HoopsHype.com Rumors

Linas Kleiza has confirmed that he will be coming back to play in Lithuania while the NBA lockout continues and the only choice left is between Lietuvos Rytas and Zalgiris. “We’ll see how things pan out. I can’t say that the negotiations are intense, but the situation with Lietuvos Rytas is very clear, but I haven’t heard anything concrete from Zalgiris,” said Kleiza. lithuaniabasketball.com

Toronto Raptors, Linas Kleiza, Lockout, Lithuania 

The lockout is close to bringing another NBA player back to Europe, as Lithuanian forward Linas Kleiza is reported to be on the verge of joining Lietuvos Rytas, where he would join a potential Toronto Raptors teammate Jonas Valanciunas, who was drafted by the Canadian club in this year’s NBA Draft. According to BTV Television, the 26-year-old Lithuanian star, who is recovering from a knee injury, would join the Lithuanian League (LKL) runners-up once fully healthy. After undergoing surgery in the beginning of February, the initial recovery time was said to be between nine and twelve months. lithuaniabasketball.com

Toronto Raptors, Linas Kleiza, Lockout, Lithuania 

According to BTV (Baltic TV), Lietuvos Rytas might add to the roster Linas Kleiza. The Lithuanian forward is out since months due to a serious injury suffered last NBA season while he was playing with Toronto Raptors Sportando

Toronto Raptors, Linas Kleiza, Lockout, Lithuania, Lietuvos Rytas 

JR Smith: Big shouts out to my Lil bro @Ty Lawson hold ya head ignorance of the next person will only bring you closer to ya goals! I know how u play! Twitter

JR Smith, China, Lithuania, Ty Lawson 

Those tweets were followed by him getting in some twitter fights with fans of his Lithuanian team, with Lawson saying he’d smack a guy who didn’t think he played hard every game. He got a lot of racist tweets, too. Then came the calls that he doesn’t like his coach, which his earlier tweets implied but Lawson denied. NBCSports.com

Denver Nuggets, Lockout, Lithuania, Ty Lawson 

Lawson also said he isn’t going anywhere. Well, not until Stern and Hunter finish their dance, anyway. NBCSports.com

Denver Nuggets, Lockout, Lithuania, Ty Lawson 

Ty Lawson: this ridiculous... didnt kno racism still existed... might have to pack my bags Twitter

Denver Nuggets, Lockout, Lithuania, Ty Lawson 

Cesar Nanclares: Arvydas Sabonis, new president of the Lithuanian Basketball Federation http://www.tubasket.com/ Twitter

Arvydas Sabonis, Lithuania 

Emiliano Carchia: Bamberg GM in an interview at Sport1.de said that the toughest opponent of his team in Euroleague will be Zalgiris Kaunas with Chris Kaman Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Lockout, Chris Kaman, Lithuania, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Emiliano Carchia: Bamberg's GM did not want to reveal the source. It was rumored days ago about Zalgiris interested in the German big man during NBA lockout Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Lockout, Chris Kaman, Lithuania, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Lawson’s debut with the Lithuanian club Zalgiris Kaunas couldn’t have been any worse. He struggled on both ends of the court, finishing with 3 points and 1 assist in 17 minutes of action. He was benched for the second half, and it was clear that he wasn’t on the same page as his teammates. HoopsWorld

Denver Nuggets, Lockout, Lithuania, Ty Lawson, Zalgiris Kaunas 

According to Sport24.gr, Zalgiris Kaunas reached an agreement with Chris Kaman for one year with NBA out when the lockout ends. Sportando

Los Angeles Clippers, Lockout, Chris Kaman, Lithuania, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Erildas Budraitis: Linas Kleiza is back in the U.S. for the final tests before starting working out normally (via Robertas Petrauskas) #Raptors #NBA Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Linas Kleiza, Injuries, Lithuania 

Andrea Centenari: Sabonis said at a spanish tv that his favourite for this #Eurobasket is Spain and Valanciunas represents the future of lithuanian baskeball Twitter

Toronto Raptors, FIBA, Spain, Arvydas Sabonis, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas, Eurobasket 

Sean Deveney: Raps coach Casey says he's heading to EuroBasket. Can't say who he wants to see but I'm guessing it starts with V and ends with Alanciunas. Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Coaching, Dwane Casey, FIBA, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas, Eurobasket 

Ryan Wolstat: I still can't believe they played the Jonas Valanciunas rap at halftime today in Lithuania. Pretty hilarious Twitter

Toronto Raptors, Lithuania, Jonas Valanciunas 

Chris Kaman: I feel like I am back in Mexico because they tell me I can't drink the tap water here in Lithuania! Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, FIBA, Chris Kaman, Lithuania, Eurobasket 

Vilnius will surprise European basketball fans and the country’s residents with a project TV Tower – Biggest Basketball Hoop. A 35 meters diameter hoop with a 40 meters height net will be assembled in 170 meters height. The lightning of the giant hoop will take 2,560 meters of light cable and 545 bulbs, ELTA reported on 4 August. “We believe this huge glowing net will become the symbol of the FIBA European Basketball Championship in Lithuania and will give an unforgettable impression to both Vilnius residents and guests. With such untraditional projects like this, we’ll show ourselves to the world as an open and modern city where basketball is very and very important to people,” Vilnius Vice-Mayor Romas Adomavicius said in a statement from the Vilnius Municipality. Lithuania Tribune

FIBA, Lithuania 

Lithuania's President Dalia Grybauskaite has invited her US counterpart Barack Obama to attend the upcoming European Basketball Championships, in a nod to his love of the sport. "I know that the president of the United States is very fond of basketball, he has played it himself in the past. I would even say there is a romantic story about how he met his wife through basketball," Grybauskaite was quoted as saying by the Baltic News Service on Saturday. The two presidents met during a summit Friday in neighbouring Poland, where Obama was wrapping up a European tour. "We joked about his rather difficult trip, the week of travel across Europe, nevertheless, I invited him to come to Europe once again, if he has a chance this summer," Grybauskaite said. Yahoo! Sports

FIBA, Barack Obama, Lithuania 

A source confirmed that Lawson's Lithuanian salary will be "seven figures." He is still on his rookie contract with the Nuggets and is expected to make $1.6 million this coming NBA season. Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, Lockout, Lithuania, Ty Lawson