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UNAVAILABLE: Deng

FINANCIAL ISSUES may mean that Luol Deng may miss out on the European Basketball Championships because of the NBA lockout.

The new NBA season is already in doubt because of the lockout, which has come about because of financial issues.
Players wishing to play for their national teams over the summer will not be covered by their usual NBA insurance.

That means stars like Deng and Ben Gordon could opt not to play in Lithuania in August and September.

The lockout could also have an effect on next year's London Olympics, as 2004 gold medal winners Argentina are about to embark on their qualification campaign for the 2012 Games, but may have to do so without a number of their top players.

The players would still be able to compete, either without insurance - therefore risking injury which could limit their earning powers from lucrative club contracts - or if their national associations are prepared to pay the cost of the insurance for their players.
Eurobasket 2011 begins on 31 Augu
st in Lithuania and the British team are in a six-team group with the hosts, Spain, Poland, Turkey and a qualifier who will be confirmed next month.