Barbosa: Nets Pursuing Me Hard

In an interview with a Brazilian website, Leandro Barbosa says the Nets are pursuing him harder than any other NBA team. The 6'2" combo guard tells Fabio Balassiano of Bala na Cesta that the Nets are one of three teams who contacted him but Brooklyn "actually pursued us the hardest."

A league source denied the Nets have serious interest in Barbosa, despite his claims.

We are talking to a few teams, among them, the Phoenix Suns, who I have a professional history with...have lived there; with the Brooklyn Nets, who actually pursued us the hardest; and with the Los Angeles Lakers — They 're a good team with the personnel they have. Also, Steve Nash (who played with Barbosa in PHX) sent me a text. He wants me to come to LA as soon as possible. When I was at the Olympics this guy (Nash?) came at me strongly, but then they signed Jodie Meeks and I haven’t talked much to them since then. They have a lot of point guards, and if they signed me, they would have to get rid of one. It’s early. I have to wait.

Barbosa, 29, split last season between Toronto and Indiana, averaging 11.1 points and shooting nearly 40% from deep in 64 games. The Nets have 13 players with guaranteed deals including six who can play at his positions. They've also invited two amnestied players, Josh Childress and Andray Blatche, to camp without guaranteed deals.

• Barbosa Admits Contact with Lakers, Suns, Nets (Google Translate) - Fabio - Balassiano - Bala na Cesta