Malcolm Delaney during his time at Virginia Tech. (Photo : Getty Images)
Recent reports were out that the Brooklyn Nets are interested in signing undrafted point guard Malcolm Delaney this summer to add depth to the team's thin backcourt.
The 27-year-old Delaney, who is currently playing for Russian VTB United League's PBC Lokomotiv-Kuban, joined the 2010 NBA Draft as a third year player of the Virginia Tech Hokies.
However, he did not have an agent to represent him on draft night and so there is little chance that an NBA team will pick him because of that. He found himself choosing to either withdraw or continue with his entry.
Delaney was given until May 8 of that year to decide to withdraw from the event scheduled on June 24 or completely give up his senior season with the Hokies. A day before the deadline, he opted to go back to Virginia Tech and spend his senior year with the team before entering next season's NBA draft where he eventually ended up getting undrafted.
Now, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound combo guard has just finished this year's Lokomotiv campaign with the team getting eliminated by eventual champions CSKA Moscow in the semifinals of the Euroleague, Basketball Insiders indicated.
The report noted, though, that he played injured and despite the sorry loss to CSKA, the shoot-first type of point guard "once again demonstrated his leadership qualities" during the game, something that NBA teams are interested in.
It was also said that Delaney was already approached by the Nets and could begin negotiations for an NBA contract soon. Aside from Brooklyn, another NBA team, the Houston Rockets, is also interested in acquiring the services of the Baltimore, Maryland native, SB Nation reported.
Meanwhile, two premier Euroleague teams are also said to be preparing an offer to sign Delaney this summer. One of these rumored clubs is Barcelona, who is anticipated to overhaul their roster based on Delaney next season.
After Lokomotiv's Euroleague semifinal elimination, Delaney allegedly said that landing in an NBA franchise will be his "priority" in the summer, although he did not name any particular team that he wanted to join.
Delaney is considered as one of the top point guards in Europe and one of the most durable players as well. He set the league's all-time records in minutes played and drawn fouls this season as well as shooting 40 percent from the rainbow area.
