HoopsHype.com Rumors

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 

Leandro Barbosa: "I thank the Brazilian Basketball Confederation, once again, for the confidence and consideration of calling me to play for the Brazilian National Team in the 2011 season. I regret to inform you that due to personal reasons this time I cannot attend this call. There always will be, for me, above all things, pride and honor to wear the Brazilian jersey. Thanks again for the consideration and trust that this institution has placed in me over these 10 years playing for the Brazilian team, and I hope that the CBB can understand." BasketBrasil

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil 

The Brazilian Basketball Confederation will pay the insurance for San Antonio Spurs' Tiago Splitter for the upcoming Olympic qualifying tournament in Argentina reports globoesporte.com. With the NBA lockout in full swing, insurance issues have come up for foreign NBA players hoping to play for their home countries over the summer. Case in point, Spurs' Tony Parker who recently said he will not play for France should he not get insured. However, it would appear Splitter is in the clear and will be taking part in three friendly exhibition games for Brazil when they face Mexico twice, and Team USA made up of college players leading up to the tournament in Argentina. ProjectSpurs.com

San Antonio Spurs, Tony Parker, Tiago Splitter, France, Brazil 

Chris Tomasson: Brazil coach Ruben Magnano said in Brazil Nene's wife to have their 1st son 3rd week in July. With that and contract, not playing natl team Twitter

Nene, Brazil 

Alvaro Martin: CBB.com.br: Nenê "requests permission from the Brazil's NT not to play in the 2011 Olympic qualifier for contractual and personal reasons". Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Nene, Brazil 

Would it be a dream come true to play in Brazil? Is the money comparable? Has a player of his stature ever played in Brazil? He is living his dream playing in the NBA, however he has not forgotten his roots and where he comes from. Artur Barbosa: He is proud to be Brazilian and would be honored to play on a Brazilian team. He has had the chance to play on the national team and enjoyed it. The money can be comparable depending on the situation and structure of his contract. Brazil has a strong economy and if he has to choose between not playing basketball because the NBA is locked out and playing in Brazil (or Europe) he will choose to play. He is a competitor and wants to compete. ESPN.com

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil 

Artur Barbosa: We have received offers from different teams in Brazil and while we are in the final stages of negotiations with them, we have yet to come to a final agreement. We are also aware of the heightened interest from many of the top European teams and are definitely open to that possibility. There are several factors that the European teams have indicated that show their interest in Leandro. For example, Leandro’s game suits a European style because of his great shooting ability and many teams in Europe would love a skilled offensive player such as Leandro. HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil 

Brazil national team coach Ruben Magnano named a roster of 20 players who will play at two tournaments for the Brazil selection committee before the roster is trimmed down to 12 players for the pre-Olympic tournament in Argentina. Magnano, who was formerly the coach of the Argentina National Team, named several NBA players to his roster, including San Antonio Spurs center Tiago Splitter. Splitter will join Toronto's Leandro Barbosa, Cleveland's Anderson Varejao and Denver's Nene. Several longtime Brazil team members, Marcelinho Huertas, former Spurs guard Alex Garcia and Marcelino Machado will also be competing for the final 12 spots. ProjectSpurs.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Tiago Splitter, Leandro Barbosa, Anderson Varejao, Brazil 

Flamengo would be the favorite to land Leandro’s services, according to Artur, with Corinthians also a possibility. “Right now, we are waiting for proposals from Brazil and we would make a decision after that,” Artur said. “He could stay in Toronto, he could go to Flamengo during the lockout and then return for the rest of the season or he could sign a long contract in Brazil.” HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil 

Artur is confident, though, his little brother could be an exception to the norm. “If Leandro goes there, he will be a player that makes money like a (soccer) player because he comes from the NBA and a lot of sponsors want the association with his name because he is a celebrity in Brazil.” HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil 

Raptors guard Leandro Barbosa will wait and see what offers he has from Brazil before making a decision about exercising the $7.6 million option on his contract with Toronto or not, Leandro’s brother Arturo Barbosa told HoopsHype. “There is big money in Brazil right now,” said Artur, a former military negotiator at the country’s army and Leandro’s personal trainer for many years. “There are a lot sponsorships opportunities and money is flowing there, so I have to open (Leandro’s) eyes to these opportunities. We love Toronto and the fans and he would love to stay there, but business is business and Brazil is an option we would have to consider.” HoopsHype

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil 

Though he has committed to play for Brazil, Splitter won’t play unless his contract with the Spurs can be insured. “I told (Brazilian team officials) that of course there is a problem,” Splitter said. “Most important is the insurance. If the NBA is in lockout, I don’t have insurance to play with them. They have to figure out how to deal (with) that. If not, I’m not playing.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Brazil 

Under the current CBA, teams can’t prohibit players from competing in FIBA events. However, NBA teams must be indemnified against injury incurred in international competition. The cost of insuring contracts worth millions is significant. “We start in July, our camp with national team,” Splitter said. “I will be (in Brazil), waiting (for) what they can find. There are a lot of international players with the same issue. I don’t know who is going to take care of (insurance): FIBA or companies or even the federation. So everybody is waiting. “It is going to be expensive, and it is going to cost more for guys with big contracts, so it is really going to cost a lot for Tony (Parker) and Manu (Ginobili) because they must insure the whole contract.” San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Brazil 

Leandro Barbosa had a visitor following Sunday’s game asking him a question he can’t quite answer yet. Ruben Magnano, the head coach of the Brazilian national basketball team was in the crowd for Sunday’s loss to Charlotte. It was the final stop of an NBA tour for the Argentine who was hoping to get commitments from the NBA players on the national team roster. Barbosa, reluctantly, could not give Magnano a commitment for a couple of reasons. Toronto Sun

Toronto Raptors, Leandro Barbosa, Brazil 

The words uttered by NBA commissioner David Stern were music to Leandro Barbosa’s ears, a declaration that resonated in the shooting guard’s native land. Under Stern’s watch, the NBA game has gone global, a reach that will involve a first this season when the Raptors and New Jersey Nets play a regular-season game in London. But what has Barbosa excited is the prospect of the league staging exhibition games in Brazil. “It will be a huge success,’’ the Brazilian Blur said. “The economy in Brazil is strong and getting stronger. There is a lot of interest in basketball and there are many leagues.” Toronto Sun

Leandro Barbosa, David Stern, Brazil 

David Stern is promising Brazilian fans they will soon have the chance to watch NBA players in action in their own country. The NBA commissioner said during a news conference Wednesday that preseason games will be held in Brazil "likely prior to the 2014 World Cup", when Brazil will organize the showcase football tournament. MSNBC.com

David Stern, Brazil 

Alvaro Martin: FIBA's Patrick Baumann: we aim to boost the number of basketball teams in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympic Games from 12 to 16. Twitter

FIBA, Brazil, Olympic Games 

Brian Mahoney: Derrick Rose, on Barbosa's miss at buzzer in 70-68 U.S. win: "I thought it was in, but thank God it came out." Twitter

Leandro Barbosa, USA Basketball, Derrick Rose, Brazil 

Andre Iguodala: That move by barbosa was wicked wasn't it? Respect where respect is due... I was like "please miss the shot!" Twitter

Andre Iguodala, Leandro Barbosa, USA Basketball, Brazil