HoopsHype.com Rumors

Mary Schmitt Boyer/Tom Reed: Injured #Cavs F Semih Erden (thumb) is finshing up visa renewal form. Once documentation square he will fly from Turkey to Cleveland. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Injuries, Turkey 

Emiliano Carchia: Cleveland Cavaliera and Besiktas big man Semih Erden underwent hand surgery today and will rest at least six weeks Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Injuries 

Mete Aktas: The 7-foot Turkish center Semih Erden of C.Cavaliers has a broken left thumb and will be sidelined for "at least" 2 months. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Injuries, Lockout, Turkey 

Semih Erden has become the first Cavaliers player to find work overseas during the NBA lockout. He won’t have to leave his hometown to earn a paycheck. The 7-foot forward is planning to play for Besiktas, a Turkish team that also signed New Jersey Nets guard Deron Williams. The club is located in Erden’s native Istanbul. He was expected to finalize the contract either Tuesday or Wednesday. Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Lockout, Turkey, Besiktas 

Erden’s agent, Justin Zanik, said the forward’s shoulder is “95 percent healthy,” but that it prevented him from playing in the recently-completed EuroBasket tournament. “He’s a young player who is trying to improve and be ready for when the NBA starts,” Zanik said. “He wants to be in the NBA.” Cleveland Plain Dealer

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Injuries 

Emiliano Carchia: Semih Erden to Besiktas is not just a rumors anymore. The deal is done until the end of NBA lockout Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Lockout, Turkey, Besiktas 

Can Isbakan: Talked to Ergin Ataman this morning he said Besiktas has no interest in Semih Erden for now, their budget is not enough. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Lockout, Turkey, Besiktas 

Wendell Maxey: turkey received confirmation semih erden has not recovered entirely from shoulder surgery this past april. cavs center cut from team. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Injuries, Turkey 

Ömer Aşık of the Chicago Bulls, Semih Erden of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Ersan İlyasova of the Milwaukee Bucks, Hidayet Türkoğlu of the Orlando Magic and Enes Kanter of the Utah Jazz are all part of the squad. Other players named for the national team are Barış Ermiş and İzzet Türkyılmaz from Banvit, Emir Preldzic, Oğuz Savaş and Ömer Onan from Fenerbahçe Ülker, Sertaç Şanlı, Ender Arslan and Furkan Aldemir from Galatasaray and Doğuş Balbay from the University of Texas. Speaking at the press conference, TBF President Demirel said the national team aims to earn a berth for the London 2012 Olympics “by taking one of the top two places.” The third, fourth and fifth-place holders in Lithuania will have to play an elimination tour to win a ticket to the Olympics. Today's Zaman

Chicago Bulls, Cleveland Cavaliers, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz, Hidayet Turkoglu, Semih Erden, Turkey, Enes Kanter 

Semih Erden wants to play for Turkey at the EuroBasket this summer but must wait to see if his shoulder can recover from surgery after a tough NBA season. Erden battled a labrum problem before and after his mid-season trade from Boston to Cleveland, and managed only four appearances for the Cavaliers after arriving in February. FIBA.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Turkey 

Surgery was required on the problem, but Erden is hopeful he can heal in time to be in consideration for the EuroBasket in Lithuania in September. “If someone has had shoulder surgery, they need to recover,” he said. “I hope I can play, I always want to be involved with the national team. But already last year I played with this problem.” FIBA.com

Cleveland Cavaliers, Semih Erden, Turkey 

Gary Washburn: A disappointed Semih Erden thanks the Celtics fans said he was surprised by the deal "Yeah, I am surprised but it is what it is." Twitter

Boston Celtics, Semih Erden 

Brian Windhorst: Cavs made both trades today (including picking up Semih Erden & Luke Harangody from BOS) without using $14.5 million trade exception. Twitter

Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Semih Erden, Luke Harangody 

Steve Kyler: The Celtics have sent Semih Erdan and Luke Harangody to Cleveland or a second round pick... clearly a Luxury Tax, roster clearing move. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Trade, Semih Erden 

Several days after the Houston Rockets and Boston Celtics reportedly discussed a Shane Battier deal, rumors surfaced once again tonight after rookie Semih Erden tweeted that his agent had informed him he was being dealt to Houston as long as he passed a physical. But sources close to the situation denied that a trade had been discussed and said that the account was fake. Yes, we've now seen it all, folks. Someone impersonating Semih Erden to start trade rumors. Isn't the deadline fun? HoopsWorld

Boston Celtics, Houston Rockets, Trade, Semih Erden 

Boston Celtics center Semih Erden, who has been hampered by a sore groin injury, has returned to Turkey to be with his mother who is ill. Justin Zanik, an agent for AMS Sports which represents Erden, told CSNNE.com on Monday night that the 7-foot rookie plans to rejoin the team prior to the C's playing at Golden State on Feb. 22. "He is in Turkey now, and we are monitoring the situation," Zanik wrote in an email to CSNNE.com. "If all goes well, Semih will rejoin the team over All-Star weekend." CSNNE.com

Boston Celtics, Semih Erden, Injuries 

That means more time for Erden, who would likely start in Shaq’s place to keep Davis in his sixth man role. While it’s been a tough learning curve at times, Erden has flashed the ability to be an efficient scorer in the post. He’s also unafraid to mix it up inside, something that was evident to the other Celtics from the beginning of camp. “He’s very good,” Garnett said. “I don’t think you guys understand how methodical he is with both hands.” WEEI.com

Boston Celtics, Semih Erden 

Any other rookie might have been fazed, but Semih Erden didn't seem rattled in the least on Thursday night after being thrust into a starting lineup that features three future Hall of Famers and a young point guard that many think will one day ascend to that title. Asked if he was nervous for his first NBA start, Erden rejected the notion like the Spencer Hawes layup he turned away just 15 seconds into the game. "I don't like nerves," Erden said, eliciting laughter from reporters. He explained that after playing in Europe and for Turkey's national team, nothing should seem too daunting on a basketball court. Erden finished with eight points (hitting both shots he attempted) with three rebounds and a block over 18 minutes in a 102-101 triumph. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Semih Erden 

"[Erden has] performed well, the concern is that he has struggled defensively at times and our first unit has been unbelievable defensively, so you can see they were concerned by that," said Rivers. "[Before Thursday's game], when we were going over stuff... they were pretty hard on him about defense. You don't come into our group and screw things up." Even if he did, Erden won't get nervous because of it, which explains why a veteran like Garnett is so impressed by the frontcourt import, who isn't afraid to bark back, language barrier be damned. "He has confidence and everything," said Garnett. "He has a lot of it, and doesn't mind telling you about it." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Semih Erden 

O’Neal isn’t the only player who has reached out to Erden, but their bond of faith has smoothed the process. Something clicked the first day of training camp in Newport, R.I. “When we came to the first practice, we met each other,” Erden said. “I said I came from Turkey, and he said, ‘Oh, you are a Muslim? Welcome my brother. Assalamu alaikum.’ So we started like this. It was good. I liked it, because this is my first year, I needed help.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Shaquille O'Neal, Semih Erden