HoopsHype.com Rumors

"The contract we're working on will make Joel [Freeland] not want to go anywhere, even the NBA," his agent Rafael Calvo said about negotiations between Freeland and Unicaja. La Opinion de Malaga

Spain, Joel Freeland, Unicaja 

The exhibition game between Spain and the United States will be played in Barcelona on July 24, three days before the start of the Olympic Games in London. Ara

USA Basketball, Spain 

Rubio asked Bryant if he would be there with Team USA. Bryant said yes, so then the Wolves rookie made a prediction: "You know you're getting the silver medal," Rubio said. "You know that." Meaning, of course, that Spain would win the gold. A brash statement? Perhaps. But not outlandish: Spain won the 2006 title at the World Basketball Championships. In the 2008 Beijing Games, Rubio and Gasol were part of a team that lost 118-107 to the Americans in the final. "I'm taking bets," Bryant responded. "If I win, I get the keys to Barcelona." Responded Rubio: "I bet what you want." Bryant: "I'll take it." All good-natured trash-talking, of course. "We'll see what's going to happen," Rubio said Monday. "It's going to be good. I mean, we have pretty good players. We'll be a pretty good team." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Kobe Bryant, Ricky Rubio, USA Basketball, Spain 

There is a good chance Wolves forward Kevin Love will be on the U.S. team. He already has promised to put Rubio on his behind should he come down the lane on him in England. "I've been told by a few people not to get too friendly with him," Love said. Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, USA Basketball, Spain, Kevin Love 

Kobe Bryant to Ricky Rubio and Pau Gasol: You talking about London? Gasol: Oh yeah. Rubio: You're gonna be there? Bryant Yeah. Rubio: You know you're getting the silver medal. You know that. Bryant: [expletive]. I'm taking bets! [laughs] If I win I get the keys of Barcelona. Rubio: I bet what you want. Bryant: I take it! Marca.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Ricky Rubio, USA Basketball, Spain 

Durant was then asked what it would be like to face teammate Serge Ibaka, who is expected to compete for Spain in London after being granted Spanish citizenship. “Serge talks a lot of trash about Spain,” Durant said. “So hopefully we get to play those guys. It'll be fun playing against my teammate, though. He's worked so hard to be a part of that great national team over there and hopefully I get a chance to do the same.” Oklahoman

Oklahoma City Thunder, Kevin Durant, USA Basketball, Spain, Serge Ibaka 

Colangelo and Krzyzewski know they're going to need frontcourt depth in this tournament, given the switch from the international trapezoid to the NBA lane as well as the size that Spain in particular possesses thanks to the Gasol brothers and Serge Ibaka. This particular trio, in support of Howard, would give Coach K every conceivable kind of big man: Bosh as the international vet with a good face-up game who has grown quite accustomed to, uh, blending in with big names at his day job; Love as the rebound machine who has legit 3-point range; Griffin as the superfreak athlete who figures to be a cornerstone of the 2016 team and thus would benefit greatly from being drafted into the program ASAP. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Clippers, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Chris Bosh, Pau Gasol, Blake Griffin, USA Basketball, Spain, Kevin Love, Serge Ibaka 

USA Basketball chairman Jerry Colangelo and likely starting forward LeBron James both have predicted it will be fair to compare the 2012 Olympic team to the 1992 Dream Team. Gasol begs to differ. “I wouldn’t say that,’’ Gasol said. FOXSports Florida

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, USA Basketball, Spain 

Gasol now plays for Spain, which took the silver medal behind the Americans in 2008. The Spanish team is once again one of the favorites to get to the top of the podium this year in London. “The Dream Team was pretty unique,’’ Gasol said. “It was one of a kind. For a different reason, not just from a basketball standpoint. … But obviously, (the 2012 Americans) have a great team with amazing players, and they won the gold medal in the last Olympics. They probably will go for it again this year. We’ll try to prevent that from happening if we can. But we’ll let them do what they do, and we’re going to try to play how we play and see what happens.’’ FOXSports Florida

Los Angeles Lakers, Pau Gasol, USA Basketball, Spain 

"I'm looking forward to it," Bryant said after the Lakers' 73-70 win over the Dallas Mavericks Monday night. "I'm definitely going to be there because I sure as hell am not going to let that guy win it." Bryant was referring to teammate Pau Gasol who has already committed to the Spanish national team, which Bryant and the rest of USA Basketball beat in the gold medal game at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. ESPN.com

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, USA Basketball, Spain 

Love on Monday was named one of 20 finalists for a U.S. Olympic team that will play in London next summer. Only 12 ultimately will be chosen. If Love makes the cut, he will play a friendly game against Spain in Barcelona just before the Olympics. "He's buying, that's home court for him," Love said. "I told him how, if he takes it to the hole, I'm going to knock him on his butt. Hopefully, I'll be on the team." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, USA Basketball, Spain, Kevin Love 

Manu Ginobili: "There are two teams far better than the rest: USA and Spain. The rest of us will try to get to the semifinals and try to get the bronze medal." Diario Buenos Aires

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, USA Basketball, Spain, Argentina, Olympics 

Former NBA player Antoine Wright and Asefa Estudiantes reached an agreement to part ways. Sportando

Free Agency, Antoine Wright, Spain 

Ime Udoka will sign with Spanish club UCAM Murcia. TuBasket.com

Spain, Ime Udoka 

Rubio, at that young age, started at point guard for injured Jose Calderon that day for Spain alongside Pau Gasol and Juan Carlos Navarro against a U.S. team that also featured Kobe Bryant, Carmelo Anthony and Dwight Howard. "Yes, long time ago, right?" Rubio said Friday when asked about that game. "Almost four years already. I grow up as a player and learn more things. It was great. One of the best games ever, because we played good and they really played good, too. I watch that again sometimes. It's fun to watch again because it was a great game." Minneapolis Star-Tribune

Minnesota Timberwolves, Ricky Rubio, USA Basketball, Spain, China, Olympics 

In 1986, Fernando Martín (pronounced Mar-teen) became the first Spaniard to make it to the NBA. Then he then returned to his native land and played for Real Madrid, which soon hired a former NBA coach named George Karl. On Dec. 3, 1989, Martín was driving to a game when his car skidded off a highway and crashed. Martín died at a hospital. He was 27. "I remember consoling my son," said Karl, who was with 6-year-old Coby at the time. "It was one of those moments when time just stops. You don't know how to act. You're frozen by the moment." Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Spain, Fernando Martin 

Last week, Karl and Fernandez got to talking. George told Rudy about his own experiences with Real Madrid. About the culture he embraced. The friends he cherished. The players he adored. "It was a difficult time," Karl said, "but it was a rewarding time. And our team, we were very close, a lot because of what happened to us." In its first game after Martín died, Karl's team was lost, playing in a daze of malaise. Karl recalled his halftime speech: "I said, 'No one expects you to figure this out. Other than Fernando. He thinks you're a bunch of (wimps) right now.' " Denver Post

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Spain, Fernando Martin 

In a press conference, Gustavo Ayon confirmed that he is leaving Baloncesto Fuenlabrada and will sign a contract in NBA with New Orleans Hornets. The buyout of the player is $1.5M. New Orleans Hornets will pay $525.000 while the Mexican big man will pay the difference by his own. Sportando

New Orleans Hornets, Spain, Gustavo Ayon, Fuenlabrada 

Emiliano Carchia: Buyout for Ayon with Fuenlabrada is $1.5M: Hornets will pay $525.000. Ayon will pay by his own the difference Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Spain, Gustavo Ayon, Fuenlabrada 

Emiliano Carchia: Gustavo Ayon, who announced his departure from the NBA this morning in a press conference, will sign a 3-year contract with Hornets Twitter

New Orleans Hornets, Spain, Gustavo Ayon, Fuenlabrada