HoopsHype.com Rumors

George Sfairopoulos, the agent who represents the 6-9 small forward, says the likely scenario is Portland opting to trade Papanikolaou's rights. “As of now, we don't have any sign that leads us to believe that Kostas will go to Portland,” Sfairopoulos told CSNNW.com. “Therefore, we believe that he will not be in the plans of the organization next season and probably will be traded.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Trade, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Roberto Bascoy: Chris Shentziou, Kostas Papanikolaou's press officer: "Papanikolaou will decide between Olympiacos and NBA. He's not considering another European team" Twitter

Greece, Olympiacos, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Kostas Papanikolaou of Olympiacos, winner this year “rising star award” as he team defended its title in London, has already proved that he is one of the best European players and this why many NBA teams are thinking of approaching Portland to acquire his rights. Blazers followed him closely throughout the season, but at this point it seems that “Pap” in not on the immediate plans of Neil Olshey. Portland (besides starter Nicolas Batum) also has another talented European forward with Spaniard Victor Claver and is no need to “overload” the small forward position. EuroHoops.net

Portland Trail Blazers, Greece, Olympiacos, Kostas Papanikolaou 

So there is a strong chance that the Blazers will trade his rights and many teams has shown interest. Spurs and Mavericks are among them, as well as the Knicks who drafted Papanikolaou on No48 of last year’s draft. Knicks GM Glen Grunwald visited London for a day, just to watch him on the semifinal against CSKA! EuroHoops.net

Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, Greece, Olympiacos, Kostas Papanikolaou 

News out of Europe today that Kostas Papanikolaou, whose rights the Trail Blazers acquired in the deal that sent Raymond Felton and Kurt Thomas to the Knicks, has been named the Euroleague's Rising Star Trophy winner for the 2012-13 season. The award goes every year to the best player under the age of 22 competing on a Euroleague team. Papanikolaou narrowly beat out Nikola Mirotic, the 23rd pick in the 2011 Draft, for the award. TrailBlazers.com

Chicago Bulls, Portland Trail Blazers, Nikola Mirotic, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Eurohoops talked to Papanikolaou and also to his agent Giorgos Sfairopoulos, both of them underlined the fact that they haven’t be contacted by anyone and even if Barcelona wants the player, will have to wait until the summer of 2014. “I heard about this from the media and nobody has contacted me”, said Sfairopoulos and Papanikolaou added: “I don’t have the slightest idea about, I wasn’t contacted by anyone and it’s a little awkward to talk about something like this before the big game against Anadolu Efes. However, according to my contract with Olympiacos, there is no chance that I can play in the near future for an other European team”. EuroHoops.net

Kostas Papanikolaou 

FC Barcelona wants to sign a multi-year contract with Kostas Papanikolau and they have already contacted him. Papanikolau has a great offer from CSKA Moscow too. Papanikolau would like to play in the NBA, let's say in a couple of years. SER

FC Barcelona, Spain, Russia, CSKA Moscow, Kostas Papanikolaou 

You started playing in Europe while you were 18. What is your plan for the future? Staying in Europe or going to the NBA? You were drafted by Knicks but Blazers have your rights now. Kostas Papanikolaou: Yes of course. When you are younger you want to be Kobe Bryant or Lebron James but it has to be on the right terms. Sometimes it wouldn’t be a good decision to go but I want to go there if I get the chance. I dream about playing in the NBA. TrendBasket

Portland Trail Blazers, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Kostas Papanikolaou was picked at no 48 of this year’s draft, but it was the New York Knicks fans reaction after hearing his name that made headlines around the world and provoked many comments! However, until now there wasn’t any comment by the 22 years old forward about that night. Papanikolaou remains a player of Euroleague champion Olympiacos but as he clarified to Eurohoops.net he wants at some point of his career to take the next step and prove that he has a place in the NBA. “To get drafted at the 48th pick by a team like New York was a good experience for me. I was really very happy because it’s a new opportunity for me in my life to try something new. You know, whenever a kid starts to play basketball, his dream it to play in the NBA. So I would love one day to be there, become a part of the NBA and to work it out, to make it happen let’s say”. EuroHoops.net

New York Knicks, Draft, Kostas Papanikolaou 

How did he experienced the Knicks fans’s reaction? He was in Brazil with the rest of the Greek national team and just minutes before being picked he was joking with his teammates and predicted that New York would picked him at no. 48. But a little later the joke was on him. “For the fans and all that they did on my pick…they didn’t like it when the Knicks actually picked me. I don’t have any problem with that, because they don’t really know me, they haven’t seen me play yet. So it’s didn’t bother me at all. I just want to get there and show to them that I can make it and I can be a part of the NBA”. EuroHoops.net

New York Knicks, Draft, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Al Iannazzone: Knicks get Ray and Kurt Thomas for Jeffries, Gadzuric, the draft rights to Papanikolaou and Printezis and a protected 2nd-round pick Twitter

New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Trade, Dan Gadzuric, Kurt Thomas, Raymond Felton, Giorgios Printezis, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Jason Quick: Blazers-Knicks trade will go through tomorrow. Blazers get Jared Jeffries, Dan Gadzuric, Kostas Papanikolaou and Georgios Prentezis and $$ Twitter

New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Trade, Dan Gadzuric, Jared Jeffries, Giorgios Printezis, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Marc Berman: Source says indeed the #Knicks second-round pick Kostas Papanikolaou is part of Felton package. Twitter

New York Knicks, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Jason Quick: Possible details of Blazers-Knicks deal could be Knicks sending Kostas Papanikolaou to Blazers and $$ to help pay for Jeffries' $3.1M salary Twitter

New York Knicks, Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Trade, Jared Jeffries, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Raul Alzaga: Kostas Papanikolau said he will stay with Olympiakos one more year before heading to the NBA. Twitter

New York Knicks, Olympiacos, Transactions, Kostas Papanikolaou 

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 Knicks looked to the future Thursday on draft night, selecting Kostas Papanikolaou of Greece with the 48th overall pick. It was a decision that disappointed many fans because Papanikolaou, a 6-foot-8 forward, will probably play overseas for at least two years. New York Times

New York Knicks, Draft, Greece, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Adrian Wojnarowski: Greek forward Kostas Papanikolaou gains momentum, a puncher's chance to go to Oklahoma City at 28 or early second round, sources tell Y! Twitter

Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Kostas Papanikolaou 

Greek forward Kostas Papanikolaou has appeal to several teams in the back end of the first round – including Miami (27) and Oklahoma City (28), sources say – who aren’t eager to add payroll and want to store a player overseas for another year. Yahoo! Sports

Miami Heat, Oklahoma City Thunder, Draft, Kostas Papanikolaou