HoopsHype.com Rumors

Jorge Sierra: The Sefolosha-to-Fenerbahce deal is done, agent Guy Zucker confirms. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Lockout, Turkey, Thabo Sefolosha, Fenerbahce Ulker 

Starting shooting guard Thabo Sefolosha has agreed to play in Turkey. A Swiss television network first reported the deal Tuesday night. Sefolosha's agent, Guy Zucker, confirmed the report to The Oklahoman. Sefolosha will join the Turkish club Fenerbahce Ulker and is expected to sign as early as Wednesday. Because Sefolosha is under contract with the Thunder, his deal will contain an out clause with Fenerbahce that allows him to return to the NBA whenever the lockout is lifted. Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Lockout, Turkey, Thabo Sefolosha, Fenerbahce Ulker 

Jorge Sierra: Agent Guy Zucker told HoopsHype last night Thabo Sefolosha had not still signed with Fenerbahce, but could do so as early as today. Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Lockout, Turkey, Thabo Sefolosha, Fenerbahce Ulker 

Zucker said he had been in talks with Istanbul-based Fenerbahce for awhile, but Monday's announcement that the NBA regular season's first two weeks would be canceled made it an easy decision. “These lockout talks are going nowhere, and Thabo did not want to spend the whole season or most of the season sitting at home. He wanted to play,” Zucker said. “It's extremely difficult to predict if we're going to get a quick solution or if it's going to become a much more protracted battle with the owners regarding the new CBA. We waited until the last moment and then that moment passed. Now they're beginning to cancel games, and this could last for quite sometime. So Thabo wanted to play, and this was too good of an opportunity to pass up on.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Lockout, Turkey, Thabo Sefolosha, Fenerbahce Ulker 

There is also the question of whether European clubs can afford to pay big salaries to NBA players amid the worldwide recession and the financial crisis in Greece that threatens to spread to other countries in Europe. Bertomeu warned that the biggest clubs in Europe have the wherewithal to recruit any player. "When you talk about teams such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Fenerbahce Ulker [of Istanbul],'' he said, "you're talking about clubs whose budgets double the Lakers' budget." While it's true that FC Barcelona, Madrid and other big clubs draw from enormous budgets, most of that money is created by -- and allocated to -- its soccer club. SI.com

Los Angeles Lakers, FIBA, Real Madrid, Euroleague, FC Barcelona, Lockout, Fenerbahce Ulker 

Ersan Ilyasova has reached an agreement in principle with Turkish club Fenerbahce Ulker. HaberTurk

Milwaukee Bucks, Lockout, Turkey, Ersan Ilyasova, Fenerbahce Ulker 

Ilyasova would sign a three-year contract worth 3.5 million euros. "I'm still under contract with Milwaukee. (...) If they let me go, I will happily sign with Fenerbahçe", said Ilyasova. HaberTurk

Milwaukee Bucks, Lockout, Turkey, Ersan Ilyasova, Fenerbahce Ulker 

Ersan Ilyasova wants to return to Europe. NTV Spor

Milwaukee Bucks, Lockout, Turkey, Ersan Ilyasova, Fenerbahce Ulker 

Fenerbahce Ulker president Aziz Yildirim wants to see Andrei Kirilenko on the team next season and has started working on it. Ajansspor.com

Utah Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko, Turkey, Fenerbahce Ulker