Leandro Barbosa Signed With a Team in Brazil


Leandro Barbosa will hoop for Brazil’s Flamengo during the lockout, and has the contractual option to return to the NBA once the work stoppage ends. From the Toronto Sun: “I’m delighted to play in Brazil after so much time, ’cause Brazilian basketball improved a lot in recent years,’ Barbosa said. ‘I had proposals from China, Turkey and other countries. But I was sure I’d be happy here.’ Barbosa had considered opting out the final year of his contract with the Raptors to sign a longer deal in his native country, but was not able to find anything close to the $7.6 million U.S. guaranteed the Raptors still owe him for 2011-12. Barbosa has still not had surgery on the injured wrist that limited his production in 2010-11 and will not play for Brazil at the FIBA Americas tournament later this month, a decision that apparently has met with some derision in Brazil. The country last made the Olympics in 1996 and will already be without NBAers Nene and Anderson Varejao.”