Kevin Durant is '50-50' when it comes to the possibility of playing overseas if the NBA has an extended lockout.

Durant is hopeful that a lockout will be resolved, but says he'll “have to think about” playing elsewhere if that doesn't happen.

Durant signed a long-term contract extension in the summer of 2010.

With the NBA in the middle of a lockout and team officials forbidden from having any contact with players, Thunder management has been unable to supervise one of the league's youngest rosters. It can only hope that its players don't fall out of shape or fall into any bad habits.

Durant is determined to make sure neither of those things happen.

"I've checked in with everybody," said the 22-year-old All-Star. "First off, I trust all my guys. They are all working hard and getting ready for next season. We're all family and we're going to keep checking in with each other and make sure we get through this."

Like many players, Durant said it's "50-50" that he'd play overseas, but he won't make any decisions until at least September.

"I love playing in the states," he said. "But I want to play somewhere. If you have an opportunity to [play overseas], it's something you have to think about."

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka says he is ready to help his adopted country Spain defend its European championship.

"I have to give all my energy on the court, that's my job," the 21-year-old Ibaka said. "I will do everything I can to help the team."

Ibaka, a native of the Republic of Congo, played for Spanish clubs for three years before moving to the NBA in 2009. He became a Spanish national this month.

He'll join Pau Gasol and Marc Gasol in the front court of a squad packed with NBA talent.

"I am excited to play with point guards Ricky (Rubio), (Jose) Calderon and (Barcelona's Victor) Sada because they make other players better, and also share the paint with Pau, Marc and (Madrid forward) Felipe (Reyes)," Ibaka said.

The Celtics took a lot of heat for the Kendrick Perkins deal which affected their chemistry and changed their starting lineup in the middle of the season. Boston had a 41-14 record at the time of the trade, but finished 15-12 the rest of the way.

Jeff Green averaged 9.8 points through the 26 games.

Rajon Rondo refused to use injuries as an excuse for losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Miami Heat. But he also believes the trade of Perkins, his closest friend on the team, affected the Celtics “more than it should have.”

“It wasn’t like the man passed away or something,” Rondo said. “I think we put too much emphasis on it. It’s a business. He got traded. He’s very happy where he’s at. We still talk and I’m always going to have his back. It shouldn’t have affected us the way it affected us.”

Exhibition games like the two taking place in the Philippines this weekend are proving to be quite profitable for players, with one source with knowledge of the deals saying the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and Chicago's Derrick Rose are being paid more than $400,000 apiece for their weekend of tax-free work.

According to reports from InterAksyon.com and SLAMOnline.com, Los Angeles Lakers guard Kobe Bryant, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant, and New Orleans guard Chris Paul are headed to the Phillipines next week for a couple of exhibition games.

Sacramento's Tyreke Evans, Miami's Mario Chalmers, Minnesota's Darko Milicic, Oklahoma City’s Russell Westbrook and James Harden and the Los Angeles Clippers' DeAndre Jordan reportedly have also been invited to participate. 

The exhibition games will be played in Manila.

The NBA stars will play against the SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team and an all-star squad from the Philippine Basketball Association.

Oklahoma City Thunder forward Serge Ibaka has been granted Spanish nationality, clearing the way for him to help Spain defend its European championship this summer.

Ibaka must swear loyalty to the Spanish crown and constitution to finalize the process after Spain’s Council of Ministers approved his petition for nationality on Friday.

The 21-year-old was born in the Republic of Congo but played for Spanish clubs for three years before moving to the NBA in 2009. According to Spanish media reports, he maintains a residence in Barcelona.

With training camp less than a year away and no guarantee of games before then, Jerry Colangelo is ready to start finding out who wants to play on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team.

USA Basketball's chairman said he plans to start contacting candidates "soon, within the next month" to gauge their interest in going to London.

"Just to make contact with all of the people on our list, give them a whole picture of what is coming," Colangelo told The Associated Press in a phone interview. "Basically to get a read from them as to what their interests and intentions are in advance."

Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and the rest of the 2008 gold medalists all committed to returning to the program through 2012, but Colangelo realizes that "circumstances have changed for some of the players who were on the Olympic team."

Kobe Bryant, Derrick Rose, and Kevin Durant are taking their talents to Manila.

The three stars will be part of a selection that will play a pair of charity exhibition games against SMART-Gilas Pilipinas national team and an all-star squad from the Philippine Basketball Association.

Proceeds of the games will go to the MVP Sports Foundation, whose goal is to uplift Philippine sports and to develop Filipino athletes.

Kevin Durant’s agent, Aaron Goodwin, told SI.com that he is exploring overseas options for his most high-profile client.

"If the opportunity presents itself and the lockout persists, he's going to have to consider it just as other players are considering it," Goodwin said. "Kevin has shown some interest to know what the situation is and we'll reach out to the players' association and make sure that they're aligned with the guys in case they do take an offer. But I think what you're going to see happening is a lot of players are going to look at the opportunity if the lockout prolongs that they can go somewhere and play basketball.

"If they're not allowed to play in the NBA, they've got to look at other opportunities. If you have teams that want you to play and the NBA is willing to sit out a year, why sit out a year?"