Olympiakos Could Join LeBron Sweepstakes in 2010

Discussion in 'International Basketball' started by kobimel, Aug 1, 2008.

  1. kobimel

    kobimel Hapoel

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>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.</div>

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writ...eece/index.html

    LeBron would never leave the NBA for a regular, max-level contract, but who knows, if they actually offer him 30-40 million dollars annualy, he might jump ship. Imagine the endorsement deals he would get in Europe, as well. He would truely become a global icon.
     
  2. Lavalamp

    Lavalamp Member

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    It would be a devasting and genius blow to the NBA by Olympiakos. If the owner is a multibillionaire and offers 40 mill per year for 4 years then that is probably double what Lebron would make in the NBA. It wouldn`t be a big blow to the owner`s pocket if he is a multibillionaire, and Lebron would garner a lot of attention to that team.
     
  3. kobimel

    kobimel Hapoel

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    I seriously don´t think that money is a problem for the Aggelopoulos bros. They´ve set an unlimited budget for this season´s team. That´s right, unlimited. They don´t mind losing cash, as long as they beat their rivlas Panathinaikos and keep the fans happy and the team successful. Now, if the opportunity to sign LeBron really will come up, I can definitely see them offering him a huge contract. It´ll be up to him to decide whether he´d rather take a pay cut in order to stay in the NBA.
     
  4. cpawfan

    cpawfan Monsters do exist

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    The marketing dollars is the big question.

    I'm not sure LBJ can make up the money he would lose on US endorsements.
     
  5. kobimel

    kobimel Hapoel

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Aug 2 2008, 12:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The marketing dollars is the big question.

    I'm not sure LBJ can make up the money he would lose on US endorsements.</div>

    Well, he would become Nike Europe's biggest basketball icon by far, and since Nike are always trying to globalize their influence, I don't think endorsement deals would be a problem for LeBron.
     
  6. TheBeef

    TheBeef Commish of FUN!

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    3 words....Personal Services Contract....its what the Toronto Argonauts used to steal Rocket Ismail before the NFL draft in the 90s....and its something an NBA team cant offer....5 years, $250 mil....I called this a few days ago btw....
     
  7. pegs

    pegs My future wife.

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    I couldn't see this happening. Lebron's reputation would be so tarnished by this move, if it happened. His ego seems too big for that.

    Now, I could see some other 2010 free agents getting big contracts overseas...
     
  8. Kid Chocolate

    Kid Chocolate Suspended

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron's reputation would be so tarnished by this move, if it happened.</div>


    Why?

    Do you think Josh Childress has a bum rep now?
     
  9. Kid Chocolate

    Kid Chocolate Suspended

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    I could see Lebron signing something like a 1 year $50 million contract with them, and then coming back to the NBA and getting a max contract.
     
  10. kobimel

    kobimel Hapoel

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 2 2008, 01:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I couldn't see this happening. Lebron's reputation would be so tarnished by this move, if it happened. His ego seems too big for that.

    Now, I could see some other 2010 free agents getting big contracts overseas...</div>

    Tarnished? Depends on your point of view. Sure, a super-duper star leaving the NBA would be a huge change, very unorthodox obviously. But, I actually think LeBron would gain more popularity worldwide and would be credited with completely changing the landscape of basketball as we know it. For the average American basketball fan, a move like that would probably be seen as an insult to the NBA or something like that, but if you look deeper, you can see that such a change could actually help the NBA in the long run. Owners would have to stop being cheap, with competition for their prized stars growing overseas. The cap would have to be raised, which would give teams more wiggle room to make drastic changes, and eventually would allow lowly teams to make Celtics 2007-2008 like changes and add more interest to the league. Obviously, the big winners here are the players. No question about that.
     
  11. pegs

    pegs My future wife.

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 1 2008, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron's reputation would be so tarnished by this move, if it happened.</div>


    Why?

    Do you think Josh Childress has a bum rep now?
    </div>

    Is Josh Childress a superstar-type player?
     
  12. TucsonClip

    TucsonClip Thursday Night in Tucson = Upset

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    If Olympiakos finds a way to get their games televised in the US, I think this could be an option. He would literaly be the talk of the world, and like cpaw said if the marketing contracts are there who is to say he doesnt try it for a year?
     
  13. Real

    Real Dumb and Dumbest

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    That would figure, the first time in years that the Nets have a chance to go after a player like LeBron James, that he could possibly go overseas instead.
     
  14. Lavalamp

    Lavalamp Member

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    If Lebron joined Olympiakos it would tarnish the NBA's rep more than his rep.

    Maybe the NBA should make an NBA Europe league that doesn't have a salary cap?

    I just don't know if they would have a separate North America/Europe title, or mix in the teams say best 2 NBAEurope teams vs. best 2 NBA teams.
     
  15. Kid Chocolate

    Kid Chocolate Suspended

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 1 2008, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron's reputation would be so tarnished by this move, if it happened.</div>


    Why?

    Do you think Josh Childress has a bum rep now?
    </div>

    Is Josh Childress a superstar-type player?
    </div>

    I didn't see you say anything about that. I'm not a mind reader.

    Tell me why Lebron's rep would be tarnished?
     
  16. nets1

    nets1 Member

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    I can't see raising the cap solving any problems here. Lets say they raise the cap to 100 million. The superstars will then demand 50 million dollars, then the average role players will get 15 million dollar contracts. The product won't improve, and smaller markets won't be able to compete. The the nba will have teams like the Yankees who try to buy championships every year.

    Also american teams will not accept losing money for ego. They will then raise ticket prices to 200 a game, t shirts will cost 95, and a bag of chips will cost 12 dollars.

    It will cost 500 just to subscribe to cable or direct tv. It will hurt the nba in the long run. The nba has to weather the storm of one set of crazy greek owners.

    I think the real solution here is for the nba to start opening up franchises in Europe, with salary cap restrictions rules just like here. Then there can be a real world championships series, and the nba will make a fortune.
     
  17. pegs

    pegs My future wife.

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 1 2008, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 1 2008, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron's reputation would be so tarnished by this move, if it happened.</div>


    Why?

    Do you think Josh Childress has a bum rep now?
    </div>

    Is Josh Childress a superstar-type player?
    </div>

    I didn't see you say anything about that. I'm not a mind reader.

    Tell me why Lebron's rep would be tarnished?
    </div>

    He comes to the NBA, with all this talk about wanting to be the best. And then he bolts to Europe for money. How wouldn't his rep be tarnished?
     
  18. Kid Chocolate

    Kid Chocolate Suspended

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 11:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 1 2008, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 1 2008, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron's reputation would be so tarnished by this move, if it happened.</div>


    Why?

    Do you think Josh Childress has a bum rep now?
    </div>

    Is Josh Childress a superstar-type player?
    </div>

    I didn't see you say anything about that. I'm not a mind reader.

    Tell me why Lebron's rep would be tarnished?
    </div>

    He comes to the NBA, with all this talk about wanting to be the best. And then he bolts to Europe for money. How wouldn't his rep be tarnished?
    </div>

    Best in the world.
     
  19. pegs

    pegs My future wife.

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    <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 4 2008, 12:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 11:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 1 2008, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 07:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 1 2008, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pegs @ Aug 1 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Lebron's reputation would be so tarnished by this move, if it happened.</div>


    Why?

    Do you think Josh Childress has a bum rep now?
    </div>

    Is Josh Childress a superstar-type player?
    </div>

    I didn't see you say anything about that. I'm not a mind reader.

    Tell me why Lebron's rep would be tarnished?
    </div>

    He comes to the NBA, with all this talk about wanting to be the best. And then he bolts to Europe for money. How wouldn't his rep be tarnished?
    </div>

    Best in the world.

    </div>

    And aren't the best in the world in the NBA?
     
  20. #1_War_Poet_ForLife

    #1_War_Poet_ForLife The Baker of Cakes

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    Not if he leaves.
     

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