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So Wednesday and Thursday of last week, Bobcats and Fuenlabrada management huddled. What Higgins first heard was stunning: Fuenlabrada expected 4 million Euros - about $5.2 million - to permit Biyombo to sign with the Bobcats. "I couldn't believe it,'' Higgins recalled. "They were steadfast on the 4 million. At that point, talks basically broke down. We knew what we could do," and that wasn't doable. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

The Bobcats spared no effort trying to resolve this. Aside from their in-house attorney, Andre Walters, and general manager Rich Cho (who has a law degree) the team retained a New York law firm and a local attorney fluent in Spanish to aid in the talks. Negotiating on Biyombo's behalf, they made one last offer of about $1.5 million -- $525,000 to be paid by the Bobcats and the rest by Biyombo. That offer was rejected as the meetings with Fuenlabrada broke up Thursday. Biyombo kept sitting out practice, looking more glum by the day. Higgins began seriously considering the possibility the No. 7 pick might never play this season."I was so afraid for the kid," Higgins said. "Every time we felt like there was a clear-cut resolution, something would change. Always a different speed bump along the road." Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

Ramón Trecet: BIYOMBO: The sides sides have come to an agreement. Fuenlabrada will earn €1.2 million € (around $1.6 million) and FIBA will send the transfer. Biyombo will sign with Charlotte. Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

Forward Bismack Biyombo is free to join the Charlotte Bobcats after agreeing to pay the buyout clause to release him from his contract with Spanish club Fuenlabrada. Fuenlabrada said on Monday that Biyombo had agreed to pay the 1.2 million euros (US$1.5 million) clause that will free him from the remaining two years of his contract. Winnipeg Free Press

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

Fuenlabrada has cut a deal with the Charlotte Bobcats to trade Biyombo for a million euros ($1.3 million). Encestando

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

The future of Bismack Biyombo is up in the air. The young player, picked by Charlotte Bobcats in the last NBA draft is taken hostage by Fuenlabrada who is asking €4M as buyout to let him leave for the States. Sportando

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

Fuenlabrada valued the player €4M: 1.2M as buyout, plus the federal rights until December 2014, plus a fine for having missed 4 games and 64 practices last season before ACB playoffs when Biyombo left to have some workouts in the States. The Spanish team is ready to negotiate a buyout to help Biyombo to leave but the NBA team are allowed to pay maximum $500.000 as buyout and the difference, in this case, should be paid by the young player. Sportando

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

FIBA denied yesterday to give to Biyombo the transfer while the Spanish court dismissed his request to break unilaterally his contract. The trial, scheduled for next Monday, won't be held. Sportando

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

Emiliano Carchia: Fuenlabrada informed that FIBA didn't give the transfer to Bobcats Draftee Bismack Biyombo Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Bismack Biyombo 

Charlotte Bobcats rookie Bismack Biyombo believes his contract issues with a Spanish pro team won't linger beyond the start of training camp Dec. 9. "We're working on that and I expect things to be done soon," Biyombo told the Observer Friday. "It will be resolved on time. I'm pretty sure that I'll be in training camp with the rest of the guys" in a week. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Bismack Biyombo 

Today is the first day NBA players are welcome back in team training facilities. It's unclear how many Bobcats are back in Charlotte, but Higgins said Biyombo might be here soon, despite him still being under contract to a Spanish team. The Observer reported Tuesday that Biyombo is suing that team in Spain for breach of contract. The trial is set to begin Dec,. 19, and presumably if Biyombo wins, he would be free to sign with the Bobcats. His Spanish team wants a seven-figure transfer fee before Biyombo is allowed to sign with the Bobcats. Higgins described the Biyombo contract situation as "forever evolving.'' NBA rules allow the Bobcats to pay up to $500,000 toward a transfer fee. Any more would be Biyombo's responsibility. Biyombo has said repeatedly and emphatically that he'll play for the Bobcats this season. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

Some of you have been asking about Charlotte Bobcats rookie Bismack Biyombo and his contract complications in Spain. I just had a brief conversation with Biyombo's USA-based agent, Joel Bell. He said there's a civil trial scheduled for Dec. 19 in Spain. Biyombo is suing Fuenlabrada, the team Biyombo played for last season, for breach of contract. If Biyombo won that suit, he'd lkely be free of that contract and able to sign with the Bobcats. This has now become a more pressing issue, with the lockout likely to end in time for training camps and free-agency to start Dec. 9. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

As I reported last Saturday on Marca.com, African center Bismack Biyombo has terminated his relationship with his Spanish agent and is now being represented by Bell Management. The agreement is only for the NBA. conbdebaloncesto.es

Agents, Bismack Biyombo, Joel Bell 

Emiliano Carchia: In a press release, Fuenlabrada informed that the club owns 80% of the rights of Bismack Biyombo till June 2014 and the buyout is $3M Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

Bismack Biyombo on status of contract situation: I can guarantee a lot of people. There's a lot of things going on with that and we're working on that and hopefully before the season start we can get it done. I'm pretty sure [this] season I'm going to be there and I'm in my team jersey playing for Charlotte and be in the league. For sure I'll be in the league. A lot of people heard different stuff, but I guarantee people I will be in the league. We're working on the contract and everything and it'll be OK. There is no worries about it. Salt Lake Tribune

Charlotte Bobcats, Bismack Biyombo 

Brian T. Smith: Biyombo working out with trainer Marc Jackson in Tampa. Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Bismack Biyombo 

Some of you have asked me what's the significance of FIBA not clearing Bismack Biyombo to sign an NBA contract. It's about money and leverage. That Spanish team doesn't mind losing Biyombo to the Charlotte Bobcats, but they want every bit of a buyout of about $1.4 million to release him. The Spanish Federation and, by extension, FIBA is backing the team. So Biyombo and the Bobcats will eventually have to pay up to get this resolved. This is the pitfall of using high picks on International players. But as Dirk Nowitzki, the Gasol brothers and Tony Parker all demonstrate, foreigners can have huge impact on an NBA team's success. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Spain, Bismack Biyombo 

The NBA lockout isn't the only thing keeping the Charlotte Bobcats from signing their top draft pick. FIBA, basketball's international governing body, recently declined to provide the NBA clearance to sign forward Bismack Biyombo, the Observer has learned. Biyombo, drafted seventh overall in June, is still under contract to a Spanish team and the Spanish Federation is enforcing that contract. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, FIBA, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

In an email reply to an Observer inquiry, FIBA spokesman Andrew Robotham wrote: "The NBA has indeed requested a Letter of Clearance (LoC) for the Player Bismack Biyombo. In accordance with the NBA/FIBA Agreement, FIBA has contacted the Spanish Federation in order to obtain the LoC. "However, the Spanish Basketball Federation refused to issue the LoC in view of the fact that the Player is still under contract with a team in Spain." Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, FIBA, Spain, Bismack Biyombo, Fuenlabrada 

The NBA lockout isn’t the only thing keeping the Charlotte Bobcats from signing their top draft pick. FIBA, basketball’s international governing body, recently declined to provide the NBA clearance to sign forward Bismack Biyombo, the Observer has learned. Biyombo, drafted seventh overall in June, is still under contract to a Spanish team and the Spanish Federation is enforcing that contract. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Lockout, Bismack Biyombo