HoopsHype.com Rumors

Spurs center Tiago Splitter laughed off rumors that Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid intends to make a run at him in the off-season, when he will be a free agent. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Tiago Splitter, Real Madrid 

“That’s because they’re having an election,” the former MVP of the Spanish ACB League said before Monday’s Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals against the Grizzlies. Splitter explained that the clubs that own the teams in the Spanish League elect officials every four years, a process that always brings campaign promises. “Every guy who runs for club president promises to bring in this guy or that guy so they can get elected,” he said. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Tiago Splitter, Real Madrid 

Spanish radio station Cadena SER is reporting that Real Madrid will make free-agent-to-be Tiago Splitter their top target during the offseason. The report, translated stateside at HoopsHype.com, describes the bid as a long-shot. Splitter, is well-known in Spain’s Liga ACB, where he played 10 seasons for three clubs. He was the 2010 MVP with Tau Cerámica, before joining the Spurs for the 2010-11 NBA season. The Brazilian became a naturalized citizen of Spain in 2004, and his wife is Spanish. San Antonio Express-News

San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Tiago Splitter, Real Madrid 

Real Madrid will try to sign Spurs big man Tiago Splitter this summer. It's a long shot, but that's the club's No. 1 goal. SER

San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Tiago Splitter, Real Madrid 

While the Bulls have always been privately confident that Mirotic would come to Chicago next summer, even they don't know for sure. First, they would have to negotiate a buyout with Real Madrid. If they get past that complicated step, the most interesting portion of the negotiations will begin. As Forman stated, Mirotic could be signed for an exception or any available cap space. What if the Bulls offer him the midlevel exception at $5 million a year and he says no? What if he wants more and says that he will stay in Europe if he doesn't get the deal he is seeking? The Bulls believe that Mirotic could develop into a star at the 4, but how much cap space are they willing to give toward his future? The 22-year-old would appear to have most of the leverage in this negotiation. ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic 

George Karl: Yes, you could say that I have very beautiful memories with Real Madrid. Actually, I can tell you that I have talked with some people about the possibility of coaching again in Europe. Me and my son have also talked about a goal we want to achieve: To coach together one day. And Europe would be a great chance for us to do it. Marca.com

Denver Nuggets, George Karl, Coaching, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Spain 

Tunisian center Salah Mejri is getting a two-year deal with Real Madrid. Encestando

Real Madrid, Salah Mejri 

Leading the competition in blocks while averaging just 20 minutes per game, Mejri is drawing attention from top Euroleague clubs such as Real Madrid and some NBA squads too. An Eastern Conference executive already considers him "a legit backup center in the NBA." HoopsHype

Real Madrid, Spain, Salah Mejri 

NBA teams interested in Mejri will have to compete with Euro teams for his services, though. Agent Bouna Ndiaye told HoopsHype they will test the Spanish and European market first - with Real Madrid reportedly in the lead now - and will only look at NBA options second. "I would be happy playing here with a Euroleague or Eurocup team too," Mejri said. "But the NBA... That would be a dream." HoopsHype

Real Madrid, Spain, Salah Mejri, Bouna Ndiaye 

Chicago Bulls fans eager for Nikola Mirotic to join the team that drafted him with the 24th pick in 2011 will likely have to wait until the summer of 2014, general manager Gar Forman explained. "You're slotted in the first round, and I think the slot for No. 24 is $1.3 or $1.4 million," Forman said Thursday on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000. "Well, he makes a lot more money than that right now over at Real Madrid. So the way the CBA is written is after three years then you're no longer slotted. Then you can use whether it's exception room or cap room in order to pay a guy. "So there's no possibility this summer because next year will be his third year. But after next year, the summer of 2014, then we'll be able to start some negotiations as far as a buyout possibly with Real Madrid or negotiate with him to come over here." ESPN.com

Chicago Bulls, Real Madrid, Nikola Mirotic 

Sergio Llull: "Going to the NBA is still an option but I want to do great things playing with Real Madrid." Eurosport

Real Madrid, Sergio Llull 

Emiliano Carchia: As per @David 'Dubi' Pick KC Rivers plans to participate in upcoming NBA Summer League & receiving interest from Madrid, despite contract with Khimki Twitter @SportandoBasket

Summer League, Real Madrid, Spain, Khimki Moscow, KC Rivers 

Besides the independent judge's decision, Euroleague Basketball has decided to ban for life the access or participation of the aggressors, the brothers Nauris and Normunds Macius, in any event directly organized by the company, including Turkish Airlines Euroleague and Eurocup games. Euroleague Basketball will work together with international basketball stakeholders to study a system for communicating and enforcing bans in other competitions. In parallel, it will recommend that the aggressors are banned from all basketball events, including club and national-team games. Euroleague.net

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Jon de la Presa: While player´s association were asking for a 100.000 € fine to Zalgiris Kaunas, Euroleague fined the lithuanian team with just 25.000 €. Twitter @jondelapresa

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Spain, Zalgiris Kaunas 

David Pejenaute: Tiago Splitter's excellent play with the Spurs makes the Real Madrid option very unlikely. Real Madrid has seriously courted Splitter. Twitter @DPeje

San Antonio Spurs, Free Agency, Tiago Splitter, Real Madrid 

Upon returning to Madrid on Friday, Rudy Fernandez made the following statements: “I am fine. Thank God things did not go further. I have to say thanks for the support of everyone that has contacted me through social networks and private messages. I am not enjoying this; people have to know that basketball cannot get dirty this way. Things like this don’t have to happen again. I think that people should not think that all Lithuanian fans are like that just because of these two people. Not at all. In the game, as always in all games, there was some tension, but I was respected at all times, which is the most important thing. This happened because of these two and that’s the image I keep. Something worse could have happened; I hope it never happens again. I hope [the media] respect me a bit because I am struggling, but I would like to thank those who have supported me and will carry on supporting me.” TrendBasket

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Spain, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Niki Bakouli: Rudy: "This should never happen again" realmadrid.com/cs/Satellite/e… Twitter @Eurohoopsnet

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Spain, Zalgiris Kaunas 

This picture was taken earlier on today as the two men that reportedly punched Real Madrid's Rudy Fernandez were released from prison and headed straight to the bar for a beer. The Macius brothers, well-known cult figures in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas waited for Real Madrid, especially Fernandez to leave the Zalgirio Arena after Zalgiris' 105-104 loss to the Liga Endesa side last night. Once they assaulted the Spanish international, they were both quickly arrested by Lithuanian Police and held overnight for questioning. TalkBasket

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Euroleague Basketball has opened an investigation into incidents that took place after an overtime victory by Real Madrid on the road against Zalgiris Kaunas in Lithuania on Thursday night. Real Madrid has reported the incident and is preparing all documents concerning an alleged aggression by fans against player Rudy Fernandez. The alleged aggression took place as Real Madrid was boarding its team bus after the game. Euroleague.net

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas 

Fernandez’s attackers are rumoured to be well-known basketball fans in Lithuania, who are famous for their tattoos and love for lithuanian basketball. An article on them can be found on euro-step blog here. TrendBasket

Rudy Fernandez, Real Madrid, Euroleague, Zalgiris Kaunas