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Jordan Farmar rules out a return to Maccabi Tel-Aviv next season Sport5

Brooklyn Nets, Free Agency, Jordan Farmar, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Six big clubs are interested in Joel Freeland: Real Madrid, Barcelona Regal, CSKA Moscow, Panathinaikos, Fenerbahce Ulker and Maccabi Tel Aviv. TuBasket.com

Real Madrid, Spain, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Joel Freeland, CSKA Moscow, Fenerbahce Ulker, Unicaja 

The Israeli’s league final will probably be the last game of Sofoklis Schortsanitis as a Maccabi Tel Aviv’s player, since the club has already inform him that it will not use the renewal option in his contract for next season. The best offer until now to him from a European elite club, according to Eurohoops.net sources, comes from Spain and Caja Laboral. There is a contract waiting for 27 years old “Sofo” in Vitoria, it’s quite attractive and it’s the first substantial offer for him in the European market. EuroHoops.net

Caja Laboral, Sofoklis Schortsanitis, Spain, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Israeli businessman Ra'anan Katz, a partial shareholder of the Heat and former partner of Maccabi Tel Aviv, still financially contributes to Israeli teams. However, Katz and James have yet to discuss bringing the Heat to hoop in Israel. 'We've never discussed about that,' James confessed, 'but as I said, I definitely want to go to Israel. If it's to play hoops, even better.' Eurobasket.com

Miami Heat, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Ra'anan Karz 

Emiliano Carchia: FIBA today decided that Jeremy Pargo has to pay to Maccabi Tel Aviv $270k for breaking the contract illegally Twitter

Maccabi Tel Aviv, Jeremy Pargo 

Having been a role player during most of his professional career, Farmar thrived in Maccabi after he became one of the team's pillars in the Euroleague. "I very much contemplate the possibility of returning to Europe one day because I learnt so much playing here, a different style of basketball," Farmar told Reuters after Maccabi's 74-71 defeat at Partizan Belgrade on Thursday. "Not having this opportunity before, I never knew what it was all about and in my mind the NBA was always the only option. "Knowing that there is such high-level basketball in Europe, where the game is a a lot faster and more physical than in the NBA, will give me more options when the time comes to make a decision to move on." Eurosport

Brooklyn Nets, Jordan Farmar, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Farmar had 15 points and 13 assists in the win over Cedevita, which raised Maccabi's record to 8-0 in the Adriatic League. He leads Maccabi in scoring and assists in both Adriatic League play (13.2 points, 6.2 assists) and Euroleague league play (14.7 points, 4.3 assists). "It's been a great experience, for me, personally, off the floor, to live somewhere away from home, and get a chance to see my family grow by just being together. No matter where we are in the world, we'll be fine. And then, basketball-wise, it was a great opportunity for me to play basketball the way I know how. I got a chance to do what I do well -- for the first time, really, in my career.'' Farmar knows when he returns to the Nets, he'll take a back seat to Deron Williams, who also played overseas during the lockout and also excelled. Williams, who played for Besiktas, in Turkey, averaged 21.8 points per game, and 6.5 assists, and scored 50 in a game against a German team last week. The Nets' third point guard, Sundiata Gaines, also played overseas, in Georgia. Newark Star-Ledger

Brooklyn Nets, Jordan Farmar, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Farmar was asked if he would ever consider returning to Israel to play in the future. He said he would. "When I become a free agent, if the situation is right, I'm comfortable here,'' he said. "I know my family can live here and get along and feel good.'' Newark Star-Ledger

Brooklyn Nets, Jordan Farmar, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

Dubi Pick: Slim to no chance at all Jordan Farmar plays w/Maccabi @ Haifa on Monday. Obstacle seems to be his POSSIBLE Tuesday flight to LA LA Land Twitter

Brooklyn Nets, Jordan Farmar, Lockout, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

The departure of the New Jersey Nets guard will leave a massive void at Maccabi, with Farmar leading the team in points, rebounds, assists, steals and minutes in the Euroleague this season. “This has been an experience which changed my life,” Farmar said on Saturday. “I feel like I’m a better person and a better player for this experience.” Jerusalem Post

Brooklyn Nets, Jordan Farmar, Lockout, Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv 

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 

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 

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