HoopsHype.com Rumors

As an international player, Saric has the right to withdraw from the draft before June 17 and reapply in 2014. He could use the time to weigh his projected draft status, which NBA executives tell Yahoo! Sports could rise as high as the mid-first round. Marc Cornstein of Pinnacle Sports will represent Saric in the NBA. Yahoo! Sports

Draft, Agents, Marc Cornstein, Dario Saric 

New York-based basketball player representation firm Pinnacle Management Corp. has signed Los Angeles Lakers forwardMetta World Peace for representation. He will be co-represented by Pinnacle President Marc Cornstein and Doug Davis, who is World Peace’s personal attorney as well as an NBPA-certified agent. World Peace, who went by Ron Artest before changing his name in 2011, was represented byDavid Bauman of Lagardère Unlimited. It was unclear what caused him to switch representation. “We are excited to be representing Metta,” Cornstein said. “He is a great name, and he is having a great season.” World Peace was averaging more than 12 points and five rebounds per game this year in a season that otherwise has been largely disappointing for the Lakers. He suffered a knee injury last Monday, though, and his timetable for return was not immediately known. Sports Business Daily

Los Angeles Lakers, Agents, Marc Cornstein, Metta World Peace 

After this season, World Peace has a one-year player’s option that will pay him $7.7 million. Cornstein said they would explore opportunities before deciding whether to remain with the Lakers. Sports Business Daily

Los Angeles Lakers, Agents, Marc Cornstein, Metta World Peace 

Marc Cornstein, agent for Darko Milicic, said client giving no thought to playing overseas next season. “No,’’ Cornstein said of the free-agent big man. “He will be back in the NBA.’’ The Miami Heat remain in the mix as a team looking at Milicic. However, Cornstein said Milicic is still looking at a number of NBA teams, and there’s no timetable yet as to when he might sign. Sulia

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Darko Milicic, Marc Cornstein 

Though Asik won't sign his three-year, $25.1 million offer sheet until likely Friday, more signs developed that his uniform will have "Rockets" on the front. Marc Cornstein, the agent for Darko Milicic, confirmed the Bulls have expressed interest in his client, who was a recent amnesty cut by the Timberwolves. League sources also indicated the Bulls are casting a wide net for other lower-salaried big men in free agency. Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Houston Rockets, Free Agency, Darko Milicic, Marc Cornstein 

In a phone conversation with the Tribune, Marc Cornstein, agent for Milicic, confirmed the Bulls' interest, which was first reported by Yahoo! Sports Chicago Tribune

Chicago Bulls, Free Agency, Darko Milicic, Marc Cornstein 

Agent Marc Cornstein, on Heat only having veteran minimum to offer Milicic, "I guess the beauty of amnesty is he's already receiving his whole contract by clearing waivers. Money is always a factor, but in this case it really becomes a much smaller factor." Sulia

Miami Heat, Free Agency, Darko Milicic, Marc Cornstein 

If the Timberwolves are considering using the NBA's amnesty clause on center Darko Milicic, the matter has not been discussed with Milicic's agent, Marc Cornstein. Cornstein said Wednesday, July 11, the Wolves have not contacted him regarding the provision in the new collective bargaining agreement that would allow the Wolves to release Milicic without the remainder of his contract, valued at $10.8 million over the next two seasons, counting against the team's salary cap. "That's a decision they would have to make," Corstein said of the Wolves. "I haven't heard anything from the team about that." St. Paul Pioneer Press

Minnesota Timberwolves, Darko Milicic, Marc Cornstein 

Marc Cornstein, the New York-based agent for Greek small forward Kostas Papanikolaou, said he expects his client will play for the Knicks in 2013-14, despite a two-year contract with Olympiacos. “He definitely wants to play in the NBA, it’s a lifelong dream of his,’’ Cornstein told The Post. “He’s playing at the highest level in the Greek League and it’s the next step. He’s anxious to play sooner than later. He wanted the right fit with the right team and the Knicks we would’ve handpicked.’’ New York Post

New York Knicks, Agents, Marc Cornstein, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Papanikolaou has a $1 million buyout in his Greek League contract for that season. The Knicks could pay about $650,000 of the buyout and he would have to foot the rest. Because the NBA minimum is $500,000, it might not be worthwhile financially for Papanikolaou to come over unless the Knicks offered one of their exceptions. It could get complicated. “It’s a manageable buyout,’’ Cornstein countered. New York Post

New York Knicks, Agents, Marc Cornstein, Kostas Papanikolaou 

The Milwaukee Bucks are obviously happy to have acquired Samuel Dalembert. The feeling is apparently mutual. Marc Cornstein, Dalembert’s agent, said he had a brief conversation with his client after the veteran center was dealt by Houston to to Milwaukee Wednesday. “He was really excited about going to Milwaukee,’’ Cornstein said. “He’s very familiar with the Bucks’ roster and believes they are headed in the right direction. “It’s always the coach’s decision about playing time, but he believes it’s a fabulous opportunity for him to play there. Like I said, he’s very excited.’’ Racine Journal-Times

Houston Rockets, Milwaukee Bucks, Samuel Dalembert, Marc Cornstein 

Gery Woelfel: According to Dalembert' agent Marc Cornstein, Dalembert is "really excited" to join Bucks. Twitter

Milwaukee Bucks, Samuel Dalembert, Marc Cornstein 

Jorge Sierra: Hamed Haddadi and Hamady Ndiaye are now represented by agent Marc Cornstein, HoopsHype has learned. Twitter

Memphis Grizzlies, Washington Wizards, Hamed Haddadi, Hamady Ndiaye, Marc Cornstein 

Greece? You’ll find legitimate NBA players considering Somalia before they entertain offers from the only two teams in Greece that can be players in the game: Olympiakos and Panathinaikos. Those two teams were a combined 57-5 in league play last season. The third place team was 16-10. “It’s ironic,’’ says agent Marc Cornstein of Pinnacle Hoops, who has extensive experience placing players in Europe. “(Olympiakos and Panathinaikos) were in the forefront with Childress and Kleiza. They were very aggressive in the past. But they are lagging because of the economic climate over there. It’s very quiet.” HoopsHype

Linas Kleiza, Josh Childress, Lockout, Greece, Marc Cornstein 

Has Cornstein heard anything about either Greek team making approaches to NBA players? “In a word – no,’’ he said. “It’s a shame, really. They were two of the biggest teams in Europe.” HoopsHype

Linas Kleiza, Josh Childress, Lockout, Greece, Marc Cornstein 

It’s also not as financially advantageous. The pro basketball players in Greece used to be taxed at a flat, 20 percent. Now, they are taxed the same as all Greek citizens and, for any highly-paid player, that means the tax would likely be 45 percent. HoopsHype

Linas Kleiza, Josh Childress, Lockout, Greece, Marc Cornstein 

According to website HoopsHype.com, several players in addition to Williams and Songaila had signed with European teams as of early last week. Still other NBA players are reportedly at least considering overseas deals. While Williams’ deal includes an opt-out in case the NBA lockout ends, Songaila’s does not. Bartelstein said NBA players are convinced there will be a long lockout. Boston Celtics center Nenad Krstic had every intention of exploring the NBA free agent market if not for the lockout, said his agent, Marc Cornstein, president of Pinnacle Management Corp. But when CSKA Moscow came calling, “he got offered a tremendous contract by Moscow,” Cornstein said. Sporting News

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Lockout, Nenad Krstic, Europe, Marc Cornstein, CSKA Moscow 

“Every day we are having what I would consider fairly serious talks,” added Cornstein, about NBA players taking jobs in Europe. “This gives (European teams) a chance to bring in players they would not ordinarily have an opportunity to sign.” Sporting News

Boston Celtics, Free Agency, Lockout, Nenad Krstic, Europe, Marc Cornstein, CSKA Moscow 

"Basketball as a sport is in such a great place right now. It's a shame it came to this," agent Marc Cornstein said. "Hopefully, we can resolve this in a fair and equitable way." Detroit Free Press

CBA, Lockout, NBPA, Marc Cornstein 

Guys like Brandon Jennings, Andrei Kirilenko, Deron Williams, Trevor Ariza and Kobe Bryant have all expressed interest in playing overseas. Good luck. The reality is, there are not many teams in Europe or elsewhere who will be able to hand out hefty contracts to any player, no matter their NBA credentials. That was part of Krstic’s thinking in bolting the NBA -- where he surely would have gotten offers -- for Russia. Knowing there are limited spots, Krstic made sure he was occupying one of those places. “I think what a lot of people don’t realize is, you’re going to have a perfect storm of issues here,” Krstic’s agent, Marc Cornstein, told Sporting News. “The economy in Europe is not great, that is a consideration. The lockout here is a big consideration. The bigger teams, like Moscow, are going to be very aggressive early. But beyond that, there are very few teams overseas that are going to be able give lucrative contracts. Sporting News

Lockout, Nenad Krstic, Europe, Marc Cornstein, CSKA Moscow