Del Negro To Play In Italy

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

December 31, 1998 / 4:45 PM EST / CBS Sportsline

Vinny Del Negro of the San Antonio Spurs is close to signing with an Italian team in a deal that would allow him to return to the NBA if the lockout ends.

Del Negro, who has dual American-Italian nationality and played in Italy during the early '90s, is expected in Italy on Sunday to complete the move to Fortitudo Bologna of the Italian basketball league.

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The NBA has said players can play overseas during the lockout. However, FIBA, the governing international body, has refused to admit NBA players if they are bound to rejoin the NBA after the lockout. Del Negro and his Italian club have an agreement allowing him to return.

The deadline for registering players for Euro League play is Monday. Del Negro would be eligible to play against CSKA Moscow on Jan. 7.

The Italian sports daily Gazzetta dello Sport reported the deal being worked out with Del Negro's agent, Jack Marin, has an escape clause regarding the lockout.

Del Negro is required to stay with the Italian club for a minimum of 30-40 days, a period encompassing about 10 games.

The NBA lockout has been in effect almost six months, and the first three months of the season have been scrapped. Commissioner David Stern says he will recommend the entire season be canceled if there's no agreement with players by Jan. 7.

"Even if he leaves, Vinny will have played for us for practically free," Fortitudo administrator Massimo Gambini said. "The contract, apart from the clauses, runs to June 1999 and has an option for next season. If Del Negro wants to stay, we are ready to keep him for the future."

Del Negro won an Italian league championship with Benetton Treviso in 1992.

The veteran guard was one of the Spurs' main outside shooting threats last season. The Spurs advanced to the Western Conference semifinals before losing tUtah in five games.

Del Negro would join other NBA players who have signed with European teams.

Center Arvydas Sabonis of the Portland Trail Blazers has joined Lithuania's Zalgiras Vilnius, and Vlade Divac, who played with the Charlotte Hornets last season, is with Red Star Belgrade. Those teams will meet in a Euro League game in Belgrade on Jan. 7.

In addition, Spanish club Real Madrid is hoping to sign Rik Smits of the Indiana Pacers and Zyrdrunas Ilgauskus of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

On Wednesday, a federal judge in Houston refused to grant a temporary restraining order to allow three NBA players to play the rest of the season in Europe.

Nick Van Exel of Denver, Marcus Camby of New York and Reggie Slater of Toronto sued the NBA and USA Basketball. They wanted clearance to finish the season in Europe even if the lockout ends.