitino and Calipari. How damaged are their legacies after Pitino’s sex scandal and Calipari had another Final Four scrubbed from the books? Vitale: It certainly doesn’t help their image, or their resume, and it brings the doubters out in full force. However - remember this - Rick Pitino has said it once, twice, 20 times, 50 times: He made a mistake. He made an absolute mistake. No doubt whatsoever. What he did, as a married guy, he knows was wrong. However - saying all that … he was a victim of an extortion attempt. The trial is coming up. This woman has been charged with extortion, which is a criminal offense. Rick, when I talked to him [Friday] … is so dedicated to two factors: Family and Louisville basketball. That’s all he wants to concentrate on and that’s all he wants to do. As long he has admitted to his wife and kids what a mistake he made … you know, people make mistakes. The Big Lead

When we sat down to chat with Tyler, he was very likable, though, and had the charm that one day could pay big dividends alongside NBA successes on the court. He came off as a bright, personable high school kid. But he was just that — a kid. And he still is. Except he has a $140,000 contract to play a game in a foreign country without the benefit of informed, trusted people looking out for his best interests. San Diego News Network

Sunday, November 8

I returned from Israel after spending a few days with Jeremy Tyler, and in short, things are not well with Tyler. (For all the details, here’s my story from Haifa, Israel). Tyler, according to his teammates and coaches, is immature, distracted and caught up in a web of agendas. He’s far from a bust, but with nearly two years until he’s eligible for the N.B.A. draft, things aren’t going well and need to change soon. New York Times

I spent a few days in Rome last year with Jennings and his mom, Alice Knox and little brother, Terrence Phillips. (I’m still convinced Terrence could become president some day.) Jennings was adjusting to life as a pro while there, but his struggles weren’t as intense and obvious as Tyler’s. Here are a few basic thoughts on both situations. The key difference is that Tyler went over by himself, and it’s clear he needed some structure. One of his agents, Makhtar Ndiaye, has now moved over there indefinitely to try and help Tyler better adjust. According to his teammates and coaches, Tyler isn’t in shape and doesn’t work hard. Tyler denied just about every piece of criticism about him, sounding much like a typical thin-skinned American teenager. New York Times

His coach calls him lazy and out of shape. The team captain says he is soft. His teammates say he needs to learn to shut up and show up on time. He has no friends on the team. In extensive interviews with Tyler, his teammates, coaches, his father and advisers, the consensus is that he is so naïve and immature that he has no idea how naïve and immature he is. So enamored with his vast potential, Tyler has not developed the work ethic necessary to tap it. “The question is whether he’ll take responsibility of his career,” Haifa Coach Avi Ashkenazi said. “If he thinks he’s going to be in the N.B.A. because his name is Jeremy Tyler and he was a very good high school player, he will not be.” New York Times

Discussing his problems, Tyler tended to point fingers. Asked about his immaturity, he said his teammates should treat him like a man. Asked about his reluctance to work and listen to his coaches, he said he was skeptical of their knowledge and methods. Tyler, the captain and focus of his high school’s offense, said he was still adjusting to a new role. New York Times

Two games into the season, Tyler is very much a work in progress. He’s averaging just more than seven minutes a game and has scored all of one point. He is already is beginning to confront questions about whether he should have stayed in school. “I only make history if I succeed. I didn’t come here to fail,” Tyler, sounding both frustrated and determined, said after playing a scoreless 4 1/2 minutes in a Haifa victory this week. YNetNews.com

Tyler had complained he was bored with high school competition. He now acknowledges a difficult adjustment. No longer the big man on campus, he is just another player on a professional roster, living on his own in a foreign land. There is little socializing with his teammates—grown men, many with families, all trying to carve out professional careers of their own. YNetNews.com

“My mission,” he said, “is to shake David Stern’s hand.” New York Times

Tyler still talks openly about retiring with $200 million in the bank after a 15-year N.B.A. career. He also talks about modeling, the documentary being made about him, and how he and his girlfriend, Erin Wright, the daughter of the rapper Eazy-E, will grow up to be an American power couple. But he scored just 1 point in his first two games, and his coach was baffled that a player with such great potential could arrive without basic skills like boxing out and rotating on defense. Tyler is lost, Ashkenazi said, if he cannot do what he does best: taking the ball to the rim and dunking. New York Times

For missing a workout and showing up late to an interview, Tyler was fined $1,000, the largest penalty the team had levied in three years. Tyler said he would be fined $1,000 for each subsequent violation, no matter how small, a sign the team is losing patience. “These are all men out here,” Rich said. “The way you earn respect is by keeping your mouth shut and going to work and being a professional.” New York Times

Friday, October 23

Things didn't start out exactly as he planned when Jeremy Tyler - the 18-year-old phenomenon from San Diego who signed with Maccabi Haifa this past summer, becoming the first US player to skip his senior year in high school and opt to play in Europe - got into his first game as a burly 12-year-old. The way he remembers it, Tyler - who previously had been "mostly into baseball," had fallen asleep for a while on the floor beneath the team bench, and woke up just as the second half of his local summer league team's game was starting. The youngster then checked into the game, but was unfamiliar with the rule that the teams switch baskets at halftime. "So I came in, and I don't know what happened, but I got a rebound and put it back up, and it wasn't supposed to go back up on that side," he says with a laugh after a recent Winners Cup game in Jerusalem. The mistake earned him his first nickname: Minus Two. Jerusalem Post

But Tyler is confident he's made the right move, even though he's still missing two very important things about San Diego: "Jack-in-the-Box [hamburger chain] and Mexican food." Indeed, it's hard to take the boy out of the man-child, but Tyler sounds like he knows what he's up against - a boy in a man's world on the court until he earns the respect of some of the other players in the Israeli league. "In high school, everything was a good move, but here I don't know if I've found a good move yet," he says after a practice game that saw him held to just a handful of points. "I'll just have to play it out and see what works. First, I'm here to try to help the team as much as possible to win. But individually, I'm just trying to show the world that I did make the right decision... It doesn't matter how old you are; if you have the talent, you should be able to go do it. Jerusalem Post

Despite the difficult learning curve ahead, he's still convinced making the jump from high-school ball in San Diego to the Israeli league was the right move. "What I believe is that sometimes college can take away from your game, because in college, everyone has a certain role to play... if you're the rebounder, you're supposed to get rebounds, and that's OK... but as a professional you have to be able to rebound, block shots, make outlet passes, alter the other team's shots. I just thought that college would take away from my game," says Tyler, still looking for an Israeli food he likes, despite getting invited to teammates' homes more often now. Jerusalem Post

Friday, October 16

A former Big East Player of the Year, Harangody entered his name into the NBA Draft last summer. In what coach Mike Brey referred to as a key recruiting victory, the Andrean grad decided he would return to South Bend for his fourth and final season. "The most important thing is my teammates -- I came back to spend another year with them," Harangody said Thursday at basketball media day. "I'm never going to be around a group of individuals like this again." NWI Times

Thursday, October 15

Isaiah Thomas of Tacoma said he is looking forward to his sophomore season at the University of Washington, while also admitting that it might be his last. “Whatever God has in his plan, that’s what is going to happen,” Thomas said Wednesday. “If the opportunity (to go to the NBA) is there, I’ve got to take it. If it’s there and it’s wide open and they’re talking about first round, you’ve got to look at that. But if it’s not, why not come back to college? It’s the best four years of your life.” The Olympian

Sunday, August 9

Rubio could be playing in the NBA if the Timberwolves were allowed to pay the market price. Olympiakos of Greece and Real Madrid offered Rubio $5 million contracts. Regal Barcelona came in at $3.6 million. All three clubs would have to negotiate the buyout, but Rubio would be earning enough to chip in, as well. And all are offering much more than the Timberwolves. If the richest basketball league in the world is being outbid, something doesn’t add up. An obvious solution would be for the NBA to increase the buyout limit when the next CBA is negotiated. If the limit were, say, $3 million, it would give the Timberwolves and Rubio a chance to work out a deal. Even if Minnesota offered less than European clubs, it could fork over a couple million and propose playing a couple exhibitions in Spain, donating profits to Rubio’s club. Boston Globe

But the $500,000 figure is not likely to change, since this is a minor issue compared with what the owners and players were concerned with in pre-CBA talks last week. And if the spending limit is raised too high, “It could open a can of worms,’’ according to former Real Madrid player Walt Szczerbiak, father of former Celtic Wally Szczerbiak. “The NBA wanted to protect teams, because they know how things work in Europe,’’ Szczerbiak said. “They wanted to avoid [European clubs] taking advantage of them. They didn’t want teams to be pressured into having to make a decision on paying [for a buyout] or not.’’ Boston Globe

So, in this case, there is a spending limit accepted almost without question by one league (the NBA), but viewed as a foreign concept nearly everywhere else. “I think the cap makes sense,’’ Houston general manager Daryl Morey said. “It creates a natural sort of guideline when international teams are setting buyouts. So that is beneficial to the NBA and FIBA. “Maybe there is a way to make it a sliding, graduated type of number, depending on the situation in Europe, or the number of years experience a player has, or something along those lines. Or, depending on where they are picked in the draft, they could be permitted a different buyout. But for the large majority, the cap works fine.’’ Boston Globe

“The $500,000 might as well be zero, because it’s only equal to about 350,000 euros,’’ said Guy Zucker, an agent representing several NBA players. “If European clubs are offering $3.5 million and you are offering $500,000, you don’t have a very good chance. “It’s an archaic law. If the foreign players sued, it wouldn’t stand up in court.’’ Boston Globe

Joventut is sticking to its buyout price, partly because the club could use the money and also because of friction caused, the club says, by Rubio himself. “Joventut won’t be low-balled,’’ Szczerbiak said. “They’re upset because, since the draft, they say [Rubio] has acted in a selfish manner. “He had a contractual obligation. But now he seems to be saying, ‘What’s in it for me?’ and the president of the club is saying, ‘What’s in it for the club?’ The president is saying they will keep him but he won’t play, and his salary is low enough that they can do it. But it could be a ploy.’’ Boston Globe

The Minnesota Timberwolves and Kurt Rambis have reached terms on a deal that will install Rambis as the Wolves' new head coach, according to NBA coaching sources. Long considered a potential heir apparent to Los Angeles Lakers coach Phil Jackson, Rambis was lured away from Jackson's staff by a four-year deal believed to be worth in excess of $8 million. ESPN.com

Saturday, August 8

Ricky Rubio: "They have already told me that (Joventut) has rejected Barça's offer, so I spoke with my father for him to tell Joventut that I'm staying. I've never had a problem with staying at DKV Joventut, which has been my team all my life." Marca

Jordi Villacampa, Joventut's president, thinks Ricky Rubio's words are nothing but a strategy to force his way out of the team. As

Juan Carlos Navarro: "We all can see Ricky is nervous and worried about his future and we try to helo him any way we can." El Mundo Deportivo

The foreign odyssey of the prep basketball trailblazer Jeremy Tyler will probably begin in Israel. Tyler, a 6-foot-11 prospect from San Diego, is on the cusp of signing with Maccabi Haifa, which finished in second place in Israel’s top division last season.“We are very close,” said Sonny Vaccaro, an adviser to Tyler. “Everyone is in agreement. His agents need to formalize everything.” New York Times

Wednesday, August 5

Rambis’ hiring could have a positive impact on the Wolves’ chances of luring the fifth overall pick in the draft, Spain’s Ricky Rubio. Rubio’s agent, Dan Fegan, is fond of Rambis. Yahoo! Sports

Real Madrid is still in the mix for Ricky Rubio. As

Tuesday, August 4

DKV Joventut has not ruled out the possibility of keeping Ricky Rubio while not playing him. El Mundo Deportivo

Monday, August 3

Taylor also spoke about Rubio's sticky contract situation. The 18-year-old point guard is under contract with DKV Joventut in Spain for another two years, a deal that has a buyout of around $6.6 million. The Timberwolves can offer only $500,000 to help with the deal, so the financial strain it would put on Rubio is making him think twice about coming to the NBA this season. "It appears to be just a wait and see thing," he said. "He wants to come, so that's not a problem. It's just that money deal. The team that he has played for is, so far, kind of held on to a higher figure than what his family feels they can afford to give him." St. Paul Pioneer Press

When Kahn flew to Spain to meet with Rubio's family and Joventut officials, he was hoping to help Rubio's representatives reduce the buyout to a level that would make it easier for Rubio to pay. Kahn called the trip "productive" but has not commented specifically on how things went. The way Taylor sounded Sunday, it doesn't appear much headway was made in that area. "I don't know what's going to be his options or if they're going to come down a little bit," Taylor said. "There's nothing more we can do other than go over there and say, 'I wish you guys would work it out.' " St. Paul Pioneer Press

Ricky Rubio rejected Friday the offer made by Olympiacos, the best one of all he has received. Marca.com

Sunday, August 2

Jordi Villacampa (Joventut's president): "(Ricky Rubio) cannot play for Joventut anymore." El Pais

Tona Vives (Rubio's mother): "Ricky took a hard look at Real Madrid's offer, but since his intention is going to the NBA in two years he decided it was best being around his people during that time." El Periodico de Catalunya

Esteve Rubio (Rubio's father): "Ricky has made his mind up that he wants to go to the NBA; he would like to stay with Joventut, but if that can't be and the team wants to trade him to Regal Barça, he would have no objection." El Periodico de Catalunya

At the end of the day, more than any other thing, it's the decision of a boy that wants to be in his comfort zone. One of Ricky's greatest illusions is his house, close to his grandma's (where he has lunch twice a week), which he has restored himself. Marca

"I've been a pro since I was 14 and I want to enjoy this. Do you think going to Madrid is worth it?" he asked his parents. Marca

Dave McMenamin: Canada vs. Italy basketball bench-clearing brawl today in Italy. Andrea Bargnani reportedly stayed out of the fray, didn't throw a punch. Twitter.com

Jonathan Givony: Renardo Sidney reportedly sniffing out potential landing spots in Europe...will probably find the market ice cold unless >100k is OK for him. Twitter.com

Saturday, August 1

Kahn has said that he plans to have his prospective coach sit down with Taylor before making any hire, but Taylor said that meeting has yet to take place. He and Kahn also said there is nothing to reports that the Wolves' coaching decision is a possible factor in Rubio's decision of whether to play in the NBA this season, denying that the Spanish point guard has expressed his preference to the team. "That is absolutely false," Kahn said. "That hasn't been part of it," Taylor added. "As far as Ricky, his comments (to us) have been that he wants to come here. He has no conditions. He would just like to get his buyout resolved so he can afford to come here. You know, he wants to play. He just wants to play." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Spanish newspapers have been filled with reports that Rubio could be close to signing with Real Madrid or Regal FC Barcelona, but Taylor said they haven't been disconcerting. "I'm taking them all with a little grain of salt in the sense that I know we're talking to the Rubio family directly," he said. "I know they're concerned. I know they would like to get some answer to this, too." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Ricky Rubio and FC Barcelona have had a deal in place for three weeks. Zona131.com

Ricky Rubio has rejected Real Madrid's offer because he wants to keep living in El Masnou. El Mundo Deportivo

Sunday, July 26

Jerry Zgoda: David Kahn is back from Spain. Called week working for Rubio's release "productive" but declined further comment. Twitter.com

Duffy said he believes it will be a challenge for Timberwolves President of Basketball Operations David Kahn to get Rubio in the lineup in the next two years. And Duffy has had a lot of experience representing overseas players with buyouts. "I think it may be a challenge, but the bottom line is that a small team in Spain wants money, so what may happen is that he may end up going to a bigger club in Spain -- they basically pay part of the buyout and then when he comes to the NBA, they get the rest," Duffy said. "But that team [DKV Joventut] needs money now, so they are more likely to sell him to another team like Real Madrid or Barcelona, who can pay the buyout now and then they will collect the rest when he comes to the NBA, because he is still going to have to pay the same amount, so there is a possibility that may happen." Minneapolis Star Tribune

Duffy is also a great judge of talent, according to former Timberwolves chief Kevin McHale. So when Duffy says he didn't have Ricky Rubio, the team's top draft choice, rated as fifth in the first round, you listen. "To be honest with you, the other kid, Brandon Jennings, who played in Italy, ranked higher," said Duffy, referring to his client, a point guard who was picked 10th by Milwaukee. "I had three other first-round point guards, but I didn't have [Rubio] ranked that high. I think he is pretty good, but I think he might be a little hyped up. Minneapolis Star Tribune

"He is a flashy guy and he is young, but I think it is a lot of hype. I mean, he will be a good player, but they are trying to compare him with my guy Steve Nash or John Stockton -- I don't see that." Minneapolis Star Tribune

Saturday, July 25

Ricky Rubio is about to sign a deal with Real Madrid for the next two seasons. Telemadrid

"I don't know anything about that offer from Real Madrid," said Jordi Villacampa (Joventut's president). Marca.com

Wednesday, July 1

Real Madrid wants to sign Ricky Rubio and Jorge Garbajosa. AS.com

How hard was draft night, watching all the other draft picks selected until you were taken at No. 28. Wayne Ellington: It was very tough, I was drained emotionally. It was crazy. I can’t even describe it. My palms were sweating. HoopsHype.com

Are you looking to come in and be a starter for the Timberwolves? Wayne Ellington: That is definitely what I am looking for. I feel it’s a great opportunity. HoopsHype.com

Tuesday, June 30

Timberwolves owner Glen Taylor is hoping to have Spanish point guard Ricky Rubio in a Minnesota uniform this season, but he knows it won't be easy. ot with Rubio needing to work out a $6.6 million buyout with his Spanish team before he can play in the NBA. "Our goal is to give them time to try to resolve their issues to work it out so he can be here this year," Taylor said today. "Without question, that's our No. 1 choice. But if because of his contract and his money problems he has to stay over there another year to get that resolved, that isn't something that we couldn't work with. After all, he is 18 years of age. That's like a high school kid coming out. Another year of experience would probably only give us a better player." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Asked if Rubio or his agent have said anything about not wanting to play in Minnesota, Taylor said, "Not to my knowledge." Taylor, who has kept a low media profile since hiring Kahn on May 21, said he hopes Rubio's contractual situation can be resolved quickly, "but I would guess this is going to take a little while." Asked if not having Rubio this season would be a tough sell to fans who cheered his selection on draft day, Taylor said: "It would be tougher this year. Probably if he came in next year, it then would be better. It isn't like that's a terribly bad thing, if he can't work it out any other way and that's what he has to do. I'm just comfortable that we can work with him on that." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Does Kahn have any interest in trading him? “None,” Kahn says, “but you know how this works. If we’re offered Dwyane Wade ... but this was not done with the intention to trade him. I’ve been in love with this player for years.” Portland Tribune

Executives across the league are flooding Timberwolves president David Kahn's office with calls offering trades to bring Rubio's slick passing skills and moptop hairstyle to their cities. In the Twin Cities, fans can't wait to see the highlight factory zipping behind-the-back feeds to Al Jefferson and Kevin Love. But Rubio's availability for the upcoming season has been cast into doubt by a $6.6 million buyout of his contract with DKV Joventut in Spain. His agent, Dan Fegan, is trying to negotiate that number down to ease the financial burden on his client, and there is some question as to whether Rubio wants to play in the relatively small Minnesota market. AP

That’s OK with Kahn, who by the way, has a good relationship with Fegan, and wasn’t going to be bluffed into passing on Rubio – blessed with Pete Maravich-like flair and passing skills – at No. 5. “I saw Ricky play in March in Spain, and I think he could be something that’s never been seen before in our game,” Kahn says. “I’m not saying he’ll be the best player ever, but he is unique. You have to see him to believe it. I’m not talking about what he can do now. He’s so young, with his whole career in front of him. “Ricky has already played in a gold-medal game for his country. Watching video of that game, it’s eerie. He’s 17, yet he looks like he belongs out there.” Portland Tribune

Real Madrid, Efes Pilsen and a Greek team are among those interested in signing Rubio. El Pais

Clearing up one piece of draft business: While one of the many executives who spoke with the Nets on draft night came away convinced that the team had selected Terrence Williams for someone else with the No. 11 pick, a person with knowledge of the situation said Monday that T-Will is most likely to stay in New Jersey. On the heels of trading Vince Carter in the hours before the draft, the Nets had conversations with numerous teams involving, among other things, the No. 11 pick. Nothing came to fruition, and while the Nets are still listening, it appears that Williams is staying put for now. CBSSports.com

Another source said Eyenga's agents purposely kept him under wraps and didn't promote him much during the draft season in hoping that he could slip through without being picked. Not only would that have helped with negotiations with European teams, but it can be an advantage because then he could sign with any NBA team when he was ready. He also wouldn't be stuck to a rookie scale contract. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Dumars wracked his brain trying to remember where he might have met this 22-year-old kid from Sweden. Then Jerebko reminded him about the 2001 Euroleague Championship, which was held in Sweden. "I remember there was this little kid maybe 12, 13 years old who kept running up and sitting with me, bringing me stat sheets, bringing me cokes and popcorn," Dumars said. "He was telling me which guys could play and which guys couldn't play. I basically adopted him for two days and at the end he says to me, 'One day I want to play in the NBA.' And I am like, 'Sure, OK.'" And there he was, eight years later, drafted by the Pistons in the second round. "He said to me in my office, 'Remember the kid from the Euro championships?' And I said, 'Do you know that kid?' And he said, 'I am that kid.' I was like, you've got to be kidding me." Detroit News

Former Lake Howell and Florida Gators standout Nick Calathes told Channel 9 that he made his decision to honor his contract with Greece and play overseas. Calathes was selected 45th overall in the 2009 NBA draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves and then traded to the Dallas Mavericks. Prior to Thursday's draft, Calathes agreed to a 2 year deal with an option for a third that would pay him $3.5 million dollars with Euroleague team Panathinaikos. Both he and the Mavericks thought it would be best for the guard to play in Europe where he'll get more playing time to sharpen his skills. WFTV Orlando

Monday, June 29

Ricky Rubio was reportedly in Minnesota this weekend to meet with Wolves GM David Kahn, whose decision to draft the Spanish guard is looking better by the minute. Mitch Lawrence in Sunday's Daily News reported that the Wolves turned down a deal with the Houston Rockets that would have resulted in Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier headed to Minnesota for Rubio. If the Wolves are receiving those types of offers—Brooks and Battier were starters on a playoff team - do the Knicks really have much of a chance to get Rubio? Donnie Walsh is offering Wilson Chandler but that's not going to get it down. Walsh originally offered Chandler to Washington to get the fifth pick last week. New York Daily News

But he took Rubio to trade him. Now comes the hard part: Finding Rubio a new home. Houston was one of the first teams to come in with an offer. But the Rockets got nowhere with Aaron Brooks and Shane Battier. New York Daily News

Q: Hey Ira, any chance that Miami, with its large Hispanic population, would make a run at trading for Ricky Rubio? Some package of Cook, Chalmers, draft pick(s) might work. He would be a marketing dynamo, would allow Wade to play more off the ball, and a guy with his passing could really help draw Bosh in 2010. -- Shane. A: At this stage of the game, it likely would take Beasley as a starting point to get involved in the bidding. The price, however, could go down over time. Cook, Chalmers and picks in no way is going to get it done. The 'Wolves would need a replacement guard, something the Heat doesn't truly have to offer. And it's not as if Minnesota needs any of the Heat's expiring contracts. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Well-placed people inside the Wolves say they don’t know whether Rubio slipped into town or whether Kahn will try to meet with him and/or Fegan when Kahn hits the road this week to begin his coaching search. Minneapolis Star Tribune

So what's the holdup? Here are the possibilities: # He doesn't want to play in Minnesota. # The Spanish version of the IRS is making life very difficult for him. # He isn't really sure what he wants to do. What if he stays in Spain for another year or two, and Jonny Flynn establishes himself as a terrific point guard for the Wolves? That is entirely possible. Then what? Tell Flynn he has to switch positions? Trade Rubio? With each passing day, it appears less likely that Rubio will be in Minnesota this fall. Kahn says he loves Jonny Flynn. Wolves fans probably should take the same approach and try to forget about the other guy. St. Paul Pioneer Press

Sources told TUBASKET.com that Real Madrid GM Jorge Valdano called Ricky Rubio to ask him if he would like to play with Real Madrid. TuBasket.com

While he waited for his chance, Hudson hit the gym with a strict regimen of a 1,000 jumpshots a day. It was a humbling experience that forced him to grow up on and off the court. “He didn’t complain, didn’t whine,” James said. “He just got in the gym everyday and made himself a better player, and that’s just kind of how he is. I think the year he sat out really kind of helped him grow up. It matured him because he knew there were things he had to do to play basketball and he knew there were things he had to get better at.” The following season Hudson prepared to make his mark on the Skyhawks. At a kick-off potluck dinner, UTM Athletic Communications Director Joe Lofaro handed Hudson a flip card of the team’s roster. He had never met Hudson before and asked him to pick out the best player. Hudson pointed to himself. “He can do everything,” he told Lofaro. Three games later, Hudson recorded the first quadruple-double in NCAA Division 1 history with 25 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, and 10 steals against Central Baptist College. It was Lofaro who realized Hudson was closing in and prompted him to snag the final two steals -- not necessarily because he wanted UTM to win but because he wanted Hudson to succeed. WEEI

But Hudson is used to waiting. After all, he waited long enough to reach the NBA at 24 years old. James believes Hudson’s defensive toughness, court vision, and offensive range will be a fit for the Celtics once he adapts to their system and speed of the NBA. In the meantime, he expects Rivers will enjoy working with his former player. “He is a very coachable young man,” James said. “He takes criticism well. He understands that you may get on him but you’re not necessarily getting on him as much as you’re getting on what he did. He wants to please you so he’ll do whatever he can to fix it. “You know, because of what he’s been through in his life, it takes him a second to learn to trust you. But once he trusts you, even as his coach, he’ll do anything in the world for you.” WEEI