The lockout is close to bringing another NBA player back to Europe, as Lithuanian forward Linas Kleiza is reported to be on the verge of joining Lietuvos Rytas, where he would join a potential Toronto Raptors teammate Jonas Valanciunas, who was drafted by the Canadian club in this year’s NBA Draft.
According
to BTV Television, the 26-year-old Lithuanian star, who is recovering from a
knee injury, would join the Lithuanian League (LKL) runners-up once fully
healthy. After undergoing surgery in the beginning of February, the initial
recovery time was said to be between nine and twelve months.
Rumors that
Kleiza could be joining Lietuvos Rytas were already floating around in the
inner circles of Lithuanian media months ago, as the Lithuanian businessman and
professional poker player Antanas Guoga, who is a good friend of Kleiza and has
links with Lietuvos Rytas, was said to be ready to pay Kleiza’s salary.
If Kleiza
did indeed join Lietuvos Rytas, he would link up with his potential Toronto
Raptors teammate, the fifth pick of the 2011 NBA Draft, Jonas Valanciunas, who
is also representing the side from the
Lithuanian capital.
