More NBAers Head Overseas, But Big Stars Still Unlikely To Go

Von Wafer Signed Two-Year, $10M Deal With Olympiakos

Free agent G Von Wafer yesterday confirmed that he has signed a two-year, $10M deal to play for Greek team Olympiakos, according to the AP. Olympiakos earlier this week also signed free agent F Linas Kleiza, who played for the Nuggets last season, and last year signed former NBAer Josh Childress to a three-year deal (AP, 8/12). SI.com's Chris Mannix wrote there is "no chance -- repeat, no chance" -- of the NBA "losing marquee stars to Europe." The Euro leagues "helped themselves when Childress came back raving about playing for Olympiakos ... but we have not reached the point where Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Dwyane Wade are going to start threatening to go to Europe" (SI.com, 8/12).

ISOLATION OFFENSE: In Detroit, Vincent Goodwill writes Magic F Rashard Lewis' 10-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs is "not the opening of Pandora's box." The NBA "once had a drug problem -- in the 1980s," when some players "couldn't resist the temptation of recreational drugs, not performance enhancers" (DETROIT NEWS, 8/13).

BLOWING THE FINAL WHISTLE: CBSSPORTS.com's Ken Berger reported a federal appeals court yesterday rejected a claim by one of former NBA referee Tim Donaghy's co-conspirators, James Battista, and "ruled that the NBA can be considered a victim for restitution purposes as a result of the betting scandal that rocked the league to its foundation." Battista's actions "harmed the NBA, which also can be reimbursed for legal fees that resulted from the probe." The ruling "closes the legal book on one of the ugliest periods in NBA history" (CBSSPORTS.com, 8/12).