The off-again, on-again talks between Besiktas, Deron Williams' Turkish team, and Kobe Bryant are apparently on again. Besiktas coach Ergin Ataman says "It is a fact that Kobe Bryant’s managers have contacted us" after the club signed Williams last week. Previous reports had Bryant asking for five times what D-Will agreed to.
Besiktas had its finances frozen last week as part of a massive soccer scandal in Turkey, one in which 40 individuals, including two from Besiktas, have been jailed. Ataman says on the club’s website Thursday that Bryant is waiting for an offer from Besiktas. He says the club would need a sponsor to be able to pay for Bryant’s contract. Bryant already has an endorsement deal with Turkish Airlines.
But Adrian Wojnarowski tweets, "Besiktas has credibility issues with soccer scandal, history of properly paying players. Makes it harder to get corporate sponsors for Kobe".
- Besiktas says it is in talks with Kobe Bryant - AP
- Turkish club that signed Williams says it's in talks with Kobe - CBS Sports
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Kobe Bryant reportedly interested in playing in Turkey, seeking $1M a month to join Deron Williams - Mitch Lawrence - New York Daily News