Projected first overall pick Zaccharie Risacher has declared as an Early Entry Candidate for the 2024 NBA Draft. Risacher is widely mocked as a top pick, with most having him is the most likely player to be selected first overall.

Risacher is playing for JL Bourg in France, on a loan from fellow French club ASVEL. In 53 total games, the 6-foot-8 inch forward has averaged 10.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game. Risacher has shot 45.7% overall, including 38.6% on 3.5 three-point attempts per game.

Risacher turned 18 in early April, which made him eligible to enter this year's draft. He was named to the French senior national team for EuroBasket 2025 qualifiers this past February. Risacher saw limited action in France's victory over Croatia and did not play in France's victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Memphis Grizzlies forward Yuta Watanabe took to Instagram Live to share his plans for next season. Watanabe said he's leaving the NBA to return home to play in his native Japan.

Watanabe said there are many factors in his decision, including it being best for his mental health. There were no indications of what team he intends to play for. Watanabe is also expected to play for Japan at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

The 6-foot-9 forward has a $2.6 million player option with the Grizzlies for next season, which it appears that he'll decline. Watanabe was acquired by Memphis from the Phoenix Suns in a trade deadline deal. In total, Watanabe has appeared in 213 regular season NBA games over six seasons with the Grizzlies, Suns, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets.

Kenny Smith has been appointed as the head of Next Stars player program in North America for Australia's National Basketball League Next Stars initiative.

Smith will help recruit, develop, and mentor players in the league's Next Stars program.

"Legitimate pathways to the NBA are evolving, and the NBL has a proven track record of getting players drafted. The NBL identified a key role for me to mentor and support young talent and equip them with the tools to compete at a professional level with a view to making the leap into the NBA," said Smith.

Smith will also become a part owner of an NBL expansion team in the future.

Longtime Spanish star Rudy Fernandez announced that he'll retire following this season. Fernandez is completing his 13th season with Real Madrid. The 39-year-old guard initially joined the club for part of the 2011-12 season while the NBA was a lockout.

Fernandez played for Portland Trail Blazers from 2008 through 2011, before playing with the Denver Nuggets in 2011-12, after the lockout ended. Fernandez began his professional career with Joventut, for whom he played six seasons.

The 6-foot-6 guard was also a key part of the Spain national team. Fernandez first played for the senior team for the 2004 Olympics. He was a part of silver medal teams at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, as well a bronze medal team at the 2016 Olympics.

In addition to the Olympics success, Fernandez won four gold medals, one silver and one bronze across six Eurobasket competitions.

Kevin Porter Jr. signed with PAOK in the Greek Basketball League for the rest of the season, sources told Shams Charania and Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Porter, who was waived in October, reached a plea deal in a domestic assault case. 

In a simple message posted on Instagram, Nemanja Bjelica announced his retirement from playing basketball.

"20 years...Thank you basketball" was Bjelica's message on Saturday afternoon.

The 6-foot-10 forward played for seven seasons in the NBA. Bjelica started his NBA career with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2015, before moving to the Sacramento Kings in 2018. At the 2021 trade deadline, Bjelica was dealt to the Miami Heat. He then signed with the Golden State Warriors, and helped the team win the 2022 NBA Finals.

Following that NBA title, Bjelica returned to Fenerbahce in Turkey. He had previously played for the Turkish club before coming to the NBA.

Bjelica also played professionally for clubs in his native Serbia and in Spain during his 20-year professional career. The 35-year-old had also suited up for the Serbian national team for several EuroBasket and World Cup competitions, as well as Olympic qualifiers.

Partizan forward Tristan Vukcevic has reached a contract buyout agreement. Vukcevic, who turned 21 years old earlier this week, will continue his career in the NBA with the Washington Wizards, per Partizan team president Ostoja Mijailovic.

Vukcevic has played for Partizan for the last three seasons, after beginning his career with Real Madrid. In 30 total games this season, the 6-foot-10 forward has averaged 7.7 points in 14.4 minutes, mostly off Partizan's bench. Vukcevic has 54/43/84 shooting splits this season.

The Wizards drafted the Serbian/Italian dual-national with the 12th pick in the second round of the 2023 NBA Draft. Vukcevic appeared in four Summer League games for Washington last year. He averaged 11.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Summer Wizards.

Burundi's Dynamo Basketball Club has forfeited their participation in the Basketball Africa League season. Dynamo forfeited back-to-back games, and that triggers an immediate forfeiture of the remainder of the season, under BAL rules.

BAL president Amadou Gallo Fall said: "Dynamo Basketball Club (Burundi) has further refused to comply with the Basketball Africa League's rules and requirements governing jerseys and uniforms, thereby forfeiting today's game against Petro de Luanda (Angola) and its participation in the 2024 BAL season.

"Under FIBA rules, two forfeitures in the same tournament trigger the club's automatic withdrawal. This is a very unfortunate situation for the players and fans, and we share the frustrations of everyone involved. All remaining Kalahari Conference games will be played as scheduled, and we look forward to engaging fans in Pretoria through expanded fan and community events."

Dynamo had covered up a "Visit Rwanda" logo on their jerseys. Burundi and Rwanda are in the midst of a political conflict between the two nations.

The BAL has replaced Dynamo in the exhibition tournament with the NBA Academy Africa team. The Academy team features Khaman Maluach, who recently committed to Duke, as well as NBA prospect Ulrich Chomche.

Jaylin Galloway is receiving interest from NBA teams after finishing his NBL season with the Sydney Kings.

Galloway is just 21 and has considerable defensive potential. In 25 games this season, Galloway averaged 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.3 steals in 22.8 minutes. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves had Galloway on their Summer League roster last year.

Galloway is represented by Marquis Taylor

Ricky Rubio is returning to his roots to continue his basketball career. Rubio has signed a rest-of-season contract with Barcelona. The Spanish club plans to add Rubio to their EuroLeague roster ahead of a Wednesday deadline.

It's still unclear if Rubio will appear in games for Barcelona or not. He recently joined the club for practices, but no decision has been made on his playing status. This deal means that when, and if, Rubio is ready to play, there will be a roster spot available for him with Barcelona.

Rubio put his basketball career on pause over the summer to deal with mental health issues. The veteran point guard missed the 2023 FIBA World Cup, and then didn't report to the Cleveland Cavaliers to open the NBA season later in the fall. Rubio and Cleveland agreed to a contract buyout in early-January.

Rubio said in a recent interview that he's doing much better with the issues that kept him from playing this season. He said he was unclear if he'd return to the court, but if he did, it would likely be in Spain.