Andris to Europe?

By Marcus
Thursday, July 24th, 2008 at 6:32 pm in Uncategorized.

If you look at the Warriors’ salary situation, it’s easy to see that Andris Biedrins is the one who’s going to get squeezed. Not so fast.

A source close to the Warriors’ fifth-year center said European teams are hot and heavy after Biedrins. The Latvia native is drawing strong interest in a couple Russian clubs, according to the source, who added that teams are willing to sign him for three to five years for what amounts to more than $10 million a year.

This would be the best news for Biedrins’ in months. The only team with salary cap space that was reportedly interested in him, other than the Warriors, was Philadelphia. But the 76ers spent their cap money on Elton Brand. So leverage of a fat offer from overseas is Biedrins’ best hope of getting the money he wants from the Warriors, or anywhere in the NBA.

Biedrins’ camp, which was rumored to have its sight set on the ballpark of Chris Kaman’s contract (five years, $55 million), likely won’t be elated about the offer they’re likely going to get from the Warriors. I would be shocked if it even equaled Corey Maggette’s average of $10 million a year. Just looking at the numbers, I’m thinking six years, $48 million.
With no other teams under the cap and able to offer Biedrins that kind of money, save for a sign and trade, it would seem Biedrins’ options are limited.

The source said Biedrins’ camp and Golden State have yet to formally meet. But Biedrins figures to be next on the list now that the Warriors are out of salary cap space and star guard Monta Ellis is signed.

http://www.ibabuzz.com/warriors/2008/07/24/andris-to-europe/

Agent: Warriors' Biedrins may look at Europe

Posted: July 24, 2008
Sean Deveney
Sporting News

Monta Ellis has signed a contract extension with the Golden State Warriors, the team announced Thursday. While that might be an important ice-breaker in terms of the status of restricted free agents across the NBA, and while it secures one of Golden State's most valuable young assets, it also raises a key question: What about center Andris Biedrins?

Biedrins, who is a restricted free agent, is in a tenuous position. The Warriors might be hesitant to giving out two big contracts in one summer. Not a problem, says one of Biedrins' agents, Rade Filipovich of BDA Sports. If anyone is a candidate to join the trickle of NBA players going to Europe, it is Biedrins.

"It would not be difficult for him," Filipovich told Sporting News Thursday night. "We have had good meetings with Golden State, but we want to keep open all opportunities for him. He is in a good position. It would be no problem for him to play in Europe."

Biedrins is a native of Latvia, and Russia is a short flight from his hometown of Riga. Biedrins has not gotten to the point of negotiating with European teams, and Filipovich added that Biedrins has not initiated contact with any teams abroad. But at least three Russian teams have been in contact with Biedrins in pursuit of him.

"Russia is not far for him," Filipovich said. "The language, all of that. It would almost be like going home for him."

While Biedrins is still negotiating with Golden State -- and wants to stay put -- he is at least exploring his European options, a possibility that is increasingly palatable among NBA players with Josh Childress, Carlos Delfino and Bostjan Nachbar recently choosing to play overseas.

Though he is not at the point of negotiating with foreign teams, Biedrins still could be signed away quickly. The Childress negotiations took a matter of weeks, and Russian teams can move even more swiftly. "People in Europe can be very aggressive," Filipovich said. "They know what Andris is all about. They know he is a legitimate big man. How many seven-footers who can run up and down the court do you see on the street? You can't just grow guys like him."

It's doubtful, though, that the Warriors would let the 22-year-old Biedrins -- one of the league's few legitimate young centers -- get away, especially not after losing point guard Baron Davis this summer. There have been rumors of sign-and-trades, and Filipovich said Biedrins was open to that option. But Golden State is selling fans on its youth movement, with Biedrins and Ellis as the centerpieces.

Biedrins had been seeking a five-year, $60 million extension before last season. He then averaged 10.5 points and 9.8 rebounds, shooting a league-best 62.6 percent. Filipovich could not say what Biedrins was looking for, contract-wise, but a source said he is seeking a deal in the same neighborhood this time around.

Apparently Vujacic and Carl Landry are also using "the jump" as leverage.

Cavaliers’ West ponders going east

By Adrian Wojnarowski, Yahoo! Sports
12 hours, 9 minutes ago

LeBron James could crush the world for an Olympic gold medal this summer, but the evolving power of the euro could cost him his Cleveland Cavaliers point guard.

This time, the overseas revolution of outbidding NBA teams for restricted free agents advances with Dynamo Moscow discussing a two-year, $10 million offer with Delonte West, a source close to West said on Thursday.

Clearly, Dynamo is a franchise with the resources to be taken seriously. Just a week ago, it lured New Jersey Nets forward Bostjan Nachbar with a three-year, $14.3 million contract.

Nachbar’s contract turned into a prelude to Atlanta Hawks free agent Josh Childress signing a groundbreaking three-year, $20 million deal with Olympiakos of Greece. So far this summer, four international players with NBA résumés – Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Carlos Navarro, Carlos Delfino and Pops Mensah-Bonsu – have taken substantial offers in Europe.

As with most restricted free agents, West has few options right now. He could sign a $2.76 million qualifying offer for the 2008-09 season and become an unrestricted free agent next year. General manager Danny Ferry has considered sign-and-trade possibilities for West but ultimately has wanted to keep West.

Last summer, Cleveland’s two restricted free agents, Anderson Varejao and Sasha Pavlovic, held out with contract disputes that extended into the regular season.

After his trade from the Seattle SuperSonics at the February deadline, West won the Cavaliers’ starting point guard job, averaging 10.5 points and four assists per game. In pushing the Boston Celtics to seven games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, West averaged 14.5 points – including two 21-point performances – over the final five games. James had wanted the Cavaliers to acquire an available point guard such as Jason Kidd or Mike Bibby, but he developed a fondness for West.

This is pretty fucking funny.

It's funny until Max is restricted next year.

I wonder if this will lead to a backlash against drafting, signing or trading for foreign players?

If you look at the guys that are doing this or thinking about doing this, most of them are foreign. I wonder if teams will view foreign players as a higher "flight risk" going forward and will avoid them?

It's probably more likely for borderline talent than Nowitzki/Gasol types, whom the NBA teams will not have a problem paying big for.

Just a thought.

Can we start a "LOL @ the NBA" thread?

In my opinion, the NBA deserves all of this. I hope all the "role players" and "good players" leave for Europe so David Stern can have two teams total, all with "All-Stars" for their entire Roster. The teams would obviously be the Celtics and the Lakers so we could continue the rich tradition of that rivalry. Stern would still be happy.

They can't coup the big names so to me it only sucks to an extent. Overall it's not that severe a dent in the NBA. It's a bigger dent in teams like Atlanta and the Warriors who aren't deep enough to compensate. Which makes the Stern loved teams stronger imo. Which as Motown said great for Stern in the lonbg run. Get nba role players dominating in Euro Land, and NBA stars dominating on the teams he wants to win.

LOL @ the NBA.

and stern keeps saying he's not worried and it's not an issue. so he's either lying (entirely possible) and he's secretly terrified, or he's asleep at the wheel and doesn't see the problem for what it is.

it's not like the sky is falling but this is a definite concern.

yes the nba is still the best and most prestigious league. but the more players that opt for the money overseas in europe, the more enticing and attractive it will become to OTHER players to also follow. if more american guys chose tp go there then it would certainly take away some of the stigma attached to playing in europe and could potentially lead to even MORE guys going there.

i don't anticipate lebron going there when he's a FA but i think the NBA is in danger of losing some quality players, especially key role players, if they're not careful.

it still remains to be seen if this is just a freak thing or actually a slow growing trend. but in any case it is NOT something that should be ignored and dismissed as 'no big deal'. that would be sticking your head in the sand IMO.

Yeah, this is "the globalization of the NBA" blowing up in Stern's face.

I don't follow Euro leagues and their rules, but don't some leagues have limits to how many Americans each team can have? Maybe one or two each?

My belief is that Stern will see this and LOVE it, because I firmly believe nothing would make him happier than creating a 20 team ENBA. Now that he sees that plenty of legit NBA players - not just fringe guys that can't make an NBA roster - are content with playing in Europe, that's all he needs to put the next step in action.
In fact, I think he would love even more to have the NBA All-Stars and the ENBA All-Stars play each other every year, along with the NBA Champs playing the ENBA Champs for the Global Championship. He sees 12-13 figures of dollar signs in everything he does.

I can't believe that the descent of the dollar is good for Stern. 5-8 more years of this, and he won't be able to dictate the terms of a global NBA.

More on Sasha...


Lakers reserve guard Sasha Vujacic, a restricted free agent, is prepared to leave the team and accept an offer from a European team in the next few days if the Lakers don't make him an offer he deems fair, according to a source in the Vujacic camp who spoke only on the condition of anonymity.

The source said Vujacic is seeking a multiyear deal from the Lakers averaging about $5 million a year. Vujacic was hoping for a six-year deal, but anticipated it could be a shorter contract.

Vujacic, who earned $1.76 million last season, was given a $2.6-million qualifying offer by the Lakers after the season to make him a restricted free agent.

He has not received an offer sheet from another NBA team. Teams were hesitant to make Vujacic an offer because they anticipate the Lakers would match it, the source said.

The Lakers made a qualifying offer to another of their free agents, forward Ronny Turiaf, but when Turiaf received a four-year, $17-million offer sheet from the Golden State Warriors, the Lakers declined to match it.

Because the Lakers are over the luxury tax, they would be assessed an amount equal to any sum they spend over it.

Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak has been negotiating with Vujacic's agent, Rob Pelinka.

"We are very aware of the global market as it has changed over the years. It was our desire to bring Sasha and Ronny back. It continues to be our desire to bring Sasha back," Kupchak said Thursday after hearing of Vujacic's ultimatum. "However, with the ever-changing marketplace that Europe has become, a player, in order to cover his bases, can negotiate with his NBA team and, at the same time, have a plan that allows him to have the possibility of going overseas."

Jumping from the NBA to Europe has become a viable option for several players, the latest being Josh Childress, who Wednesday revealed that he is leaving the Atlanta Hawks to play for Olympiakos, a Greek club, for a three-year deal worth about $20 million after taxes.

The 24-year-old Vujacic, a native of Maribor, Slovenia, just completed his fourth and best season with the Lakers. Vujacic averaged 8.8 points in 17.8 minutes this past season, shooting 45.4% from the field, including 43.7% from three-point range. In the postseason, Vujacic averaged 21.7 minutes, 8.1 points and shot 39.9% from the floor, including 39.2% on three-pointers.

Kupchak, while refusing to discuss numbers, said of the negotiations with Pelinka, "It's our intention to have a happy ending."

Kupchak says he agrees that the situation should be resolved in the next few days.

"When the free agency period rolled around," he said, "Sasha needed to get a feel of what the market would be like. After 20-something days, he's had enough time to get a feel. It's time this came to a conclusion."

A weak dollar is good for exports lol

I definitely remember hearing about at least some Euro leagues having a max of 3 foreigners on each team. I'm pretty sure it was foreigners too, not just Americans. It came into play with Ricky Paulding or something if I remember correctly.

Biedrins got 6 yrs/$63m from the Warriors and Vujacic got 3 yrs/$15m from the Lakers

Far more than I would have ever wanted to pay him. For the MLE, I think he'd have been a steal, for 63mil$ I think he'll be a burden.

Yeah, that's too much money. I'd pay about 7-8 mil a year for him I think (just based on his position).

Interesting stuff from Krstic:
http://www.netsdaily.com/blog/?p=526

Krstic to Russia for 2 years/$18m

Who needs chumps like Kiedrins and Krstic when we've got KWAMI!

Ridiculous.


Greek team may make $eriou$ run at LeBron after 2010 season

By Ian Thomsen > INSIDE THE NBA
SI.com

You'll never guess which NBA star the Greek team Olympiakos of Athens may be targeting next.

Here's the buzz I heard Friday: Olympiakos is considering a run at LeBron James when he becomes a free agent in 2010.

This talk was beginning to make its way through the NBA on Friday. I heard it from a reliable league source, who told me that it emanates from Olympiakos.

At first glance it is ludicrous to imagine that the NBA's next big star would move overseas as he's trying to win championships and replace Michael Jordan as a household name globally. But look at it this way: Neither the Euroleague nor Greek league impose any kind of salary cap on its teams, which means there would be no ceiling on an offer that the billionaire ownership of Olympiakos could make to James.

As a free agent in 2010, his new contract in the NBA would start at less than $20 million annually.

What if Olympiakos were to offer him $40 million per year? Or $50 million? Who knows how much the Greeks would be willing to pay? The point is that the limitation on his salary is entirely up to them.

Last month Olympiakos signed Josh Childress, a sixth man of the Atlanta Hawks, to a three-year contract worth $20 million "net'' (meaning that most of his taxes and living expenses are paid by the club in addition to his salary) that exceeded his value in the NBA. The Aggelopoulos brothers, the young billionaires who own Olympiakos, do not expect to earn revenues to cover the cost of that contract. They signed Childress simply in hope that he will help them win basketball games.

At the most expensive levels of European basketball, the club owners are obsessed with bringing glory to their club and their fans as well as to their city and country. Imagine the glory that the recruitment of James would bring to Olympiakos. At the very least, he would destroy their cross-town rival Panathinaikos: The value of that alone would be priceless to Olympiakos.

The owners of Olympiakos already lose millions annually on their player payroll. It may be worthwhile to them to lose $40 million or more in exchange for the grandeur of LeBron.

From James' point of view, playing overseas for a year could enhance his marketing status and turn him into more of a global star than he is now. He could build up his name in an entirely unprecedented way and then return home as a free agent to sign with the NBA team of his choosing.

I am not saying that any of this is going to happen. I can tell you, however, that this kind of speculation is going to generate a lot of talk throughout the basketball world -- and not just concerning Olympiakos, either. What's to stop the billionaire owners of CSKA Moscow or other elite Euroleague clubs from making a similar run at James?

The landscape of basketball may be changing, after all.

Krstic to Russia for 2 years/$18m
He's getting less than Delfino. ?

http://www.salagram.net/end1.jpg

Playing for Pizzapapalis isn't going to get LeBron more endorsement money than playing for a major market NBA team.

His basketball salary would be less but his yearly earnings would be significantly more staying in the US. Especially if he goes to the Brooklyn Nets.

TOM IZZO TO OLYMPIAKOS

How come every time a job.....

IBASDTTB....ANOTSDB

How come every time a job.....

IBASDTTB....ANOTSDB

Look, it's not like I haven't been trying to get banned.

Your name is certainly in there, but I'm not sure you've figured it out.

I just assume it's something negative.

Having Euros to put in the bank is a pretty fucking awesome possibility for some guys. It's not going to affect the starters on most teams, but it definitely does threaten their bench strength.

Today:
1 EUR = 1.55669 USD

How come every time a job.....

IBASDTTB....ANOTSDB

I'll help you, Sir -

In Before A Spartan Douche Takes The Bait...Also No Offense To Sir Douche Baggins.

So you see, while you were in it, it was not negative.

^whos that in your avatar jet?

I'll help you, Sir -

In Before A Spartan Douche Takes The Bait...Also No Offense To Sir Douche Baggins.

So you see, while you were in it, it was not negative.

Oh, ok. None taken.

^whos that in your avatar jet?

That, my friend, is the 4 star PG who committed to the University of Michigan on Friday. His name is Darius Morris. Remember it, as he will go down in history as one of the all-time greats.

Either that or he'll show up, do his 4 years, have little to show for it a la Daniel Horton, and the ghost of Bill Martin will continue to haunt Ann Arbor.

Neitzel's NBA dream takes detour through Europe
by Steve Grinczel
Friday August 01, 2008, 12:15 AM

EAST LANSING -- Drew Neitzel has concluded that his best route to the NBA goes through Germany.

The former Michigan State guard has signed a guaranteed one-year contract with the Artland Dragons of Basketball Bundesliga.

Neitzel could have taken his chances of breaking into the NBA as a raw rookie. Although he was undrafted, he played on the Minnesota Timberwolves summer league team and likely would have been invited to their training camp as a free agent.

Instead, when he gets his shot in the NBA -- and that could be as soon as 2009 -- it will be with pro seasoning.

"I had some options to go camp either with the Timberwolves or wherever, but nothing was guaranteed," Neitzel said Thursday night from Cincinnati, Ohio, before boarding a connecting flight bound for New York. "You never know what could happen.

"You could go through all of training camp only to get cut at the end, and then you're screwed for a job because all the jobs overseas fill up. So I think this is the best option."

After a weeklong vacation, Neitzel will head to Germany next Friday.

"I think this is the best option to start off my career," he said. "It's something that's secure and will let me put a little money in the bank to start."

Former Spartan guard Charlie Bell also went undrafted after graduating in 2001. After starring in Italy for three years, Bell attracted the attention of the NBA scouts and played the last three seasons with the Milwaukee Bucks.

"It surely can be done by taking the overseas route," Neitzel said. "Hopefully I have a long career ahead of me and this is the first step. Obviously, I wanted to play in the NBA even if it meant sitting on the bench as a rookie and learning from a veteran.

"But, this is the next best thing. My NBA dream isn't done or shot. A lot of NBA scouts follow what's going on in Europe and if I have a good year individually and as a team hopefully I'll get another shot next year to get picked up."

Despite finishing his senior season as just the third Spartan and the 12th player in Big Ten history with 1,500 points and 500 assists -- in addition to All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year -- Neitzel's name wasn't called on draft night.

But his agent, Doug Neustadt, who is based in Gaithersburg, Md., believes playing for the Dragons is a positive step toward reaching his ultimate goal.

"It's a solid club in a solid league," Neustadt said. "He didn't have the NBA opportunity that he wanted to have this fall, so this is a good way to start his career and make some money by playing in two competitions.

"I spoke with Minnesota as well as other teams that had interest during the draft, but it didn't seem like either guaranteed money or a real good opportunity in vet camp was available. Drew had the choice to stick it out and if he didn't make it go to the D-League (NBA Developmental League), or to go overseas and get better."

Neitzel will play one Basketball Bundesliga game a week, and another in the season-long Eurocup tournament against teams from throughout Europe.

Neustadt wouldn't disclose the financial terms of Neitzel's contract. The Basketball Bundesliga season starts in next month. Neitzel will return home over Christmas, and go back to Germany for the second half of the season. Playoffs start in May.

"It's not the NBA, but he'll be playing point at a high enough pro level where he'll be able to improve at that position," Neustadt said. "There's going to be a three-guard rotation and there's 80 minutes for three guys so he'll be playing between 25-32 minutes a game.

"There's something to be said for playing a lot of minutes when you're young, and then coming into the NBA at the right stage of your career."

Said MSU coach Tom Izzo: "I think it's a good deal for him. From what I hear, it's good money. I'll be able to see him regularly, since I'll be coaching in Greece."

That doesn't sound like a well known league at all.

That doesn't sound like a well known league at all.

Yeah, but some of the best basketball players in the world play there. Like Willard Von Oinkschmidt, for example.

I see what you did there, Glenn.

Playing for Pizzapapalis isn't going to get LeBron more endorsement money than playing for a major market NBA team.
It's not today's LeBron that we'd need to worry about.
It's whoever the next superstar kid is.

Consider the season length and the games played and the Euro contracts look even better.

It's not today's LeBron that we'd need to worry about.
It's whoever the next superstar kid is.

Consider the season length and the games played and the Euro contracts look even better.

It provides much more time to get European hoes pregnant.

Arroyo signs three-year contract to play for Israel's Maccabi Tel-Aviv

By Marc Stein
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: August 3, 2008, 9:33 PM ET


Another established NBA free agent is heading overseas.

Veteran point guard Carlos Arroyo, whose future with the Orlando Magic appeared to vanish after limited minutes in the playoffs and the Magic's recent signing of Anthony Johnson, has accepted an offer from Israeli giants Maccabi Tel-Aviv.

Arroyo's agent, Leon Rose, confirmed the signing to ESPN.com on Sunday night after Maccabi Tel-Aviv coach Effy Birenboim appeared on the country's national sports network (Sport5) to tout what is believed to be the richest transaction in Maccabi's history.

Sources in Israel said Arroyo will receive an estimated $2.5 million net next season -- roughly the NBA equivalent of a $5 million salary before taxes -- as part of a three-year contract. The deal includes an opt-out provision that will enable Arroyo to return to the NBA after each of the next two seasons if he chooses.

Carlos Arroyo is the eighth player from the 2007-08 NBA season to sign with a foreign club since free agency began on July 1.

Arroyo becomes the eighth player who worked in the NBA in 2007-08 to sign with a foreign club since free agency commenced July 1. But he's just the second -- along with former Atlanta Hawks swingman Josh Childress -- who had established himself in the NBA before finding a more lucrative contract.

Childress spurned a five-year offer worth an estimated $33 million from the Hawks to sign a three-year deal worth at least $20 million from Greek power Olympiacos.

All of the other players to sign with European clubs in recent weeks -- Serbia's Nenad Krstic, Spain's Juan Carlos Navarro and Jorge Garbajosa, Argentina's Carlos Delfino and Slovenia's Bostjan Nachbar and Primoz Brezec -- played for top-level teams overseas before coming to the NBA.

Big spending by a small handful of European clubs with the wherewithal to offer contracts at or above NBA prices, thanks largely to the declining fortunes of the American dollar compared to the euro, put pressure on Maccabi to make a marquee signing of its own.

After attempting to fill its backcourt void by chasing summer-league sensation Bobby Brown, who elected to sign instead with the Sacramento Kings, Maccabi also made a high-profile attempt to sign Miami Heat free agent Jason Williams. Arroyo becomes the second Detroit Pistons alumnus to join Maccabi in recent weeks, joining forward Rodney White, who was selected No. 9 overall by Detroit in the 2001 draft.

Maccabi reached the Euroleague title game last season and has won Europe's top team prize five times since 1977, while also ranking as the only team from abroad to beat an NBA team on North American soil thanks to a 105-103 victory over the Toronto Raptors in the 2005-06 exhibition season. But Maccabi is coming off a disastrous season domestically in which it inexplicably lost the Israeli championship to tiny Hapoel Holon.

Arroyo, who turned 29 last week, averaged 6.9 points and 3.5 assists for the Magic last season in 62 games but appeared in only four of Orlando's 10 playoff games. Given Arroyo's proven scoring ability and vast international experience, which includes a brief stint in the Euroleague with Spanish club Tau Ceramica during the 2001-02 season, Maccabi will be expecting him to make a faster-than-usual transition to the European game.

After his 25 points in Puerto Rico's upset of the United States in the opening game of the 2004 Olympics in Greece -- Team USA's first-ever Olympic loss using NBA players -- Arroyo led his country to the brink of another Olympic berth last month before a torn muscle in his left leg held him out of the deciding game against Germany. Puerto Rico coach Manolo Cintron said Arroyo would have been healed in time for the Olympics had Puerto Rico qualified, but the Dirk Nowitzki-led Germans claimed the final berth in the 12-team Olympic field for Beijing with a 96-82 victory.

"...Aside from his on-court qualities, he's also a proven leader," Birenboim told Israel's Ma'ariv newspaper. "And that's very important to us."

On the team's official Web site, Birenboim added: "Arroyo is a player of the highest standard and has been our top priority for a while. Luckily for me, Maccabi's management agreed to sign him despite the huge costs. This is exactly the player we need."

I definitely remember hearing about at least some Euro leagues having a max of 3 foreigners on each team. I'm pretty sure it was foreigners too, not just Americans. It came into play with Ricky Paulding or something if I remember correctly.

Unless it's changed, you're right. Foreigners meaing non-Europeans, though you do have a lot of players, Argentinians especially, who have dual citizenship.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=euroamfactfiction

good article about the whole europe fever

Good read.

Very good read. Put some things in perspective. I couldn't imagine trying to operate an entire team on 8million$

What are the limits of an NBA team scouting (and having communication with) a high school player?

I'd assume if a top notch Euro unit approached a 5 star stud senior and said "Look...zu cahn play fahr da shiity Cleepers via da draft, or zu cahn play fahr da Urinepeein Chahmpeons fahr a lot uf mahney", the kid might seriously think of bolting. No NBA team can recruit straight from High School, and I'd assume any kid wouldn't fore-go a fat paycheck, travel the world, AND play for one of the top teams in the world (outside of the NBA, of course).

And once somebody properly explains the conversion rate... bye bye 7 footer.

They mention that in the article. Many of these teams don't want to take a risk on an American high schooler because of the culture shock of leaving their coddled American lives (most high school stud basketball players with the skill to jump directly to an important role on a championship-level team have been given whatever they want) and learning an entirely new style of basketball. They said the situation with the one kid that skipped college to go to Europe was going to be a rare thing because of those reasons, and that the only reason he did it was because he was academically ineligible for the school he wanted to play for.

That, and the American high schooler wouldn't be heading to the Clippers, they'd be off to college, no?

Not to mention many of these clubs have a sort-of seniority system. I've read numerous times that one of the biggest reasons young Euros enter the draft is because guys in their late-20's and early 30's dominate the playing time in Europe. Meanwhile, they perceive that NBA teams may give them a bigger shot.

I read a lot before we drafted Darko that he was frustrated with PT in Europe and they blamed it on age. As it turns out, he simply wasn't good.

Darko's case was a little different. Once the NBA expressed interest, his coaches in Europe actively tried to hide him, hoping it'd pass over and they'd get to keep a budding star. That started us down a fucked-up path...

Apparently, Broussard is claiming that LeBron told him that he'd consider playing in Europe if he could get $50m/yr

Anyone would consider something for 50m a year. Doesn't mean he'd do it, just that he'd consider doing it.

i wonder if he bolts...then jersey would be fucked

i wonder if he bolts...then the NBA would be fucked

$50 million per year, minus taxes, is insane.

i think chris paul will slowly become the face of the nba real soon. Then you got up and coming stars like dwight, oden,mayo, and STUCKEY. sure the nba will lose lebron,possibly, but it never seemed like lebron was the face of the nba, partly due to the fact that he never won a championship. only stern, and a few cleveland fans would go apeshit...zekly most likely will.

I'd be a fan of LeBron if he played team ball, but until then give me Chris Paul any day.

i think chris paul will slowly become the face of the nba real soon. Then you got up and coming stars like dwight, oden,mayo, and STUCKEY. sure the nba will lose lebron,possibly, but it never seemed like lebron was the face of the nba, partly due to the fact that he never won a championship. only stern, and a few cleveland fans would go apeshit...zekly most likely will.

In downtown Saginaw (often a decent representation of urban attitudes) the debate is Lebron vs. Kobe for best player in the league. Everyone picks a side. So far there's a little love still for Garnett, not much for Chris Paul yet. Conversations rarely stray from Lebron and Kobe. Considering the NBA is hoping those kids (and corporate white stiffs with money) are the fan base, this would devastate the NBA short term.

Keep in mind, if Lebron jumps across the pond for that kind of deal, it's a matter of days before SEVERAL other stars and fringe players are looking to cash in as well. It's all about ego. If he can make $xxxxx, I should be making a lot more as well. Nevermind that they can never possibly need that much money. They simply want that much money because they see it as their value. Only the Tysons, Rodmans, and Cansecos of the world could ever possibly blow through that much cash.

kobes been the face of this league for many years imo...the whole 3peat, shaq leaving rape thing, trying to prove himself he dont need shaq, etc. its only a matter of time kobe gives the rein to someone else.

but yeah, the 2nd part could happen, then the nba would be fucked. but why leave? i think the nba is for the best,and only the best should be in it. best league in the world. if lebron doesnt win a ring in the nba, why leave? to get more money? man prove yourself, get a ring, then go to europe

The money isn't there and it certainly isn't there for multiple top level stars to get paid over there.

If the money was there then all the players would be there, just like in any job. If some Euro offered you ten times the amount you could ever make in your current profession in the US you'd go too. We all would.

Except Zekyl because he thinks Cleveland is heaven.

I predict that if (perhaps when) an All-Star caliber player goes to Europe that a handful will follow and the NBA will be down for 3-4 years. Eventually I see the better talent returning for the prestige of an NBA Championship ring, with a feeling that they proved their point and sent a message to the NBA. I see the Player's Union absolutely loving the potential leverage in all of this.

I predict that if (perhaps when) an All-Star caliber player goes to Europe that a handful will follow and the NBA will be down for 3-4 years. Eventually I see the better talent returning for the prestige of an NBA Championship ring, with a feeling that they proved their point and sent a message to the NBA. I see the Player's Union absolutely loving the potential leverage in all of this.
So it would be similar to Major Leaguers close to the cusp of stardom bolting to Japan for several seasons, coming back better and smarter (game smarts...not smart smarts).

Might be interesting if the NBA goes the way of international soccer, where teams can borrow players for a season or two if they are not in competing leagues.

In fact, the player could return a much better person, as well. Getting him away from the perts and comfort of a high-life style of living, going to a foreign land might be a personally humbling experience. Somebody like a Kwame Brown could really benefit from such a deal (no joke).

LeBron has way to big of an ego to go to Europe. He's going to flirt with the idea just so people start begging him to stay, thus stroking his ego more, and he'll stay here in the States. 0% chance he or any other "superstar" goes to Europe.

He would lose a little bit of popularity by going to Europe, and he couldn't handle that.

Might be interesting if the NBA goes the way of international soccer, where teams can borrow players for a season or two if they are not in competing leagues.


FWIW teams can lend players out to any team, even teams in their own league; something which does happen quite a bit. They do try to avoid that since it sucks having your own guy score and beat you (which has also happened as well).

What is the benefit of that?

Sometimes teams need to get rid of a player for a year. They need the spot for another player and the one they have isn't getting the playing time. If it's a player they still want to keep, especially a young project, lending him out allows him to get some PT elsewhere (where they also usually take on his salary) and improve. Sometimes they just don't get a good offer for a player they don't want and have no other choice but lend him out.

Usually teams try to lend players to teams in other league but it doesn't always work out and they find themselves forced to deal with a team in their own league.

LeBron has way to big of an ego to go to Europe. He's going to flirt with the idea just so people start begging him to stay, thus stroking his ego more, and he'll stay here in the States. 0% chance he or any other "superstar" goes to Europe.

He would lose a little bit of popularity by going to Europe, and he couldn't handle that.

Nailed it.

Now Kobe says that he'd "probably" take the $50m, but only from an Italian team.

In related news, Stephon Marbury says he'll play in Italy too, but he wants $56 for him an $50 for his "better ho".

Now Kobe says that he'd "probably" take the $50m, but only from an Italian team..
He'll probably play for clippers too.

Kobe lived in Italy growing up and speaks Italian. I'd be surprised if he didn't play in Italy before his career is finished.

^I thought about clarifying that in #70, but I felt that it took away from the Marbury jab too much.

You made the right choice, McGlenn.

kobe said he would take the 50 mil from italy...

kobe said he would take the 50 mil from italy...

Thanks, Wil.

shawn kemp to europe

shawn kemp impregnates and then eats europe

It's Raining in Italy. The Rain Man has cometh. I think Kobe is next.

shawn kemp to europe
http://www.complex.com/blogs/2008/08/18/how-shawn-kemp-could-ruin-our-relations-with-italy/

Good signing for OKC.


Sources: Krstic, Thunder agree to deal
By Chad Ford
ESPn.com
(Archive)
Updated: December 19, 2008, 2:43 PM ET

Former New Jersey Nets big man Nenad Krstic followed Josh Childress' lead this summer and bolted the NBA for the riches of international basketball.

Seven weeks into the season, Krstic is on the verge of coming back to the NBA.

Two league sources told ESPN.com on Friday the Oklahoma City Thunder have agreed in principle to sign Krstic to a three-year offer sheet. The deal should be finalized on Monday, according to the sources.

Krstic is still a restricted free agent. The Nets would have seven days to match the deal once they receive the offer sheet.

A league source in New Jersey said the chances of the Nets matching what is believed to be a three-year, $15 million offer are slim. The Nets like Krstic but are trying to clear cap space for the summer of 2010.

The move, if completed, fills a big need for the Thunder in their frontcourt. Krstic is an excellent scorer who can play both power forward and center.

During the fall of 2006, Krstic was playing like an All-Star before a torn ACL sidelined him for the rest of the season.

Krstic returned for the 2007-08 season but clearly wasn't fully recovered. He averaged a career low of 6.6 points and 4.4 rebounds for the Nets.

This summer, Krstic, a restricted free agent, struggled to get a big offer from an NBA club.

In late July he announced he was leaving the NBA for Triumph Moscow in a deal worth 3 million euro a year, or about $6 million-$7 million with the exchange rate and the fact European clubs pay their players' taxes.

A Thunder source said that the team has been in pursuit of Krstic for a while and considered making him an offer this summer.

After watching him play in Russia, they believed he was finally healthy and would command a large salary next year. With nearly all of the team's mid-level exception available, they decided to cut off the competition and lock up Krstic now.