And-Ones: G. Davis, Francisco, Lacob, Vegas
Former NBA big man Glen Davis, who was sentenced in 2024 to 40 months in prison for his involvement in a scheme to defraud the league’s health and welfare benefit plan, was released on Thursday after serving 17 months, per Matt Moret of The Athletic.
Davis was one of 18 former NBA players originally charged back in 2021 over the fraud scheme, which involved submitting false claims for millions of dollars in dental and medical expenses that were never incurred. The forward/center, who played for the Celtics, Magic, and Clippers from 2007-15, was found guilty of multiple fraud charges, as well as conspiring to make false statements, and was ordered to pay $80K in restitution.
According to Moret, Davis will now enter a halfway house as he transitions from his imprisonment. As mandated by his sentence, the 40-year-old will take financial management classes and receive drug treatment. His stay at the halfway house is expected to end on July 9, at which point he’ll be subject to three years of supervised release.
“He used his time productively while serving his sentence and took many programs during that time,” Davis’ attorney, Brendan White, told The Athletic. “He’s ready to become a productive member of society again.”
We have more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- French guard Sylvain Francisco, who is in the midst of the best season of his career for Zalgiris Kaunas in the EuroLeague, intends to explore the possibility of securing an NBA contract this summer, reports Aris Barkas of Eurohoops. Francisco, 28, has a “manageable” buyout clause in his deal with the Lithuanian team, Barkas tweets. He has averaged 17.0 points, 6.4 assists, and 3.1 rebounds in 26.8 minutes per game across 31 EuroLeague outings in 2025/26, with a .460/.410/.791 shooting line.
- The groups bidding for control of MLB’s San Diego Padres have been narrowed from five to four, per Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune (subscription required), with the second and final round of bids expected to happen in early- to mid-April, according to Dennis Lin and Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic. Warriors owner Joe Lacob was reported to be among the original group of prospective owners in the mix for the Padres, though it’s unclear whether his group is one of the four advancing to the final round of bidding.
- Hall-of-Famer Magic Johnson met with Nevada governor Joe Lombardo and other local leaders last month to explore a possible arena-resort development on the Las Vegas Strip and to discuss the possibility of becoming involved in an NBA expansion franchise, writes Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The NBA is expected to seriously consider moving forward with expansion in the near future, and Vegas and Seattle are viewed as the top candidates for teams. “Las Vegas is my favorite home away from home, and I can’t think of a better place to expand my MJE (Magic Johnson Enterprises),” Johnson said in a statement.
EuroBasket Standouts For NBA Teams To Monitor
The 2025 EuroBasket tournament has officially concluded, with Germany taking home the gold medal after defeating Turkey 88-83. Soon, the NBA players involved in the competition will rejoin their teams as they gear up for training camp, while EuroLeague players get ready for the September 30 season tip-off.
While the competition was a great way for teammates like Franz Wagner and Tristan Da Silva of the Magic to further build chemistry and for international stars like Dennis Schröder and Giannis Antetokounmpo to continue to shape their FIBA legacies, it was also a chance for less-heralded players to gain the eye of NBA executives and scouts, write Cyro Asseo and Sam Yip of HoopsHype.
Asseo and Yip break down eight players who proved during competition that they are worth NBA teams’ attention. They start with Isaac Bonga, who was named MVP of the EuroBasket Final after scoring 20 points and making 4-of-4 three-pointers.
Bonga played four seasons in the NBA from 2018-22, and averaged 3.1 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists in 13.1 minutes per night. Since leaving the league, the 6’8″ forward has become one of Europe’s premier defenders while shooting over 37% from three each of the last three seasons.
Asseo and Yip referred to him as “by far the best defender in this year’s Eurobasket” and “perhaps the best perimeter defender outside the NBA.” Bonga, who signed an extension with Partizan Belgrade that runs through 2026/27, is only 25 years old.
Next, HoopsHype’s duo turned to Bonga’s German teammate Oscar Da Silva, brother of Tristan, whom they describe as a 6’9″ versatile defender capable of doing the dirty work that NBA teams value. However, Da Silva’s contract with Bayern Munich extends through 2027 and doesn’t contain a buyout clause.
Finnish high school phenom Miika Muurinen was one of the breakout stars of the tournament, catapulting to international acclaim with high-flying dunks and an intriguing shooting stroke. Asseo and Yip write that Muurinen plans to choose a college sometime this winter and that he is expected to be a high-level prospect in the 2027 draft class.
Tyler Dorsey, a strong shooter and capable ball-handler who helped Antetokounmpo lead Greece to the bronze medal, has been in and out of the NBA since 2017, most recently playing three games with the Mavericks during the 2022/23 season. HoopsHype’s writers say they wouldn’t be shocked if the Bucks moved to bring him in alongside the star forward he has already shown he can succeed alongside.
Andreas Obst, Sylvain Francisco, Mikael Jantunen, and Ercan Osmani are names fans may be less familiar with, but all gave good reason for NBA teams to be intrigued if they decide to bring a player in from overseas.
Obst is considered perhaps the best shooter outside of the United States, Asseo and Yip write, as evidenced by his 43.8% three-point mark over his eight games. At only 6’3″, he may struggle with NBA defensive assignments, but could carve out a role as a shooting specialist.
Francisco has flirted with the NBA, but has never been able to make the leap. However, the writers note that the French guard, who went to high school in Florida, has the same agent that represents European NBA players such as Nikola Jovic and Nikola Topic, while also holding a buyout clause for 2026.
Jantunen had a strong performance for Finland, displaying a high-level shooting stroke for a 6’8″ 25-year-old. He shot 44.1% from three and 91.7% from the free throw line while scoring 12 points per game. Jantunen played two years for the Utes in college.
Finally, the seven-foot Osmani displayed a real ability to stretch the floor, knocking down 56.7% of his threes and submnitting a 28-point performance against Greece that saw the Turkish big man hit six shots from beyond the arc.