I didn't expect Olympiakos to be able to pay players 10 mill per year. What would happen if a RFA signed with Olympiakos like Deng or Gordon, then the Bulls couldn't match right?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ Jul 23 2008, 04:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I didn't expect Olympiakos to be able to pay players 10 mill per year. What would happen if a RFA signed with Olympiakos like Deng or Gordon, then the Bulls couldn't match right?</div> The Bulls couldn't do anything as long as he played outside of the NBA. If he decides to return, the Bulls would still hold the right to match any offer given to him, so he'd be in the same situation again. The real interesting thing would be to see if this trend ever extends to top-tier NBA players. I have my doubts, but the beginnings of that have started in the NHL (Jagr and Radulov both bolted to Russia this offseason).
Basketball is run by superstars and the majority of them play in the NBA. In fact the pool of NBA talent will continue to grow; if European teams get our leftovers (a little harsh I know, relax people), I don't mind. It's not like top-tier players from the States have abandoned the NBA.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Jul 23 2008, 04:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Basketball is run by superstars and the majority of them play in the NBA. In fact the pool of NBA talent will continue to grow; if European teams get our leftovers (a little harsh I know, relax people), I don't mind. It's not like a top-tier player from the States has abandoned the NBA.</div> Josh Childress is a good player though. Although I agree that superstars and upper level stars will probably never leave the NBA for other leagues, losing Josh Childress is a big hit to the NBA. He's the type of good guy, critical-piece-to-rounding-out-a-championship-team player that the NBA needs to have around.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (kdub @ Jul 23 2008, 05:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Jul 23 2008, 04:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Basketball is run by superstars and the majority of them play in the NBA. In fact the pool of NBA talent will continue to grow; if European teams get our leftovers (a little harsh I know, relax people), I don't mind. It's not like a top-tier player from the States has abandoned the NBA.</div> Josh Childress is a good player though. Although I agree that superstars and upper level stars will probably never leave the NBA for other leagues, losing Josh Childress is a big hit to the NBA. He's the type of good guy, critical-piece-to-rounding-out-a-championship-team player that the NBA needs to have around. </div> A few more million and he would have stayed here though. Some casualties will occur every now and then.
This move is really a great move for Josh especially if his Greece contract enables him to opt out at the end of each season. Josh is a young player with a ton of potential and playing in Europe might be the best thing for him. Let's run the numbers: The Hawks were offering 5 years at $33 million which comes down to $6.6 million a year. (Yes, I know the pay isn't the same each year of the contract). With the Olympiakos he is getting $20 million over 3 years which comes down to roughly $6.66 million a year. Not only does he get paid slightly more starting out but he isn't locked into a long-term contract being this young. If he plays well in a few years in Greece (which he should easily do), he will be able to come back to the US and get a long term contract worth a lot of money. I could easily see him playing for a year or two and if he performs well, come back to the NBA and sign a long-term lucrative contract since he has the opt out clause. Great move for Childress. The Hawks lost out.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hunter @ Jul 23 2008, 05:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I could easily see him playing for a year or two and if he performs well, come back to the NBA and sign a long-term lucrative contract since he has the opt out clause. Great move for Childress. The Hawks lost out.</div> Exactly. I'm sure that's his plan. At one point didn't Marbury say that he wanted to leave the L and ball overseas? I don't think this will become a trend because most plays respect the sports market, or rather the $$, enough to want to stay in the states.
I think David Stern saw this coming. Definitely. With the state of the USD/Euro exchange, improved competition over seas, and contracts in the NBA, he would have to see it. This is why he discussed European expansion. Whether we like it or not, the Euro will be threat to compete with any NBA contract offers. And looky here, future HOF Jason Kidd weighs in on the situation: http://sportstwo.com/forums/Kidd-Europe-t120250.html
