Avellino tabs Drake Diener

Avellino got stronger for its Euroleague debut by inking shooting ace Drake Diener to a one-year deal, the club announced Monday. Diener (196, 26) arrives from Montepaschi Siena, which he helped win the Italian League title and make it to the Euroleague Final Four last season. He started the 2007-08 season with Pierrel Capo d'Orlando, where he averaged 18.2 points on 94% free-throw shooting, 4.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.5 steals in 20 Italian League games before joining Montepaschi last February. Diener has also played for Ignis Castelletto Ticino since finishing his college career at the De Paul University.

Avellino signs Travis Best

Avellino has reached an agreement with playmaker Travis Best, who inked a one-year deal with his new team. Best (180, 36) arrives from Virtus Bologna, where he averaged 12.6 points, 3.3 assists and 1.9 steals in 19 Italian League games last season. Best started the 2007-08 season with Prokom Trefl Sopot, averaging 9.3 points in 3 Euroleague games. He has also played for Unics Kazan in Kazan, as well as for the New Jersey Nets, the Dallas Mavericks, the Miami Heat, the Chicago Bulls and the Indiana Pacers in the NBA. Best scored 5,812 points in 771 NBA career games. He helped Indiana to make it to the NBA Finals in 2000 and also reached the Italian League and Italian Cup finals with Virtus in 2007. Best replaced Dan Dickau, who reached a mutual agreement with Avellino to terminate his contract.