HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Carlos Delfino: "We're going to rip Brazil's ass". Ole

Milwaukee Bucks, FIBA, Carlos Delfino, Argentina, Brazil 

Tiago Splitter: thanks everybody for the support, we gonna play in London 2012!!!!! Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Brazil 

If Spurs fans have been fretting about the unimpressive numbers center Tiago Splitter has been putting up in the FIBA Americas Olympic qualifying tournament, Hall of Famer Gail Goodrich has an explanation. “I just don’t see much offensive skill there,” said Goodrich, working as an analyst on ESPN’s English language telecasts of the games that will send the top two teams to the 2012 Olympic tournament in London next summer. “For a guy who was supposed to be one of the best big men in this tournament, maybe the best, he’s really struggled.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Brazil, Gail Goodrich 

The Raptors have lost another player, but this one will come back if the NBA season gets played. Guard Leandro Barbosa has signed with Brazilian club Flamengo. Barbosa’s deal has an NBA out that will be activated whenever the lockout ends. Swingman Sonny Weems has already signed to play in Lithuania for the entire season, with no lockout provision. "I'm delighted to play in Brazil after so much time, 'cause Brazilian basketball improved a lot in recent years," Barbosa said. "I had proposals from China, Turkey and other countries. But I was sure I'd be happy here." Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Lockout, Brazil, Sonny Weems 

Leandro Barbosa is going to join Flamengo (Brazil). Globo Esporte

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Lockout, Brazil 

When the lockout ends, Leandro Barbosa will return to play for the Toronto Raptors. Globo Esporte

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Lockout, Brazil 

Agents for Kobe Bryant will look for marketing agencies and companies in Brazil to facilitate a deal (to play in the country), Maquina de Esporte has learned. noticias.bol.uol.com.br

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Brazil 

The NBA lockout prevents Adonal Foyle from even sending a text message to anyone on the Orlando Magic roster — a rough situation for Foyle, who is the team's director of player development. But nothing is stopping Foyle from working with kids. On Friday, Foyle toured some of Rio de Janeiro's most impoverished areas and coached teenagers as part of the Basketball without Borders Americas program in Brazil. Along with former NBA players Allan Houston, Sam Perkins and Dominique Wilkins, Foyle is teaching youngsters from throughout the Western Hemisphere off-court lessons as well as some of the finer points of basketball. "We're using the basketball as a mechanism to break down barriers and give kids an opportunity to live healthy and successful lives," Foyle said in a phone interview. "I think basketball is a universal language. You can demonstrate everything you want from a kid on the basketball court." Orlando Sentinel

Orlando Magic, Adonal Foyle, Lockout, Brazil