According to the Israeli sports sites ONE and Sport5, Olympiacos have offered Josh Childress a $20 million, 3 year deal. According to ONE, a source close to Childress has stated that the chances of him signing with the Greeks is "above 50%". Also, according to the source, Olympiacos have agreed to cover Childress' tax expenses. Link: http://www.one.co.il/Article/120153.html (HEBREW) http://www.sport5.co.il/articles.aspx?fold...652&lang=HE (HEBREW) <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>LAS VEGAS – In a potentially stunning move that reflects the growing challenge Europe’s basketball leagues pose to the NBA, Atlanta Hawks free-agent forward Josh Childress is strongly considering a three-year, $20 million offer from Greek powerhouse Olympiakos, several league sources said Sunday night. Childress flew to Greece late Sunday and is scheduled to meet with Olympiakos officials on Monday. Childress, 25, is so flustered with the Hawks’ refusal to make a sign-and-trade deal to another team, one source familiar with his thinking believes there’s “better than a 50-50 chance” he’ll sign with Olympiakos. The team also will cover the Greek taxes for Childress, making it even more lucrative. “Unless he just gets there and doesn’t like it at all, I think he’s going to go,” one league source said. ADVERTISEMENT Childress is a restricted free agent, but the Hawks would have no matching rights with a FIBA contract. Olympiakos’ offer also would allow Childress the opportunity to return to the NBA over the next two summers. The Hawks would maintain his restricted free-agent rights provided they make him a qualifying offer.</div> http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Apw7...o&type=lgns
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ToddMacCulloch11 @ Jul 21 2008, 08:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>So if another NBA team makes an offer, the Hawks can match...but he can just walk with this?</div> Yes, but if he comes back to sign an NBA deal, he would still be a RFA then from my understanding. -Petey
Its one thing for European teams to be luring foreign players back from the NBA. I think GM's were always aware of that possibility. But Brandon Jennings and Josh Childress (potentially) represent a real change IMO. Jennings is exposing a loophole in an age restriction that was definitely meant to help the NCAA. Childress could show an alternative for RFA's and prevent teams from effectively handcuffing players when it comes to contract negotiations.
