Following the locked-out stars (Oct 9)

That was a great Sunday for rookies like Kyle Singler or Jacob Pullen in his official professional league debuts or for NBA prospects like Nikola Mirotic. Usual suspects like Antoine Wright or Mario West showed that they could be really useful players in Europe. Even Brian Scalabrine played his best official game since 2007. The first weekend in some of the most powerful European leagues was pretty fun.

No jokes. Scalabrine played great (Source Benetton Basket)

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Marresse Speights agrees to replace Byron Mullens in Panionios

Marresse Speights is the new "locked-out" player who moves to Europe. Gazzetta.gr has confirmed that the 76ers center has reached an agreement to play for Panionios until the end of the lockout. Speights, still under contract with Philadelphia, will replace another NBA center: Byron Mullens.

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Following the locked-out stars (Oct 8)

We missed Tony Parker with ASVEL Villeurbanne (especially ASVEL fans), but lots of former, current and future NBA players were on the European courts on Saturday. The MVP of the day was in Latvia... through players like Bobby Brown or Brad Wanamaker raised some eyebrows around. Lots of rookies started to show their skills too... Oh, and Adam Morrison is starting to become a Serbian legend.

Courtney Sims, an MVP in Latvia (Source Basket.lv)

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Following the locked-out stars (Oct 7)

After a huge performance from outside (six 3-point FG) Patrick Mills is the "locked-out" MVP of the day in his debut with the Melbourne Tigers. What have DeJuan Blair, Nicolas Batum, Nikola Vucevic, Chris Quinn, Jawad Williams or (yes!) Joe Alexander done today?

Patrick Mills as a Tiger (Source: NBL.com.au)

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Zaza Pachulia returns to Turkey during the lockout

Seven years after leaving Ülkerspor to start an NBA career, Zaza Pachulia is back to Turkey. Galatasaray has officially announced the signing of the hard-nosed 27-year-old center until the end of the NBA lockout. Pachulia is already the 63º NBA player to find a team overseas since the lockout started.

Balboa in Istambul (Source FIBA Europe / Castoria / De Massis)

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Cartier Martin signs with a Chinese team

Cartier Martin will join other NBA players as J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin or Wilson Chandler, and will play in the Chinese league next season. The 26-year-old forward has officially signed a contract with the Jilin Northeast Tigers. Martin arrives to his new team after averaging 4.0 points and 1.3 rebounds for the Washington Wizard during the 2010-11 season

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ACB league: Who you already know, and who you should know

The second best national league in the world (and, currently, the best one not locked out) will start next weekend. The ACB (now renamed as Liga Endesa due a new sponsoring agreement) curtain will rise with no NBA superstars landing (yet) due to the lockout. But despite not having some big names like Deron Williams or Tony Parker in their rosters, the Spanish league is still the most interesting one in Europe.

If names like Juan Carlos Navarro, Kirk Penney, Sergio Llull, Nando de Colo, Kevin Seraphin or Kyle Singler are not exciting you even a single bit, probably you should stop reading here...

Navarro, ready to play (Source: ACB Photo)

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Andrew Bogut, definitely no King

LAST UPDATE 8:59am PT, Oct 6: "Andrew Bogut's agent David Bauman tells ESPN.com that deal w/Sydney Kings is "off" because of insurance obstacles, not on hold. Link on way". Twitter Marc Stein (ESPN).

"Agent David Bauman said Thursday that a deal to put Bogut on the court with the Sydney Kings is "off" because insuring the nearly $40 million remaining on the 7-footer's contract with the Milwaukee Bucks is not feasible (...) "He's very disappointed because he was hoping to help the profile of the NBL and bring in new fans," Bauman said after speaking to Bogut by phone. "But the risks for his outstanding money were too great.". ESPN article by Marc Stein.

Looks definitive. Huge blow for the Kings and, especially, for the Australian league. A bad ending for a good idea...

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Avery Bradley takes his talents to sacred land

Avery Bradley has become the 62º NBA player from last season to sign a contract overseas. The 20-year-old point guard, who averaged 1.7 points and 0.4 assists during his rookie year with the Celtics, has agreed to play for Hapoel Jerusalem until the end of the lockout.

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Parker & Diaw: Where negotiating with myself happens

"I will play in France for the minimum salary. I will earn 1500 euros a month (around $2000). I pay my insurance with my own money". Tony Parker to RMC Sport.

"The choice of the heart prevailed over greed". Boris Diaw to the JSA Bordueaux website.

Tony Parker and Boris Diaw are back home. Both French stars have returned to their country during the lockout. That will help them to stay fit, competitive and to fight homesickness. Any other reasons? Maybe...

Boris Diaw, a man in black (Source: JSA Bordeaux)

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NBA lockout: What to expect when you're expecting?

Expect basketball, expect the excitement of a close game ending, expect great plays, buzzer-beaters and the smell of a good varnished flooring. Expect NBA stars trying to make his game in front of a roaring crowd, rooting for or against them. Expect hard defenses, lay-ups, great shots from downtown and yelling coaches. Expect teams fighting for every rebound, for every possession, for every second. Expect everything you want to see in a court.

Everything except the NBA logos...

Tony Parker, looking good in green (Source: ASVEL Basket)

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