Darius

Songaila

Songalia is averaging 6.0 points, 2.5 rebounds and 15.9 minutes, and has been ''a little bit’’ surprised by the minutes he has received. He’s not someone to pick up.

He says he wants to be back with the Bulls next year, but if he really wanted to be back, he would have taken the option.

Former University of New Orleans guard Bo McCalebb scored 23 for Macedonia, which now advances to the semifinals. Darius Songaila had 12 points in the losing effort for Lithuania.

Songaila signed a $1.5 million contract to play in Turkey back in July, and his agent said at the time that he would’ve stayed in the NBA had it not been for the lockout. He may draw some interest from teams looking for help down low, but he’s highly unlikely to garner any fantasy value in standard sized leagues.

He finished with eight points in 13 minutes.

Although Songaila previously said he wanted to return to the NBA, he’s much better off continuing his career in Europe.

Songaila played in Turkey last season and he may not draw any interest in the U.S., but he’s leaving his options open. “I don’t want to spend the whole year somewhere in Europe far away from my daughter,” he said.

Songaila was born in Russia, he averaged 7.9 points in Turkey last year, he is playing for Lithuania in the Olympics, and he has played 495 games for five different teams during his eight-year NBA career, averaging 6.9 points on 49.9 percent FGs and 84.4 percent FTs. What we don’t know is whether any NBA team will give him a veteran’s minimum contract.

A cracked tooth caused Songaila to miss the second half of Sunday’s game.

Songaila got the start as Chris Webber sat out with a sore left knee. If Webber is going to miss time, Songaila has value.