When former Knicks and Sixers guard Chasson Randle signed with Spanish team Real Madrid back in October, his deal included an opt-out clause that gave the team the chance to part ways with him before the end of the 2017/18 campaign. However, according to international basketball reporter David Pick (via Twitter), Real Madrid intends to waive that opt-out and retain Randle for the rest of the season.
Randle, who appeared in 26 NBA games last season for the Knicks and Sixers, hasn’t had a major role for a Real Madrid squad that features several other former NBA players – including Rudy Fernandez, Anthony Randolph, and Gustavo Ayon – as well as the potential No. 1 pick of the 2018 draft (Luka Doncic). Still, the club has apparently liked what it has seen from the former Stanford guard, and will keep him around for now.
Here are a couple more notes from around the international basketball scene:
- Having been waived by the Suns last month, Mike James may be headed back overseas to resume his playing career. Emiliano Carchia of Sportando reports that the Guangdong Southern Tigers of the Chinese Basketball Association are considering James as a potential replacement for French guard Edwin Jackson.
- Former No. 1 overall pick Andrea Bargnani, who last appeared in the NBA for the Nets in 2015/16, played for Baskonia in Spain last season, but hasn’t caught on with another team so far this year. As Sportando relays, Bargnani published a Facebook post explaining that he’s not currently looking to continue his playing career, despite being healthy. While Bargnani’s message stops short of announcing his retirement, it remains unclear whether or not the 32-year-old will return to the court at some point.