International Notes: Yurtseven, Petrusev, T. Williams, 2028 Olympics
Omer Yurtseven has an agreement in principle to sign with Panathinaikos in Greece, according to Eurohoops, relaying a report from Greek news outlet SDNA. Panathinaikos has reportedly made an official offer for the 26-year-old center, and coach Ergin Ataman has given the club president a “green light” for the signing.
Sources tell Eurohoops that even though Yurtseven has reached an agreement with the team, he has requested a few more days to explore his NBA options before finalizing it. He has spent the past three years in the NBA, playing for Utah last season after two years in Miami. He had a $2.66MM non-guaranteed salary for 2024/25, but the Jazz opted to waive him in July.
Yurtseven started his career in Europe with Fenerbahce before heading to the U.S. to play collegiately with North Carolina State and Georgetown.
There’s more international news to pass along:
- Filip Petrusev, who played three combined games with Philadelphia and Sacramento last season, may be returning to Crvena Zvezda, writes Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. Petrusev remains under contract with Olympiacos after signing with the Greek team in November, but the 24-year-old big man is reportedly discussing a return to Belgrade. “We have not reached an agreement, yet. We were in talks,” team president Nebojsa Covic told Serbian television network Prva. “He expressed his desire. We worked on it and are working on it, especially with (Sasha) Vezenkov back.” Olympiacos doesn’t appear willing to part with Petrusev, issuing a statement in response that reads, “Mr. Covic should occupy himself with the players of his team instead of those of Olympiacos.” Petrusev played for Serbia in the Olympics.
- Trevion Williams is part of the roster announced by ALBA Berlin for the upcoming season, per Eurohoops. The 23-year-old big man, who played four years at Purdue, was selected by the Suns’ new G League affiliate in the June expansion draft.
- Danny Chau of The Ringer looks ahead to the 2028 Olympics, including some international prospects who are likely to make their debuts.
Jared McCain Seeks Veterans’ Advice As He Prepares For First NBA Season
Sixers first-round pick Jared McCain is trying to soak up as much knowledge as he can as he gets ready for his rookie season, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. The 16th selection in this year’s draft is studying film and seeking advice from NBA veterans while preparing to carve out a role on a team that’s expected to be among the top contenders in the East.
“Kyle (Lowry) is somebody I watched his college highlights,” McCain said. “Obviously, his NBA highlights, just being a bigger, stockier guard. Tyrese (Maxey) is a younger player that I can learn from. And Joel (Embiid) as an MVP, I can learn just any ins and outs. Paul George, Reggie Jackson, the whole lineup is just people I can learn from. That’s really what I’m most excited for. Even if I don’t play, whatever happens, I’m just here to learn as much as possible so I can take it as far as I can.”
McCain has reached out to a number of current and former NBA point guards to get insight on their approach to the game, Pompey adds. That list includes former Sixers guard Patrick Beverley, who is headed to Hapoel Tel Aviv in Israel after finishing last season with Milwaukee.
“It’s funny, he gets a lot of slack for going overseas, not being in the NBA,” McCain said. “But the dude has made over $100 million in the NBA. You can kind of call it what it is. He has done really well in the NBA, and he’s been able to stay on teams. So that’s something that I can do. I just want to learn as much as I can whether it’s bringing energy or being that guy that can be the glue guy.”
Since draft night, McCain has been traveling the country to work on his game. He started with Summer League appearances in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas, then returned to Duke to work out with former college teammates. The next stop was the Sixers’ practice facility in Camden, New Jersey, before participating in an unofficial team minicamp held that Sixers assistant coach Rico Hines holds in Los Angeles.
According to Pompey, McCain was back in Philadelphia this week before flying to Carroll, Iowa, for head coach Nick Nurse’s charity golf tournament. He then returned to California to continue working out with his new teammates in preparation for the start of training camp next month.
“I got to do the Podcast P with Paul George podcast,” he said. “Tyrese was in there all of the time. The summer league team was mostly there. So, yeah, it was just getting to know everybody and seeing everybody back.”
McCain was an outstanding three-point shooter in college, connecting at 41.4% from beyond the arc in his only season with the Blue Devils and setting a Duke freshman record by sinking eight threes in a game. That didn’t carry over to Summer League, though, as he shot just 28.6% from the field and 25.5% from long distance. McCain is confident that he can help space the floor for the Sixers, but added that he’ll be happy with any role that gets him on the court.
“If it’s playing team defense and knowing rotations, and being out there, knowing how to play with everybody,” he said, “if that’s what it is, that’s what it is. I just want any chance to play, whether it’s point guard, or shooting guard or anything.”
Community Shootaround: Christmas Day Schedule
Once again, the NBA focused on big stars and big cities when compiling this year’s slate of Christmas Day games.
The league’s annual holiday showcase will start at noon Eastern Time and will feature five games stretching over more than 12 hours. Anyone who wants to spend part of the day with LeBron James, Stephen Curry or Kevin Durant will be delighted, although there seem to be a few glaring omissions, both among players and teams.
The day will tip off at Madison Square Garden with the Knicks hosting the Spurs. New York is an automatic selection for Christmas any time the team is half decent, and this year’s version looks like a title contender. After excelling in the Olympic spotlight, Victor Wembanyama will get his first Christmas game in the “world’s most famous arena.”
The action continues with the Timberwolves, making a rare Christmas Day appearance, traveling to Dallas to take on the defending Western Conference champion Mavericks. This rematch of the conference finals features two of the NBA’s top stars in Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic and could be important in the race for the best record in the West.
Next up, the Sixers and Celtics will renew their rivalry in Boston in a battle of two of the best teams in the East. Philadelphia added Paul George as part of an offseason roster overhaul and should be a legitimate challenger for the defending champs, who may not have Kristaps Porzingis available by December 25 following offseason surgery.
The Warriors will host the Lakers in the prime-time matchup, with James and Curry meeting for the first time since their Olympic heroics. Although these are still two of the league’s glamour teams and should draw a good rating, they combined for just one playoff win last season.
The day will end with the Suns hosting the Nuggets in the late game. Durant and Nikola Jokic were also outstanding at the Olympics, and Phoenix and Denver should both be in the midst of the Western Conference playoff race.
Even with an entertaining slate of games, there are many fans and players who feel left out. Being on the Christmas Day schedule is considered a sign of respect around the league, so it’s almost an insult to be overlooked.
The Thunder are the most obvious omission after finishing as the No. 1 seed in the West last season. Oklahoma City has the MVP runner-up in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, along with a talented young roster that looks ready to contend for years to come. OKC also upgraded during the offseason by trading for Alex Caruso and signing free agent center Isaiah Hartenstein.
The Bucks are typically a Christmas Day fixture, but they got passed over after losing in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight season. However, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard remain two of the league’s top stars and a strong argument can be made that Milwaukee should have been included.
The Pacers, who reached the conference finals and the in-season tournament finals, are an exciting young team in the East, as are the Cavaliers and Magic. Tyrese Haliburton, Donovan Mitchell and Paolo Banchero would all be worthy of Christmas games.
In the West, Zion Williamson and the Pelicans, Ja Morant and the Grizzlies and James Harden and Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers should also be in the conversation.
We want to get your opinion. What was the biggest snub on the Christmas Day schedule? Please leave your response in comments section.
International Notes: Washington, Fernandez, A. Antetokounmpo, Eddie
In an interview with Telesport, Duane Washington talks about preparing for his first overseas experience, relays Basketball News. Washington signed a two-year contract with Serbia’s Partizan Belgrade in July after spending all of last season in the G League.
“The energy is incredible. I’ve felt it since day one, and I can’t wait to hit my first shot and make my first assist in front of those fans,” Washington said. “I believe the fans will see how dedicated I am and how much I want to win. I’m ready to give 100% to help this team succeed.”
Washington joined the Pacers on a two-way deal in 2021 after going undrafted out of Ohio State. He was given a standard contract at the end of the season, but was waived that summer. He moved on to the Suns on a two-way contract before being waived in the middle of the 2022/23 season. He then signed three two-way contracts with the Knicks, but never appeared in a game with them.
He’s looking forward to the next chapter of his career and getting to know his new teammates, including Gabriel Lundberg, who played in Phoenix shortly before Washington arrived.
“I’m very excited. I can score, but having players like Lundberg who can take some pressure off me is a huge advantage,” Washington said. “We just missed each other in Phoenix, but now we’re together, and I believe we’ll be a dangerous duo for opponents.”
There’s more international news to pass along:
- Rudy Fernandez, whose retirement was reported after Spain was eliminated from the Olympics, made an official announcement Friday on Twitter, writes Johnny Askounis of Eurohoops. The 39-year-old posted an emotional message to his fans along with a video showing highlights from his career. “I RETIRE with the feeling of having been a player committed to every team or club I have been on,” Fernandez wrote. “I never dreamed of flying so far, or so high, and directly competing against whoever was in front of me. I will miss being on the court, but now it is time for me to build a new path and be with my family more than ever. Of course, I will continue to enjoy this wonderful sport, always. Thank you all for flying by my side.”
- Alex Antetokounmpo has joined KK Podgorica Bemax in Montenegro, according to Eurohoops. The youngest of the Antetokounmpo brothers has never played in the NBA, although he signed training camp contracts in each of the past three years with Toronto and Milwaukee. His new team is moving into the first division of the ABA League this season.
- Former NBA player Jarell Eddie signed a one-year contract with Greek club Peristeri, Eurohoops states in another report. The 32-year-old forward, who played in Romania last season, has been through numerous overseas stops since leaving the NBA after the 2017/18 season.
Stars To Participate In Farewell Game For Goran Dragic
A farewell game will take place August 24 to honor Goran Dragic, who announced his retirement at the end of December, according to BasketNews.
Titled “The Night of the Dragon,” the game will be played at Stozice Arena in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Two teams will be drafted during a charity gala dinner the night before. The game is sponsored by the Goran Dragic Foundation, and tickets sold out within 20 minutes.
Among the current and former players scheduled to participate are Steve Nash, Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Dirk Nowitzki, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Luis Scola, Dejan Bodiroga, Predrag Danilovic, Nikola Vucevic and Rasho Nesterovic. Chris Bosh, Dragic’s former teammate in Miami, will attend the event but won’t play.
BasketNews reports that Jimmy Butler was originally set to appear, but had to cancel due to a commitment in China.
Dragic, 38, appeared in 946 games with seven teams during his 15 NBA seasons. He was named Most Improved Player during the 2013/14 season and was selected to the All-Star Game in 2017/18.
He’s also a Slovenian basketball legend, leading the nation to its first EuroBasket title in 2017 while earning Most Valuable Player honors for the tournament.
Celtics Notes: Tatum, Centers, Griffin, Schedule
Will Celtics star Jayson Tatum turn his Olympics experience into motivation for the upcoming season? That’s the opinion of one of the anonymous NBA coaches and executives who talked to Steve Bulpett of Heavy about Tatum’s surprisingly small role with Team USA.
“It’s going to be really interesting to see how Tatum reacts to all of this,” said one former player who’s now in an NBA front office. “From everything I’ve seen and know, he’ll use it as motivation. The great ones always do. They perceive slights even when they’re not there. [Michael Jordan] took everything personal. That’s how a great player becomes a beast.”
Tatum seemed like a good bet to be one of the stars of the U.S. team when the roster was announced. However, his limited role turned out to be one of the few controversies for coach Steve Kerr as the Americans captured the gold medal. Tatum didn’t play at all in the two games against Serbia, and he was often used as the 11th man on a talented roster.
Another executive suggested to Bulpett that Tatum could be the star of Team USA if he decides to return for the 2028 Olympics.
“He got the gold. He didn’t get the role he wanted,” the executive said. “But next time he’ll probably be in the role he wants, with no (Kevin Durant) and no LeBron (James) and no (Stephen Curry) playing. He’ll be the next generation of them.”
There’s more on the Celtics:
- Coach Joe Mazzulla will likely stagger the rest nights for Al Horford and Kristaps Porzingis once Porzingis returns from offseason surgery, Brian Robb of MassLive states in a mailbag column. He notes that Mazzulla took a similar approach last season, with Luke Kornet performing well whenever he was asked to start. Robb expects Kornet, Xavier Tillman and possibly Neemias Queta to see regular minutes during the first half of the season.
- Blake Griffin, who officiated Payton Pritchard‘s wedding last week, remains close with his former Celtics teammates, but doesn’t seem likely to join the team as an assistant coach, Robb adds in the same piece. Griffin’s desire to spend more time with his young children played a role in his decision to retire last season instead of re-signing with Boston, so Robb doesn’t believe he would be interested in any job that requires heavy travel.
- In the wake of Thursday’s schedule release, Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe looks at the most intriguing matchups for the Celtics on this year’s slate.
Hawks, Clippers Interested In Aleksa Avramovic
Aleksa Avramovic, one of the stars of the Serbian Olympic team, has received interest from the Hawks and Clippers, according to BasketNews, relaying a report from Ozon Press, a Serbian newspaper.
Avramovic, who was named Best Defensive Player in the Paris Games, has an out clause in his contract with CSKA Moscow that permits him to sign with an NBA team. However, the clause will expire Tuesday, so time is limited to get a deal completed.
Avramovic has a buyout fee in his CSKA contract that an NBA team could contribute up to $850K to help cover. Neither Atlanta nor L.A. has made a formal offer so far, according to Mozzart Sport.
Avramovic is currently preparing to travel to Moscow for the start of training camp on August 26, BasketNews adds. He’s expected to continue his career in Russia if he doesn’t sign with an NBA team.
The 29-year-old point guard averaged 10.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals in six games as Serbia captured the bronze medal in Paris. He averaged 3.4 steals per 40 minutes in the tournament and had four against Germany in the third-place game.
The Hawks and Clippers currently have 15 players on standard contracts, so either team would have to part with guaranteed money before the start of the season to add Avramovic to the roster.
And-Ones: K. Smith, Schedule, C. Brown, Burton, Duke & Rutgers
Warner Bros. Discovery is suing the NBA after being excluded from the new broadcast rights package, but Kenny Smith isn’t worried about how that might affect what will likely be the final year of “Inside the NBA,” writes Greg Rajan of The Houston Chronicle. Smith, who has been with the network since his playing career ended in 1998, insists that nothing will change inside the studio.
“No, because we do our jobs,” he said. “Our job is to talk (about) the game and give insight and also give you insight about what’s going on behind the scenes with TNT. Like, ‘Hey, we’re not happy.’ That’s part of what makes us different. I don’t think any other network would allow or want their talent to talk about things like that. We’re going to do it, no matter what happens.
“But again, we’ve had a great run. If it continues, it’ll be great. But also, there are massive opportunities for the four of us — again, to create ownership opportunities to make sure our directors, producers, makeup, stats and audio people are still part of one of the greatest shows in sports TV history.”
Smith views the possible end of the network’s affiliation with the NBA as an opportunity for the show to reach out into other areas. He compares it to what Adam Sandler or Peyton and Eli Manning are doing with their companies, providing a chance to create a new brand in sports television.
There’s more from around the basketball world:
- More details on the 2024/25 NBA schedule continue to leak out ahead of the official announcement at 3:00 pm ET on Thursday. The Nuggets will host the Thunder on October 24 in the season opener for both teams, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic (Twitter link). It will be a matchup of the top two seeds in the West last season. After facing the Clippers October 23 in the first game at the new Inuit Dome, the Suns will stay in Los Angeles to take on the Lakers October 25 before hosting the Mavericks in their home opener a night later, tweets Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic. The Kings will have two six-game road trips during the season, sources tell James Ham of Kings Beat (Twitter link). One in January will have them face the Nuggets, Knicks, Nets, Sixers, Thunder and Timberwolves, and another from March 29 to April 7 will feature games against the Magic, Pacers, Wizards, Hornets, Cavaliers and Pistons.
- Former NBA players Charlie Brown Jr. and Deonte Burton will be among the players representing the G League United in a pair of September exhibition games, the league announced (Twitter links).
- Duke and Rutgers will be the top destinations for NBA scouts when the college basketball season begins, observes Adam Zagoria of NJ.com. The Blue Devils have the projected No. 1 pick in the 2025 draft, Cooper Flagg, along with Khaman Maluach, a probable lottery selection who played for South Sudan in the Olympics. The Scarlet Knights’ Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper are also in contention for the top spot in next year’s draft.
Terence Davis Works Out For Bucks
Free agent shooting guard Terence Davis recently held a workout with the Bucks, league sources tell Michael Scotto of HoopsHype (Twitter link).
Davis, 27, began last season with the Rip City Remix, Portland’s affiliate in the G League. He appeared in just three games before suffering a torn Achilles that ended his season.
Davis, who chose the G League over a more lucrative offer in Europe, is hoping to prove that he’s healthy enough to return to the NBA after a one-year hiatus. He last played for Sacramento during the 2022/23 season, averaging 6.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 64 games, primarily in a reserve role.
Davis’ NBA career began in 2019 when he signed with Toronto after going undrafted out of Mississippi. After a year and a half with the Raptors, he was traded to the Kings at the 2021 deadline. He’s been an explosive scorer off the bench for most of his time in the NBA, posting .434/.366/.826 shooting numbers in 227 games.
Even if Davis gets an offer to join Milwaukee for training camp, it won’t be easy for him to win a roster spot. The Bucks already have 14 players with fully guaranteed contracts, along with Andre Jackson, who holds a $946K guarantee on his $1.89MM deal for the upcoming season.
Olympic Notes: Murray, Yabusele, Giddey, Barrett, More
There are concerns about Jamal Murray following a lackluster Olympic performance with Team Canada, writes John Hollinger of The Athletic. After dealing with injuries during the latter part of the season, the Nuggets guard was limited to 36.6% true shooting and a 4.7 PER in four Olympic games.
While Hollinger admits that’s a small sample size, he notes that Murray wasn’t any better in Canada’s exhibition contests and didn’t look like the same player he was during Denver’s 2023 title run. Hollinger observes that Murray played without “zip” while having a hard time getting separation from his defender and finishing at the rim. If there’s a physical issue affecting Murray, it could be a significant story heading into training camp and the start of the season, Hollinger adds.
A report in late June stated that the Nuggets and Murray were nearing agreement on a four-year, $208MM extension. Hollinger wonders if the team might be reconsidering that offer in light of Murray’s recent downturn.
Hollinger shares a few more thoughts on the Olympics:
- Guerschon Yabusele helped his NBA prospects tremendously with his Olympic performance, but Hollinger is skeptical that he’ll join the league this season. A league source confirms to Hollinger that Yabusele has a $2.5MM buyout in his contract with Real Madrid. Any NBA team that signs him would have to pay that amount, which would count against the cap above the $850K maximum international buyout, along with Yabusele’s salary. Hollinger sees a better chance for Yabusele to return to the NBA next summer when he’ll be a free agent.
- Australia used Josh Giddey as its primary ball-handler, a role he’ll assume with the Bulls this season. Hollinger points out that although Giddey could have used better outside shooting around him, he was effective running the offense. He made 11 three-pointers in four games, easing some of the concerns about him in Oklahoma City, while taking on a 30% usage rate.
- Hollinger believes Raptors swingman RJ Barrett could be headed for a breakout season. Playing for Canada, Barrett ranked fourth in the Olympics in scoring at 19.8 PPG with 58/44/84 shooting splits. Hollinger adds that Barrett was impressive after being traded to Toronto last season and should have a high-usage role on a rebuilding team.
- Khem Birch may have sparked NBA interest after being Canada’s top center in France, per Hollinger. Birch will be 32 by the time training camps open, but Hollinger suggests he could fill a role as a third center.
- Mathias Lessort, who helped France reach the gold medal game, could be a “last-resort option” for the Knicks next summer if they still haven’t found a reliable backup center, Hollinger states. The 29-year-old big man is under contract with Panathinaikos in Greece this season.
- Isaac Bonga is a free agent after wrapping up a strong Olympics with Germany. Hollinger notes that Bonga is only 24 and could return to the NBA and a three-and-D specialist, even if it doesn’t happen right away.