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As a player representative for the Nets, Farmar keeps on top of the labor situation and fully supports the decision of the players' union, which last week rejected a proposal from the owners calling for a 50-50 split of basketball related income that would have provided for a 72-game season to start in mid-December. "I understand what we are going through and the points we are fighting for," Farmar said. "The ground we made over the past labor negotiations, to give them back now is a tough thing to swallow." "A lot of guys want to be out there playing and I am one of them. I am in a different situation because I have a comfortable situation here, although there is still nothing like having a job that you are familiar with." YNetNews.com

New Jersey Nets, Jordan Farmar, Lockout, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Once NBA play resumes, Farmar sees an improved Nets team after struggling in recent seasons. He sees the new arena being built in Brooklyn as a new beginning that would lure free agents. "I don't see (the Nets) struggling for too much longer. They are headed in the right direction and Avery Johnson is a hell of a coach," he said. "I have a lot of confidence the Nets will be very good in the future." YNetNews.com

New Jersey Nets, Jordan Farmar, Lockout, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Dubi Pick: Bnei Hasharon sign its THIRD NBAer during the lockout as the GSW power forward Ekpe Udoh replaces Trevor Booker & JJ Hickson (Deal's w/OUT) Twitter

Golden State Warriors, Ekpe Udoh, Lockout, Israel 

Dubi Pick: Sources trying to land Jazz's Earl Watson in Israel with @hjerusalem say Watson turned down both Jerusalem's & a $500,000 Chinese offer Twitter

Utah Jazz, Earl Watson, Lockout, Israel, China 

Omri Casspi: practicing, working out - under what would have been your contract’s “Love of the Game” clause. Make sure you take care of yourselfs Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Lockout, Omri Casspi, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Cavaliers swingman Omri Casspi has opted to play overseas until the NBA lockout ends. He has signed with Israeli powerhouse Maccabi Tel Aviv, according to Creative Artists Agency which represents him, and he will join the club in several weeks. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Lockout, Omri Casspi, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Casspi, acquired from the Sacramento Kings in the offseason, has been long rumored to return to Israel during the work stoppage. He also had been considering a team in Italy. Over the weekend, Casspi expressed his frustrations with the NBA on his Twitter account and hinted that he was in favor of disbanding the union. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Lockout, Omri Casspi, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Tom Reed: Creative Arts Agency now confirming Casspi to Maccabi Tel Aviv Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Lockout, Omri Casspi, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

"Maccabi and I have signed the contract and I'm as happy as can be to be returning home," Casspi wrote on his Facebook page. "I'm so excited to be coming back home, to my family and the best fans in the world." "I will be coming in January assuming the NBA season is canceled. The reason I will only be arriving in January is because I don't want Maccabi to suffer from having two players leaving the team at once should there eventually be an NBA season." Jerusalem Post

Cleveland Cavaliers, Lockout, Omri Casspi, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Thornton turned down an opportunity to play in Israel, hoping the lockout would be resolved, but said he doesn't regret the decision. "We may not have a season, so it's tough," Thornton said. "Besides the money and everything, you're a ballplayer. So for that to be taken away is tough." Sacramento Bee

Marcus Thornton, Lockout, Israel 

Apart from Unicaja Malaga, there are still five other clubs interested in Tiago Splitter as reported by Luis Martin, one of his agents. They are Maccabi Tel Aviv (Israel), Olimpia Milano (Italy) and also the Spanish clubs Real Madrid, Valencia Basket and Caja Laboral, team where Splitter played from 2001 to 2010. Esporte

San Antonio Spurs, Tiago Splitter, Real Madrid, Caja Laboral, Lockout, Spain, Israel, Italy, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Valencia Basket, Olimpia Milano 

Jon de la Presa: Walla says that Maccabi Tel Aviv is interested in bringing Tiago Splitter to Israel. They say that he´d play as israeli... WTF? Twitter

Tiago Splitter, Lockout, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Early in the lockout process, Amar’e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony flirted with the idea of playing overseas before squashing it because of their respective rehabs and with hopes the lockout would not cancel the season. But with yesterday’s announcement the union will disband and the players will file an anti-trust lawsuit against the NBA that could kill the season, the overseas option will reopen for both players. Stoudemire, who has said he has Jewish roots, had received an offer from Maccabi Tel Aviv in the summer. Agent Happy Walters represents three Knicks, Stoudemire, rookie first-rounder Iman Shumpert and Shawne Williams, who would become a free agent. Walters said he would soon revisit the possibilities. Melo had talked about playing in China during his visit, but Chinese teams have no opt-out clause. New York Post

New York Knicks, Amare Stoudemire, Carmelo Anthony, Lockout, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Marc Stein: Source close to Durant says Thunder star will now widen his net and talk to more teams beyond Valencia, BBC Bayreuth and Maccabi Tel Aviv Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Lockout, Spain, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Europe, Germany, Valencia Basket 

Dubi Pick: Stop asking me about the possibility of KD joining Maccabi bcuz it's NOT gonna happen. If anything, wouldn't he wanna play w/Serge Ibaka?! Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Real Madrid, Lockout, Spain, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Serge Ibaka 

If the labor impasse isn’t resolved, Durant said he could sign a contract next week to play overseas. He’s weighing offers from Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel, Valencia in Spain and BBC Bayreuth in Germany. Any deal Durant signs would include an opt-out clause that allows him to return to the NBA as soon as the lockout ends. Yahoo! Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, Lockout, Spain, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Germany 

Trevor Booker is in Dallas rehabilitating a bruised right quadriceps that forced to him to leave his Israeli team, Bnei HaSharon. Booker isn’t sure when he’ll be able to return, so while he is anxious for the NBA lockout to end, he also understands that he might not be ready for training camp with the Wizards if a new agreement is reached soon. “I kind of selfishly don’t want it to end yet, because of my leg,” Booker said in a recent telephone interview. “At the same time, I’m ready to get back to D.C. and get back to work.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Israel, Trevor Booker 

“One day my leg locked up real tight on me and I couldn’t bend it,” Booker said. “I’ve been rehabbing ever since. I tried to rehab over there and I was getting frustrated and I felt like it wasn’t working, so I came back over here to see what they could do. The doctor didn’t give me a timetable. It’s a difficult injury, but at the same time, it’s not serious.” Bnei HaSharon replaced Booker with Sacramento Kings forward J.J. Hickson, but Hickson was sent back after one game, reportedly for being late to a couple of practices. Booker is still under contract with Bnei HaSharon and plans to return if he heals and the NBA labor situation remains unresolved. “I’m still available. If my leg gets right before the lockout, I’m going back over there,” he said. “I was there for a month, but it was a great experience. I got to see what life is like over there, what it’s like playing basketball overseas. I really enjoyed my experience.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Injuries, Israel, Trevor Booker 

The World from Public Radio International sat down (well, actually stood up) and talked to Jordan Farmar about playing in Israel, where he is during the NBA lockout. Farmar is a Los Angeles boy, born and raised, who went on to win a couple of rings with the Lakers before going to the Nets. Moving to Israel is a dramatic change. NBCSports.com

New Jersey Nets, Jordan Farmar, Lockout, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Though he arrived with tremendous hype as one of the more acclaimed NBA players to play in Israel, Hickson’s stint in Israel will be remembered as a failure and will prove to be a cautionary tale for international teams looking to sign NBA players during the lockout. Hickson may be loaded with athleticism and talent, but he also a kid who has the same concerns that many young people have when they go to study abroad. It seemed like a great idea from afar for Hickson to come overseas, play a few games, make a few bucks and enjoy the lifestyle of a foreign country. SheridanHoops

Sacramento Kings, JJ Hickson, Israel