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“It’s going to be amazing, big. The national team is going to be here, but I don’t know if I’m going to be on the list,” Nene said, while shrugging his shoulders. Now he knows. Brazil Coach Ruben Magnano announced on Thursday that Nene, Indiana Pacers guard Leandro Barbosa, Cleveland Cavaliers forward Anderson Varejao and Tiago Splitter of the San Antonio Spurs would be on his 15-player list for the national team. Only 12 players will be in London. Washington Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Tiago Splitter, Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, Nene, Brazil, Olympics 

Nene had asked to be released from the team before the FIBA Americas championship last summer, citing “personal” and “contractual” reasons. Fans and other Brazilain players were critical of the decision, but Nene was a free agent and likely didn’t want to risk injury. He eventually signed a five-year, $65-million contract with the Denver Nuggets before getting traded to the Wizards for JaVale McGee and Ronny Turiaf at the deadline. Barbosa also backed out of the tournament, but Brazil advanced without either player. Magnano said in a news conference that he added both players with the hope of fielding the best team. “I decided to give them another chance after personally talking to them,” Magnano said. “I wouldn’t call up a player if I didn’t have any trust in him.” Washington Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, San Antonio Spurs, Washington Wizards, Tiago Splitter, Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, Nene, Brazil, Olympics 

Jorge Sierra: Wizards big man Nenê and Pacers guard Leandro Barbosa are among the players in Brazil's list for the Olympics. The Brazilian National Team did great at the FIBA Americas tournament without them last year and there was some backlash in the country against both Nenê and Barbosa, who passed on playing. In the end, pragmatism kicked in. Brazil needs to be at full force to compete for the medals. Sulia

Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards, Leandro Barbosa, Nene, Brazil, Olympics 

Tom Withers: #Cavs GM Chris Grant says he will not discourage Anderson Varejao from playing for Brazil in London Olympics. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, FIBA, Chris Grant, Anderson Varejao, Brazil 

Tom Withers: #Cavaliers C Anderson Varejao still wants to play again this season and intends to play for Brazil in London Olympics as long as healthy. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Injuries, Anderson Varejao, Brazil 

Varejao has been out of the lineup since Feb. 10. According to the latest medical update supplied by the team, he won't begin to practice until early April. With the team falling out of the playoff race and the season ending on April 26, he was asked, why rush back? "Because I am part of the team and I want to help even if we don't have any more chance at the playoffs," Varejao said. "I want to play, that's what I get paid for. "Last year, I was hurt [torn tendon in ankle] and this season I got hurt too. I want to play. This is what I love to do." Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Injuries, Anderson Varejao, Brazil 

“We have again scheduled an extremely challenging lineup of exhibition opponents for our USA Men’s National Team. In addition to playing world powers Spain and Argentina, the team will also face FIBA Americas powers Brazil and the Dominican Republic. Add in what I’m sure will be a very competitive game in Manchester versus Great Britain, and we have an exciting tour schedule we believe will help get our team as best prepared as possible for the summer,” Jerry Colangelo, USA Basketball chairman and national team managing director, said in a statement. Washington Post

USA Basketball, Spain, Argentina, Brazil, Dominican Republic 

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar: In Salvador, Brazil today on my first Cultural Ambassador trip with @statedept and the key themes are #education and to #engageyouth. Twitter

Brazil, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar 

Brazil guard Leandro Barbosa has said good-bye to the fans of Flamengo, the club he played for during the NBA lockout. The high-scoring guard, who is returning to the Toronto Raptors, is under contract with the Canadian club for one more season. "I don't have the words to thank the fans," Barbosa said. "I was welcomed with open arms and I will never forget the kindness I received here. "They will be forever in my memory. It was a very special and happy moment of my career." FIBA.com

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil 

Leandrinho Barbosa: Dude, I received the news from my wife. I was sleeping and she was in the hairdresser. She called me and woke me up already crying. It was shocking. We weren't waiting for it. We were planning a big Christmas with our family and I dont think it'll happen anymore. Still not oficial, but it's unfortunate. Basketeria

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Lockout, Brazil 

Leandrinho Barbosa: This moment here with Flamengo was very good for me, even as a basketball experience. I am very happy to have had that special moment. The opportunity given by the Flamengo. But I'm under contract and I have to go back. Basketeria

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Lockout, Brazil 

Leandrinho Barbosa: I want invite all my team, and NBA players to came at Brazil in my first game in gavea against Paulistano you are welcome#FLA Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Lockout, Brazil 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Tom Reed: To clarify, Varejao is in Rio with his niece for Justin Bieber show Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Anderson Varejao, Brazil, Justin Bieber 

Citing the poor global economic climate, the director of basketball for the Brazilian team Flamengo Arnaldo Szpiro said the team has ceased their pursuit to sign San Antonio Spurs' Tiago Splitter. "The crisis ended any possibility of the coming of the Splitter. The partners are afraid to invest large sums." However, Flamengo is not without an NBA player during this lockout. The team was able to sign Leandro Barbosa but even Szpiro said the team was fortunate to sign Barbosa. "If it were today, for example, not even Barbosa would come, "said Szpiro." ProjectSpurs.com

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Lockout, Brazil, Flamengo 

Meanwhile, Ginobili confirmed he had an offer from Brazil. "They contacted my agent, but we rejected the offer. If I don't play with the San Antonio Spurs, I will only play with Bologna." DiarioShow

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Lockout, Brazil 

Before departing Argentina, where he helped Brazil qualify for next summer’s Olympic tournament, center Tiago Splitter told the Express-News he would sign on with Flamengo, a Brazilian club where former Suns guard Leandro Barbosa currently plays, if training camps were postponed or canceled. “I do not want to be waiting for something to happen,” Splitter said. “I want to be playing, so if our (Spurs) camp will not start on time then I think I will sign with Flamengo. “Of course, I will make sure I will be able to join the Spurs when the lockout ends, but I want to be playing and working on my game.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Lockout, Brazil, Flamengo 

Ruben Magnano will have to make a difficult call for next year's Games. Will he call up Leandrinho Barbosa and Nene Hilario, the two NBA players that missed FIBA Americas for questionable reasons? "It's not our issue," answered Tiago Splitter, another NBA player for the San Antonio Spurs. "We are friends with all of them and it's the coach's decision." FIBA.com

FIBA, Nene, Brazil, Olympics, Leandrinho Barbosa 

Tiago Splitter is considering the possibility of playing in Brazil during the lockout. Abril

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Lockout, Brazil 

The president of the Brazilian Basketball Federation said that there is a possibility that NBA players Leandro Barbosa and Nenê don't make the team to play the Olympic Games in London 2012. El Vocero Hispano

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Nene, Brazil, Olympics 

He said is up to Argentinean coach Ruben Magnano to make the final decision, but he thinks the only NBA player that should go to the Olympics is Anderson Varejao, who didn't play the pre-Olympic tournament because he was injured. El Vocero Hispano

Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, Nene, Brazil, Olympics