International Notes: Kabengele, Simonovic, Forbes, Theis, Hall

As it prepares for its first EuroLeague season, Dubai Basketball continues to aggressively pursue former NBA players. According to an official press release (Twitter link), the latest player to join the team’s ranks is Mfiondu Kabengele, who played parts of three seasons with the Clippers, Cavaliers and Celtics from 2019-23.

Kabengele, 27, has spent the past two seasons in Europe with AEK Athens in Greece and Reyer Venezia in Italy. In 47 EuroCup and LBA games with the Italian club last season, the Canadian big man averaged team highs of 15.3 points and 9.7 rebounds in 26.5 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .564/.318/.704.

Kabengele is a former first-round pick, having been selected No. 27 overall in the 2019 draft after two college seasons at Florida State. He signed a two-year contract with Dubai, according to Eurohoops.

Here are a few more international items of interest:

• Former second-rounder Marko Simonovic, who spent two years with Chicago from 2021-23, will be switching teams for the 2025/26 campaign but will remain in Turkey. After suiting up for Bahçeşehir Koleji last season and averaging a combined 7.8 PPG and 4.4 RPG in 45 appearances (17.1 MPG), the Montenegrin center has inked a new deal with Türk Telekom, the team announced (via Twitter).
• Bryn Forbes, a seven-year NBA veteran who has been a free agent since February 2023, is signing with Greek club Aris Thessaloniki, sources tell Stavros Barbarousis of Eurohoops. Known for his outside shooting ability, the 31-year-old guard played for San Antonio, Milwaukee, Denver and Minnesota from 2016-23. Forbes was arrested in San Antonio in February 2024 on a charge of assaulting a family member by choking/strangulation, which is considered a third-degree felony. He was also arrested in February 2023 following a domestic violence incident, though that case was later dismissed after he successfully applied for a pre-trial diversion program, which requires an admission of guilt among several other criteria, per Andrew Moore of KENS 5 News.
• According to Mozzart Sport, German big man Daniel Theis has drawn interest from Partizan Belgrade but is considered likely to stay with AS Monaco (hat tip to Eurohoops). The 33-year-old center is reportedly on Real Madrid’s radar as well. Theis played for New Orleans last season prior to being traded to — and released by — Oklahoma City in February. The eight-year NBA veteran finished out 2024/25 with Monaco.
• Donta Hall‘s three-year contract with Olympiacos is now official, according to a press release from the Greek EuroLeague team. You can find more details on that agreement right here.