It's been an eventful day around the Association so far, as rumors swirl around the Raptors, while Josh Smith and Kevin Love make headlines with noteworthy quotes. There are a few stories of note happening overseas as well, so let's take a look at today's international updates:
- Croatia's Cibona Zagreb has signed former NBA veteran Smush Parker, the team announced today (link via Sportando). Parker, who started 162 games for the Lakers in 2005/06 and '06/07, engaged in a bit of a back-and-forth with Kobe Bryant earlier this year about their time as teammates.
- Rudy Gobert tells Catch and Shoot that he wants to declare for the NBA draft and come stateside next year (English link via Sportando). That's no surprise, considering he projects as a surefire lottery pick. ESPN.com's Chad Ford even suggested last week that Gobert could be in the mix for the first overall pick.
- After dealing with a personal issue in America, Jason Kapono has finally joined Panathinaikos in Greece, according to Niki Bakouli of EuroHoops.net. Kapono had reached an agreement with the Greek team back in mid-November.
On this day seven years ago, Smush Parker was waived by the Suns, and it looked like his NBA career may be nearing an end. Parker bounced back though, signing with the Lakers and starting nearly every game for Los Angeles in 2005/06 and '06/07. Parker has been out of the NBA since 2008, but he's still playing professional basketball, having signed today with Venezuelan team Guaros de Lara (hat tip to Sportando). Here are a few more of today's odds and ends...
- Following his season-ending achilles injury, Chauncey Billups told Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times that he'd like to return to the Clippers next season to take care of "unfinished business."
- Rafer Alston, who recently signed with the NBA's D-League, spoke to Adam Zagoria of SNY.tv about his comeback attempt. Alston on the possibility of playing for his hometown Knicks: "If it happens, trust me, I’ll be like a kid in a candy story. I’ll feel like I won the lottery if I get an chance to play at home."
- Tayshaun Prince has no regrets about signing a long-term deal to stay with the Pistons, says Terry Foster of the Detroit News.
- Don't expect the Grizzlies to sign or trade for anyone in the next few weeks, says Ronald Tillery of the Memphis Commercial Appeal, noting that the team still needs to get below the tax line.
- Eddie Sefko of the Dallas Morning News would be surprised to see the Mavericks make a move at the trade deadline, but says they'll have plenty of money to spend this summer.
- Greg Stiemsma, whose contract was guaranteed yesterday by the Celtics, has taken an unusual road to Boston, writes Gary Washburn of the Boston Globe.
- Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel explains the Heat's decisions on players with non-guaranteed contracts.
