HoopsHype.com Rumors

Montepaschi Siena (Italy) guard Bobby Brown, the presumable MVP of the Euro Basketball League, could become a free agent and available to sign in the NBA this season, sources told Yahoo! Sports. Yahoo! Sports

Free Agency, Italy, Bobby Brown, Montepaschi Siena 

After several years bouncing between Europe and the NBA, Brown, 28, has had a breakout professional season with Siena. Nevertheless, the franchise's financial issues may leave the organization open to a buyout of his contract, sources said. Several NBA teams have inquired about the possibility of signing him as a backup point guard. Yahoo! Sports

Free Agency, Italy, Bobby Brown, Montepaschi Siena 

Emiliano Carchia: Former NBA forward Craig Brackins waived by Biella after 12 games in SerieA Twitter @SportandoBasket

Italy, Craig Brackins 

Niki Bakouli: Carlos Arroyo seems to be the hottest name in Euro-market right now and @OlimpiaEA7Mi just made an official offer to his camp #Euroleague Twitter @Eurohoopsnet

Free Agency, Carlos Arroyo, Italy, Turkey 

Emiliano Carchia: Carlos Arroyo has an offer from Milano but his priority is to play with Galatasaray of his former coach Ataman, per @Ismail Senol Twitter @SportandoBasket

Free Agency, Carlos Arroyo, Italy, Turkey 

Carlos Arroyo's agent, Manuel Capicchioni, denied that the Puerto Rican PG is close to joining Olimpia Milano. Capicchioni talked to Basketitaly. "The player was offered to Milano over the last weeks but nowadays, the Italian team has not made an offer for him. Carlos would love to play in team as important as Milano but I rule out the chance for him to wear EA7 jersey. We are in talks with two Turkish teams (Galatasaray and Fenerbahce), really interested in signing him. Of course, everything can happen in the coming days". Sportando

Free Agency, Carlos Arroyo, Italy, Turkey, Olimpia Milano 

Emiliano Carchia: Olimpia Milano is in advanced talks with Carlos Arroyo according to @Ismail Senol Twitter @SportandoBasket

Free Agency, Carlos Arroyo, Italy, Olimpia Milano 

"Mike wasn't just a player," said Marco Crespi, a professional coach in Italy and former assistant of D'Antoni in Milan and with the Phoenix Suns. "He was a franchise player. The difference maker." Or, as Gheradini said: "In Italy, he was everything." So much so he caught the eye of an American kid living in Italy at the time named Kobe Bryant, whose father, Joe Bryant, was a teammate of D'Antoni's on Olimpia Milano. D'Antoni was a revelation to Bryant, who was still in the process of formulating his skill set and would study the best players of the day trying to mimic and steal aspects of their game to incorporate into his own. "Growing up, I tried to watch and learn from so many basketball players, all the top ones," Bryant said. "He was certainly a top one. He was certainly a player that I admired. He was tough. He was a tenacious guard that made great plays. He was probably the greatest guard ever to play over there." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Italy, Joe Bryant, Olimpia Milano 

Bryant was soon emulating D'Antoni and the others, taking the court at halftime of Olimpia Milano games and wooing the crowd as a precocious 12-year-old. "We'd practically have to kick him off the court to get the second-half started," D'Antoni says now, laughing. After games the American players and their families would often hang out together, with Kobe tagging a long and listening intently as D'Antoni and the others would talk about basketball. Little did D'Antoni know he was helping spawn one of the greatest basketball players of all time. "I had no idea he'd grow up to be Kobe Bryant," he said. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Coaching, Mike D'Antoni, Italy, Joe Bryant, Olimpia Milano 

Sundiata Gaines is still the first option for Pallacanestro Cantù to replace the injured Jerry Smith. The PG ex NBA is still free agent after being waived by the Pacers during the training camp. Sportando

Free Agency, Italy, Sundiata Gaines 

But in the last days, Gaines received an important proposal from China which is tempting him and would allow him to return to the NBA in time for the playoffs. Sportando

Free Agency, China, Italy, Sundiata Gaines 

Trey Johnson signed yesterday the contract with Angelico Biella who will announce him today. The American guard has played with Biella for 4 games in the season 2009-2010. Sportando

Free Agency, Italy, Trey Johnson, Angelico Biella 

In the game won against Sidigas Avellino, Pallacanestro Cantù lost Jerry Smith who fractured his foot. The PG got injured after two minutes of the game and did not return to the court. Smith will likely miss 4-5 months. With former D-League out, Cantù is back to the market looking for a new PG. The hottest name is Sundiata Gaines who has played with Cantù in the season 2008-09 averaging 13.4ppg, 3.4rpg and 2.5apg. Gaines was at the camp with the Pacers but he has been waived on October 22. Sportando

Free Agency, Italy, Sundiata Gaines 

Danilo Gallinari: "I will always say 'Yes' to the National Team." Pianeta Basket

Denver Nuggets, FIBA, Danilo Gallinari, Italy 

MicheleGazzetti: Danilo Gallinari: "Me, Belinelli and Bargnani tried to play with the National Team like in the NBA. And it doesn't work. We're not Wade, Bosh and LeBron." Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Danilo Gallinari, Italy 

(Italian forward) Stefano Mancinelli is considering the possibility of accepting an invitation to an NBA training camp. SoloBasket.it

Italy, Training Camp, Stefano Mancinelli 

Virtus Bologna is eyeing Kyle Weaver. The Italian team is still on the market looking for a 1-2 and a SF to add to the roster. Weaver, who spent last season in Germany with Alba Berlin averaging 10ppg in Eurocup and 9ppg in Bundesliga, has also an important NBA experience. Sportando

Free Agency, Italy, Kyle Weaver, Virtus Bologna 

Danilo Gallinari: Great game against portugal. Proud to be a part of this team..now back to the hotel.need to rest.. Twitter

Denver Nuggets, FIBA, Danilo Gallinari, Italy 

Italy are hoping to have Danilo Gallinari available for Wednesday's EuroBasket Qualification Round opener against Portugal in Sassari, Sardinia. The Denver Nuggets forward has missed all of Italy's preparation games this summer. Gallinari has struggled with a back problem and a right shoulder injury and has been out of action for 20 days. FIBA Europe

Denver Nuggets, Injuries, Danilo Gallinari, Italy 

When the teams met last month in an exhibition at Fenway Park (Roma beat Liverpool, 2-1) it was revealed Garnett had been excluded from financial involvement with Roma. The NBA blocked the move because AS Roma’s principal investor is Celtics part-owner James Pallotta. “If you enter into a business agreement with the owner of a team that doesn’t involve playing service, there are potential problems,” a league source said. “Maybe not in this case. But there is a chance of, say, making a contract a lot larger.” Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Italy, Kevin Garnett, Rome