HoopsHype.com Rumors

Simone Fontecchio isn’t the only talent from Virtus Bologna who’s thinking about playing overseas, also Danilo Andusic is considering to play in the United States. Andusic, born in 1991, is a very talented talented serbian shooting guard and during last weeks he’s proving he can be an important player in the Italian League. The player’s agency revealed that an NBA Franchise is interested to obtain the rights on Andusic. MY-Basket.it

Draft, Virtus Bologna, Danilo Andusic 

Claudio Sabatini, CEO of Virtus Bologna, talked today on Kobe Bryant. Sabatini tried to sign The Black Mamba during the NBA lockout. "A marketing operation? No, a real negotiation. We have tripled his salary from the first offer while the game he would have played dicreased the 80%. Lockout would have helped us, Kobe was sincere to say that we were close to a deal" said Sabatini to Playbologna.it Sportando

Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant, Lockout, Virtus Bologna 

Virtus Bologna is eyeing Kyle Weaver. The Italian team is still on the market looking for a 1-2 and a SF to add to the roster. Weaver, who spent last season in Germany with Alba Berlin averaging 10ppg in Eurocup and 9ppg in Bundesliga, has also an important NBA experience. Sportando

Free Agency, Italy, Kyle Weaver, Virtus Bologna 

Virtus Bologna is targeting Terrico White, a source told Sportando. The Italian team is on the market looking for the new Petteri Koponen. The Finnish player left for Khimki Moscow and Virtus needs a combo guard to add to the roster. Sportando

Free Agency, Terrico White, Virtus Bologna 

Virtus Bologna is looking for a 2-1 to add to the roster who will be replacing Petteri Koponen who flew to Khimki Moscow. Virtus' Bologna head coach is in Orlando for the NBA Summer League and is eyeing Xavier Silas. Sportando

Free Agency, Summer League, Xavier Silas, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: As reported to Sportando by a source, the interest of Virtus Bologna for Janning is confirmed but NBA is the first option for the player Twitter

Free Agency, Matt Janning, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

According to Il Corriere di Bologna, Petteri Koponen will leave Virtus Bologna in the summer. The Finnish combo guard is targeted by Olimpia Milano who made a €500.000 offer to him. Kopone wants to talk also with the Dallas Mavericks who owns his rights in the NBA. Sportando

Dallas Mavericks, Italy, Petteri Koponen, Virtus Bologna, Olimpia Milano 

Petteri Koponen: What will I do if Virtus Bologna is going to offer me a new contract? It is too early to talk about my future. At the end of the season my contract will expire and I want to see if any Euroleague team will make me a proposal. I want to talk with Dallas Mavericks as well because they own my NBA rights. If Virtus Bologna reaches Euroleague, it would be a huge opportunity for me to sit with the management and discuss a new deal. Siena and Milano? I was close to joining them in more than one occasion, but it didn't happen. I am happy to be here, I love Bologna but now I am ready for the next challenge. I am 24 and I want to play at the highest levels. For sure I don't want to sign for a great team risking to be a bench player for the entire season and I don't want to score 30 points at night for a weak team" said Koponen. Sportando

Dallas Mavericks, Italy, Petteri Koponen, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Kobe Bryant, in an interview at Sky, confirmed that he was very close to joining Virtus Bologna during the NBA lockout. Link on the way Twitter

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

The Corriere goes on to cite inside sources as explaining that Sabbatini & Co. could not compromise with Bryant’s representative Rob Pelinka on the nature of the games Kobe would have played. Sabbatini’s plan was mostly planned as being “a kind of occasional collaboration” because the club was having serious problems with the league’s standard labor contract and therein that old bugaboo, taxes. Ball In Europe

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

Concluded Kobe’s thoughts on playing in Europe: “I was really looking forward to starting this adventure in Italy, but then things in the NBA settled down and the season started after the lockout, so [my return to] Italy did not materialize. But there is still time in the future.” Ball In Europe

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

"To stay with Virtus? Why not? My goal is to play in Euroleague because I think for me it is important to play at the highest European level. And if I can play in Euroleague with Virtus Bologna, anyone would be happier than me. I don't know what is going to happen from now to June. NBA or Euroleague? It is not clear to me as well. If Virtus Bologna plays in Euroleague, I know I would have an important role in the team. Dallas Mavericks? I spoke with them a couple of time, they told me to finish the season with Virtus" said Koponen, via BolognaBasket. Sportando

Dallas Mavericks, Italy, Petteri Koponen, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Sabatini & Mayan Prediction: 'If end of world is true, I would like to hear Kobe to say: I made a mistake not to accept Virtus offer' Twitter

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

Emiliano Carchia: What I reported in the previous tweet is true, Sabatini said that, via Corriere di Bologna Twitter

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

Claudio Sabatini talked again on the negotiation he had with Rob Pelinka to bring Kobe Bryant to Virtus Bologna. 'One of my biggest regrets that I have as Virtus president is that I failed to bring Kobe Bryant to Bologna. We were close, if Kobe's agency had been more flexible, we would have signed Bryant' said Sabatini, as reported by Il Resto del Carlino. Sportando

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

In an interview with Corriere dello Sport, Claudio Sabatini talked again about Kobe Bryant said that the agreement was reached and Kobe should have played today his only game in Italy. "We had the agreement, there was just a little detail left. He was supposed to arrive yesterday, play today and leave tomorrow. Three days, one game, but we would sell out Unipol Arena and make €1.5M. Our first offer for Kobe was $800.000 for two months then we offered him around $3M for four days" said Sabatini. Sportando

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

Emiliano Carchia: Virtus Bologna is looking also for a big man. Two names are the hot ones today: Kris Lang and Jarvis Varnado (under contract with Hapoel) Twitter

Italy, Jarvis Varnado, Virtus Bologna 

Jorge Sierra: Agent Herb Rudoy told HoopsHype yesterday he has not been in contact with Virtus Bologna for the last three weeks. He didn't know if Virtus' offer to Manu Ginobili would still be on the table. Ginobili not really considering the overseas option right now. Twitter

San Antonio Spurs, Manu Ginobili, Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna 

Emiliano Carchia: Claudio Sabatini confirmed that Virtus Bologna is trying to reach an agreement with Jared Homan to break the contract Twitter

Lockout, Italy, Virtus Bologna, Jared Homan 

Claudio Sabatini still hopes to bring Kobe Bryant to Italy for a three-games exhibition tour. "Kobe would be a marketing operation. The negotiation with Kobe? Pelinka did not tell me about the worldwide exhibition tour he was organizing. But he did not lie to me. By the way, we are ready from November 13th to playe three exhibition games. If they accept, we need three days to organize the events" said Claudio Sabatini to Bolognabasket.it. Sportando

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