POPS DEAL NOT DONE YET
07/18/2008

CONFUSION surrounded Pops Mensah Bonsu's future today after it emerged the GB forward has not signed with Badalona.

Earlier this week, the Spanish club announced that the former Dallas Maverick had signed a one-year deal with the ACB club.

The Mavericks, for whom Pops was meant to be playing in the Vegas summer league this week, were also under the impression that the 6'8" big man was on his way to Spain.

But while the offer from Joventut remains firmly on the table, Mensah-Bonsu is still pursuing his aim of joining an NBA team and was in action with the Minnesota Timberwolves in Vegas yesterday.

Benny Bonsu, Pops' sister and Basketball 24/7 contributor, confirmed: "Pops has not signed anything yet.

"He has an offer from Spain but has not signed anything and his ambition remains to return to the NBA if at all possible."

Mensah-Bonsu, who saw limited NBA action with Dallas two seasons ago before an impressive year in Italy during 07-08, certainly did his chances of an offer from the T-wolves no harm on his debut.

He scored 11 points in 22 minutes as the Wolves beat Portland 88-78 on Thursday.

However, the chances of Mensah-Bonsu being able to earn anywhere near the offer on the table from Spain are slim.

Reports from the States claim the Londoner has been offered 850,000 euros for a year by Badalona whereas the minimum wage in the NBA would see him make around $700,000 - or 450,000 euros - next season.

That does not rule out the possibility that the Timberwolves, or another interested team, might be so impressed that they would offer Mensah-Bonsu above minimum to sign, but the odds do still point towards the Brit starring in the Euroleague next year.