Will Barton recaptured thrill with Nuggets after ‘darkest times’ in NBA

Paolo Banchero has said that when he suits up for a national team, he’ll play for Italy. Unfortunately, that debut for the Italian National Team may be delayed for a while longer.

Banchero is unlikely to play for Italy at this summer’s FIBA World Cup, according to federation president Gianni Petrucci.

“We are currently on stand-by, and if I’m being honest, I feel more pessimistic than optimistic. Banchero has been overwhelmed by events in recent months,” Petrucci said. “If he won’t be with us for the World Cup, we now hope for the Paris Olympics.”

The Milwaukee Bucks are in “a promising position” to re-sign both Khris Middleton and Brook Lopez, sources tell Marc Stein of Substack.

Middleton has been considered more likely than Lopez to remain with the Bucks after opting out of his $40 million option for 23-24.

But Stein reports that Lopez “is likewise leaning toward a Bucks return.”

Lopez is expected to receive interest from the Houston Rockets.