HoopsHype.com Rumors

Emiliano Carchia: Claudio Sabatini asked to play the game in Turin because the arena is one of the biggest in Italy = more tickets sold Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Angelico Biella informs that they will play in their own Arena and not in Turin vs Virtus Bologna, even with Kobe Bryant in the roster Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

That enabled Cooper to speak freely on why he doesn't believe Bryant possibly playing for Virtus Bologna in the Italian League should spark concerns about his injuries. "I don't think it's a good thing or a bad thing," said Cooper, who played in Italy during the 1990-91 season for Pallacanestro Virtus Roma. "I think players should be making as much money as they can in the short amount of time your body can provide for you. Unfortunately the lockout is forcing him to go over there, but I don't think it will do anything with the lockout." Los Angeles Times

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Michael Cooper, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: No big news on Kobe Bryant and Virtus Bologna this morning. But it is rumored that if Kobe won't come, Sabatini already agreed with Ginobili. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, San Antonio Spurs, Kobe Bryant, Manu Ginobili, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Kobe Bryant's representatives and Virtus Bologna are "working very intensely" to bring the Lakers' star to Italy during the NBA lockout. Bologna president Claudio Sabatini had told The Associated Press on Friday he had reached a tentative deal with agent Rob Pelinka for a 10-game contract worth more than $3 million. The Italian team and Bryant's management said in a joint statement Monday they are "working very intensely to try and create this important deal. Reaching such a complex deal requires both sides' maximum attention for every little detail." "Everyone wants a positive outcome to the deal, the goal of which is Kobe Bryant's presence in Italy, economic interests for the 17 clubs in Serie A and more attention for all of Italian basketball," the statement added. Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Smaller clubs Cremona and Varese have been reluctant to alter their schedules, although the Italian league said Saturday it was intervening to help spur an agreement. "I hope that very shortly we'll have a deal," Sabatini told the ANSA news agency. "I want to thank Kobe, who demonstrated again overnight that he wants to return to Italy." Los Angeles Daily News

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Kobe Bryant's representatives and Virtus Bologna are "working very intensely" to bring the Los Angeles Lakers' star to Italy during the NBA lockout. Bologna President Claudio Sabatini had told The Associated Press on Friday he had reached a tentative deal with agent Rob Pelinka for a 10-game contract worth more than $3 million. AP

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

The Italian team and Bryant's management said in a joint statement Monday they are "working very intensely to try and create this important deal. Reaching such a complex deal requires both sides' maximum attention for every little detail." "Everyone wants a positive outcome to the deal, the goal of which is Kobe Bryant's presence in Italy, economic interests for the 17 clubs in Serie A and more attention for all of Italian basketball," the statement added. AP

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

"Virtus Bologna and Kobe Bryant's management are working hard to finalize this important deal. Reaching an agreement so complex requires attention for both parties to any single detail. There is from both sides the full will to close positively the negotiation that has as objective the arrival of Kobe Bryant in Italy, the economic interest of the 17 clubs in Serie A and a good return on image for the entire Italian basketball". Sportando

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Claudio Sabatini jsaid from Bologna that Kobe showed real interest in joining Virtus. He hopes to finalize the deal very soon Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Today might be the decisive day in Kobe Bryant's deal.Sabatini hopes to announce him during the presentation of Serie A championship 2011-12 would wait the labor talks scheduled during the first days of the week. Via @bolognabasket. Schedules for Virtus BO with Bryant are almost done: Oct.9th vs Virtus Roma, Oct.12th vs Benetton Treviso, both at home. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Virtus Bologna denied that Granarolo is one of the sponsors for Kobe Bryant's operation Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Marc Mundet: Pau Gasol tells RAC1: "From what I know, Kobe has nothing signed with Virtus". Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Sabatini talks again:'I calculated that if I get Kobe, there will be incomes for €6.5M, it's too shocking to ask €1.5M to ther other clubs?' Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Legabasket president Valentino Renzi is optimistic about the Kobe Bryant's deal. He said that Virtus Bologna will be allowed to play the 1st two games of the season at home despite the rule forbids that. Virtus Bologna won't talk about the deal as asked by Kobe's agent. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Kobe's side didn't like the statements written by Hackett on FB and didn't want to share with the world the contract details with Virtus BO Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Claudio Sabatini reached agreements to open KOBE POINTS where to merchandise Kobe Bryant's jerseys, gadgets and stuffs related to him Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Virtus Bologna informs that from now there will be a news blackout on Kobe Bryant's operation. So, Sabatini won't speak anymore till the end of the negotiation. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Bryant has strong desire to play in Italy during lockout, source says, and wants an arrangement where entire league benefits financially. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Bryant's working with Italian League to find way for multiple teams to benefit from his playing there, not just Virtus Bologna, source says. Twitter

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna