HoopsHype.com Rumors

On the sweet side, Ime Udoka is earning a good chunk of change playing professional basketball in Spain in the ACB league -- considered the second-best loop in the world next to the NBA. On the sour side, the Portland native has been away from his girlfriend, actress Nia Long, and their newborn son for nearly three months. Frequent phone calls and Skype have helped, but Udoka is eager for his return to the United States in a few weeks to reunite with Nia and young Kez Monday Udoka. "It has been very hard to be away, especially at first," Udoka says by phone from his apartment in Murcia, a city of about 500,000 in southeastern Spain. "I knew it was going to be only a four-month thing. "Kez is very young and not doing a whole lot, so in some ways, it's the best time to be away. Skype helps, but you want to be there." Portland Tribune

Ime Udoka 

Udoka thought he was going to be with New Jersey this season. He signed a free-agent deal with Nets after a collective-bargaining agreement was reached in December. He was waived with the final cuts, though, in part because an injury to center Brook Lopez necessitated the addition of another big man to the roster. A $100,000 contract with Murcia isn't peanuts, "but it wasn't as much about the money as what was happening in the NBA," Udoka says. "I didn't want to wait around. "This is a short, four-month thing. Spain is a great country. I had a great time (in 2004-05) and wanted to get back over and see how it would be." Portland Tribune

Ime Udoka 

Udoka isn't sure where his basketball career will take him next. The NBA, he says, "is always a goal of mine." "But I have no expectations," he says. "I'm in good shape. I'd like to keep playing. But I have a family now. I'll fly home after our last game (on May 6) and look forward to being a father for a while." Portland Tribune

Ime Udoka 

Once his playing career ends, Udoka has a very good idea of what he will do. “Coaching, for sure,” he said. “Probably the NBA - strictly basketball. “There are a lot of different avenues. “The part about it that really got me thinking about it was that all of the coaches I played for mentioned that they want me to coach with them when I'm done. So coach (Gregg) Popovich (San Antonio), Nate McMillan (former Portland coach), Isaiah Thomas (former New York coach) was the first to say it. FIBA.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Ime Udoka 

Ime Udoka will sign with Spanish club UCAM Murcia. TuBasket.com

Spain, Ime Udoka 

The Nets waived the journeyman forward Ime Udoka, reducing their roster to the league-maximum, 15. Shawne Williams (one of four Williamses on the Nets’ roster) returned to practice after sitting out a week with flulike symptoms. New York Times

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Ime Udoka 

After today’s practice Dennis Horner, a Linwood native, got the news he’s been hoping for when general manager Billy King told him he made the team. Horner, a 6-foot-9 power forward, had been competing with Ime Udoka, a 6-foot-7 small forward, for the 15th and final spot on the roster. Horner went undrafted in 2010 after four years at North Carolina State and played in the NBDL last season for the Springfield Armor, the Nets' affiliate. “It’s crazy,” a visibly happy Horner said shortly after the discussion with King. “It’s really special because I’m close to my family and they’ll be able to come up and see me, and my friends.” Newark Star-Ledger

Brooklyn Nets, Ime Udoka, Dennis Horner 

The New Jersey Nets have requested waivers on forward Ime Udoka, Nets General Manager Billy King announced today. Sportando

Brooklyn Nets, Ime Udoka 

Stefan Bondy: Nets announce they've signed forward Ime Udoka Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Ime Udoka 

Soul Food star Nia Long and her basketball player husband Ime Udoka have welcomed a son into the world today. The 41-year-old actress gave birth to baby boy Kez Sunday Udoka on Sunday. Her spokeswoman said that 'both mother and child are healthy and happy to be home.' Dailymail.co.uk

Ime Udoka 

I spoke to Durant, Ime Udoka and DeMar DeRozan on Thursday after they finished playing some full-court runs at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. They said they still believed in Fisher and they all felt the players have already given enough in stating their willingness to drop from 57 percent in the old agreement to a proposal to go to 52.5, and they don't want to go any lower. "I'm all for standing up for what you believe in," Durant said. "I think that's what we're doing as a union. We're playing in these games, these charity games, because we love what we do. We're not going out here getting insurance, we're not going out here getting paid. We love the game. Guys can get hurt playing in these games. But people don't see that." ESPN.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Toronto Raptors, Kevin Durant, Derek Fisher, CBA, DeMar DeRozan, Lockout, Ime Udoka, NBPA 

There's a baby on the way for Nia Long. The actress, 40, and professional basketball player Ime Udoka, 33, are expecting their first child together this fall, the couple confirm to PEOPLE exclusively. "This is the most exciting time in our lives," Long and Udoka tell PEOPLE in a statement. "Words can’t explain how thrilled we are by the new addition to our family. We feel truly blessed and appreciate all the well wishes and prayers." People

Ime Udoka 

It's unclear if the impending NBA lockout is causing teams to hold more free agent workouts or I'm just hearing about them for the first time this offseason, but the Indiana Pacers became the latest team to invite non-rookies in for a look-see this week. The Pacers are holding a two-day free agent camp that began Monday and will wrap up Tuesday afternoon. Through a source with knowledge of the workout, Ridiculous Upside has a partial list of the invitees. The guard prospects included Bobby Brown, Matt Janning, Javaris Crittenton and Sylven Landesberg. The wings participating include NBA veterans James White (better known as "Flight" because he can do this), DeMarre Carroll and Ime Udoka. As far as big men go, Rob Kurz, Leo Lyons, Chris Daniels and Trent Plaisted were all in attendance on Monday. Ridiculous Upside

Indiana Pacers, Free Agency, Javaris Crittenton, Rob Kurz, Matt Janning, Ime Udoka, Trent Plaisted, DeMarre Carroll, Leo Lyons, Chris Daniels 

After being waived by San Antonio on Jan. 5, Ime Udoka is hoping to land a 10-day contract with another NBA team. “I’ve had some European offers, but I’m telling my agent to hold off on those with the hope that something will happen over here,” says the former Jefferson High and Portland State standout, who is living and training in Los Angeles for the time being. Portland Tribune

San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Ime Udoka 

Asecco Prokom is showing serious interest in Adam Morrison and Ime Udoka. The Polish team would like to add at least one of the two players trying to win for another year the national title. Sportando

Free Agency, Adam Morrison, Ime Udoka, Poland 

Jeff McDonald: Spurs have until Jan. 19 to sign 13th player, probably using a 10-day contract. Haven't ruled out bringing back Ime Udoka on 10-day. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Ime Udoka 

The Spurs on Wednesday announced the club had waived veteran forward Ime Udoka, dropping under the league-mandated minimum of 13 players. Udoka, a Spur through the entire of the 2007-08 and 2008-09 seasons, played in 20 games since signing a non-guaranteed, veteran minimum contract on Nov. 24. He scored only 14 points, with 19 rebounds, in just 130 minutes. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Ime Udoka 

The Spurs are expected to announced today that veteran free-agent forward Ime Udoka, who played for the club in 2007-08 and 2008-09, will be re-joining the team. After waiving second-year guard-forward Danny Green on Tuesday, the Spurs dropped one player under the 13-player minimum mandated by the collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Ime Udoka 

Bulls had veteran swingman Ime Udoka in for workout at Berto today. Nothing decided but could get training camp invite. Strong defender. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Ime Udoka 

KC Johnson: Bulls had veteran swingman Ime Oduka in for workout at Berto today. Nothing decided but could get training camp invite. Strong defender. Twitter

Chicago Bulls, Ime Udoka