Kobe to Europe?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>BEIJING – Kobe Bryant won’t sign a contract extension with the Los Angeles Lakers until he has tested the global market, the U.S. Olympic basketball star told Yahoo! Sports on Saturday.

Asked whether he plans to solicit overseas offers before signing an extension, Bryant flatly said yes.

It’s possible Bryant could leave the NBA for Europe – perhaps in a dual role of owner and player – as early as next summer. Bryant is signed with the Lakers through the 2010-11 season, but can opt out after next season.

Suddenly, the best player in the world seems determined to pair the changing global economics with his unparalleled popularity to create an international bidding war. A day earlier, Bryant told the Boston Globe that he would consider a $50 million offer to play in Europe.

“As players, the business of the game (is) evolving,” Bryant said before a Team USA practice at Beijing Normal University. “I think free agency now is becoming a global thing …. When players become free agents, the team they’re currently with – their competition is no longer the rest of the teams in the NBA. But it’s global. So, the market’s opened up. So we’ll just have to see how the league responds to it.”

Bryant spent several years of his childhood in Italy and loves it there. Seven years ago, he bought an ownership stake in Olimpia Milano of the Italian league for his father Joe to run. When Bryant was asked whether he held intrigue with owning and playing on a team together, he said, “Absolutely.”

Some basketball executives believe Bryant’s ultimate ambition might be to have a majority ownership with a powerhouse Italian team while serving as its superstar. What’s more, Bryant, 29, insists that it wouldn’t be such a leap of faith for him to leave the NBA.

“I think people kind of make it out to be a little more than what it is,” he said.

With the Lakers’ resurgence and Bryant having won his first most valuable player award last season, it was believed that he would sign a long-term, maximum contract without pursuing unrestricted free agency. Now, Bryant is suggesting that the possibility of a monumental European offer – perhaps paired with ownership – has armed him with fresh leverage.

This summer, the movement of players to Europe – as well as a belief that several European teams are gearing up to lure NBA superstars with contracts worth $30- to $40 million annually – has made him believe that this could be an option for him. Josh Childress of the Atlanta Hawks signed a three-year, $20 million deal with Olympiakos of Greece. Several other good NBA players, including Carlos Delfino and Juan Carlos Navarro, left the NBA for multi-million dollar European offers.

“Childress, Delfino, and all these other offers start coming up and all of a sudden you start hearing the talk circulating from teams over there and what they’re willing to do,” Bryant said. “As athletes, you have to listen to that. That’s the least you can do.”

Even so, Bryant conceded that it would be “Almost impossible … very difficult …” to leave the Lakers, who are primed to make a run at multiple championships over the next several years.

“But,” he said cryptically, “it is what it is.”</div>

Source: Yahoo! Sports

 

and so it begins....

 

Can't blame him. $50 million euros in USD would be around 75 million...for one season.

 

i think when they announce these deals on ESPN and etc they give you the american worth of the contract, so Childress is gettign 20 mill american not euro.

 

It would be weird with Kobe in Russia. If he did a couple years there and made 100 mill he could always come back and sign for less with the Lakers with an older Bynum.

 

I can't see Kobe going to Europe at any point in time. Regardless of the money, he's too competitive and the competition in Europe is only a fraction of what it is in the US. Plus, at this point in his career, money is probably the least important thing to Kobe. He's got plenty of money and if he were to leave for overseas, he wouldn't accomplish something he's been wanting to accomplish since Shaq left the Lakers - winning a title without Shaq.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Moo2K4 @ Aug 9 2008, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can't see Kobe going to Europe at any point in time. Regardless of the money, he's too competitive and the competition in Europe is only a fraction of what it is in the US. Plus, at this point in his career, money is probably the least important thing to Kobe. He's got plenty of money and if he were to leave for overseas, he wouldn't accomplish something he's been wanting to accomplish since Shaq left the Lakers - winning a title without Shaq.</div>

I see no reason why Kobe would lie about this subject. Once he wins a title I fully expect for Kobe to consider the move if offered the monetary amount he seeks.

Money is always important to people, whether they need it or not.

 

I don't think the Lakers REALLY have anything to worry about.
VERY FEW teams can afford to pay Kobe that type of money, and I think his preference is to go to Italy. I think it would be tough for him to leave with the present stance of this team. He just said he would think it's stupid NOT to explore European options.
I also question if any of his American endorsers would close the doors on him.

 

If the incentives of Kobe leaving for Europe is that we win a championship next year then I guess I'm fine with it...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Aug 9 2008, 02:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Can't blame him. $50 million euros in USD would be around 75 million...for one season.</div>

It's $50 Million USD. Not Euros. But it doesn't get taxed, so you get that 35% that he would lose in the top tax bracket.

 

Looks like Basketball is turning into something similar to European Soccer. No salary cap and clubs are free to sign whoever they want regardless of contract... if there is a current contract however they could pay a contract nullifying fee LOL

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Kid Chocolate @ Aug 9 2008, 07:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (GMJigga @ Aug 9 2008, 02:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Can't blame him. $50 million euros in USD would be around 75 million...for one season.</div>

It's $50 Million USD. Not Euros. But it doesn't get taxed, so you get that 35% that he would lose in the top tax bracket.
</div>

It actually does get taxed.
Just differently.

 

If Kobe does intend on going to the highest bidder, and someone from Europe offers him a 50 million a year type of contract then we're screwed

With the way the cap is currently managed, there's no way in hell we would come up with that amount of money to resign him. Putting it into perspective, Kobe's contract would only be about 5 million away from the NBA's salary cap limit.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 10 2008, 12:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>If Kobe does intend on going to the highest bidder, and someone from Europe offers him a 50 million a year type of contract then we're screwed

With the way the cap is currently managed, there's no way in hell we would come up with that amount of money to resign him. Putting it into perspective, Kobe's contract would only be about 5 million away from the NBA's salary cap limit.</div>

After bringing another championship to LA his legacy will be pretty much set. He probably won't get another chance to milk Euro teams for ridiculous amounts of money if he resigns with the Lakers. The NBA most likely needs a new CBA if all this becomes true.

 

Although I would understand if Kobe does decide to take the money (I mean, he's gonna be making more than double he's making right now), he would look like a jackass, yet again IMO. He bitched and moaned all last offseason about getting more talented pieces around him, and went through the whole "trade me" phase. Then when the team finally gets back to contender status, and looks to be that way for years to come, he bolts?

Even putting money into account, I can't imagine Kobe being happy in Europe. I mean, guys like Josh Childress and Juan Carlos Navarro are considered stars there when they're nothing more than average role players in the NBA. If that's true, one can only imagine what Kobe would be able to accomplish. I wouldn't be surprised if he managed to score 200 points in one game. Even though that might be cool, I always envisioned Kobe as a person who loves challenges. Europe will provide him none of that

Not to mention he'd probably have to move his family overseas as well...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Brian @ Aug 10 2008, 01:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Although I would understand if Kobe does decide to take the money (I mean, he's gonna be making more than double he's making right now), he would look like a jackass, yet again IMO. He bitched and moaned all last offseason about getting more talented pieces around him, and went through the whole "trade me" phase. Then when the team finally gets back to contender status, and looks to be that way for years to come, he bolts?

Even putting money into account, I can't imagine Kobe being happy in Europe. I mean, guys like Josh Childress and Juan Carlos Navarro are considered stars there when they're nothing more than average role players in the NBA. If that's true, one can only imagine what Kobe would be able to accomplish. I wouldn't be surprised if he managed to score 200 points in one game. Even though that might be cool, I always envisioned Kobe as a person who loves challenges. Europe will provide him none of that

Not to mention he'd probably have to move his family overseas as well...</div>

Well I'm sure NBA players want this type of speculation to grow, so that the cap can be eliminated one day.

I think Kobe will get a lot of heat if he moves to Europe, but no one knows for sure how serious these allegations are though. Kobe needs to do what is best for him; I thought his bitching last year was smart too.

 

I think Kobe's trying to use this as leverage for his next contract with the Lakers.

 

I know Kobe wouldn't mind Europe, but what about his family? I'm not saying he wouldn't go either, 50 million is a lot of money, but I can't see him being happy in a situation where he'd basically dominate every single game. He'd have no challenge at all