Batum invites Embiid to play with French team

Nicolas Batum is looking out for the future of France. (USATSI)

Back when LeBron James was deciding between returning to the Miami Heat and going back to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Philadelphia 76ers rookie Joel Embiid was openly recruiting the four-time MVP on Twitter. While it was a lot of joking from Embiid, the No. 3 pick in the 2014 draft couldn't get a response from James and LeBron eventually joined the Cavaliers. Now during the FIBA World Cup, Embiid is the one being recruited to play for another team.

Embiid tweeted in French some words of encouragement for France as they played against and beat Croatia on Saturday. After the game, French forward Nicolas Batum responded to Embiid's tweets about France and told him he should join the French national team. Embiid laughed at the offer before informing Batum that the Cameroonian big man is not French.

@JoelEmbiid viens jouer avec nous toi

— Nicolas Batum (@nicolas88batum) September 6, 2014

@nicolas88batum je suis pas français ha

— Joel-Hans Embiid (@JoelEmbiid) September 6, 2014

It was worth a shot for Batum. He's just looking out for the future of French basketball on the international stage. Embiid will remain loyal to Cameroon and hopefully play for them on the international level next time the opportunity presents itself. The 2015 FIBA Africa Championship will be the next time Embiid is able to play for Cameroon, as they attempt to qualify for the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Considering Embiid is recovering from a serious foot injury and may miss his entire rookie season, perhaps Sam Hinkie won't allow his young center to play for the Cameroon national team before he plays a single game in the NBA. Although if the Sixers are still going with this tanking plan, Embiid could be cleared.

(H/T - Sportando)

Topics: LeBron James, Nicolas Batum, Philadelphia 76ers, NBA

Basketball Hot News

Report: Charlie Villanueva weighing offers from Clippers, Mavericks

Charlie Villanueva, who has very publicly been documenting his free agency, might be on the verge of an NBA contract.

Five years ago, Villanueva signed a five-year, $37.7 million contract with the Pistons. It didn’t go so hot. From his final year with the Bucks through five years in Detroit, his scoring average dropped from 16.2 to 11.9 to 11.1 to 7.0 to 6.8 to 4.6.

Villanueva’s decline made it seem his time in the league might be finished.

But apparently, he has options.

Shams Charania of RealGM:

Free agent Charlie Villanueva is nearing a decision between vet minimum offers from the Mavericks and Clippers, league source tells RealGM.—

Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 08, 2014

The Clippers, who’ve already signed Ekpe Udoh and Chris Douglas-Roberts, have 13 players with guaranteed contracts plus DeAndre Liggins on a non-guaranteed deal. They’re also reportedly interested in Ray Allen and Hedo Turkoglu, so they wouldn’t have room for both and Villanueva. But they also have just three bigs – Spencer Hawes, Glen Davis and Udoh – behind Blake Griffin and DeAndre Jordan.

With guaranteed contracts alone, the Mavericks already have the regular-season limit of 15 players. They also have Ivan Johnson and Eric Griffin on partial guarantees. What they don’t have: a stretch big besides Dirk Nowitzki. Dallas has made a habit lately of buying low on talented players and then putting them in position to succeed, and Villanueva fits the bill. But I don’t see how the Mavericks have room for him.

My advice to Villanueva: Join whichever team offers a higher guarantee. If the guarantees are equal – or maybe even close – go to Los Angeles. The Clippers offer a much better chance of making the team.