Olympiakos Could Make Run At LeBron

[orlandomike]

It may go to show that the dream of having an NBA dream really isnt all that anymore. They would rather earn money that they would never spend.

[AdamTheGreek]

Read in a Greek paper today (GOAL) that Kobe would go over to play in Europe at $40 million per season.

Until the dollar's value rises and/or there's a salary cap in Europe, you will continue to hear these rumors and eventually you could see a superstar going over.

And yes, the lifestyle in Europe is fantastic.

[doraem0n]

[quote="aleZ"]
Given the exchange rate, around Shard's contract and no, I don't think any club can spend that much on a single player, but you gotta factor in rising economies like Russia or Spain and the Euro domination on the Dollar

[quote]

I think you are completely wrong on this part. The top European Soccer players get paid around 7-10 million Euros(that is something around 9 - 15 millions US Dollars if I am right) AFTER TAX. You will have to double the number when you are trying to compare that with an NBA player because the money you get is BEFORE TAX in NBA contract.

The NBA players are generally more wealthy than Soccer players is because of you are comparing 4500 NBA players with more than 30,000 European Soccer players who plays in a national top league.

As professional sports, Soccer runs a MUCH MUCH bigger market than NBA. The NBA players get bigger sneaker deals only because you can wear the sneaker off the court but not the Soccer shoes.

[ezmac2]

U guys are missing the big picture here.
So say he leaves to Europe for a year or so, ya cool great whatever
But its when he returns that everyone isn't thinking about.
No not where will he go play next or what the NBA will do to solve big stars leaving

Its this...
Will there be a Space Jam 2 starring Lebron James?

It makes perfect sense. MJ went to persue other things then came back to the NBA
Plus LBJ has stated after The Lebron's aired he wouldnt mind doing a movie down the line
And it boost his image as an icon

So Space Jam 2 staring LBJ
and featuring.. Dwight Howard, Dwayne Wade, Yao Ming, Kobe and CP3 and of course MJ making an appearance
What do u guys think?

[Devin 1L]

Mike had rings; James has none.

And this little piggy, er...

Still don't see it happening. He's got the chance to go down as one of the greatest ever, in the greatest league, I just don't see him leaving for some money in Europe.

As I said in another thread, I can see other middle of the road guys go, but not the top guys, not when they have the chance to make their mark in this league.

[TheRevTy]

I'd watch a Space Jam 2 starring Lebron.

[aleZ]

You will have to double the number when you are trying to compare that with an NBA player because the money you get is BEFORE TAX in NBA contract.

Oh yeah but US taxes are on average far less than Europe's almost half the % on a regular payroll/contract, so I wasn't that far off. But yeah, good point: not having to pay taxes may be another plus for a NBA star wanting to go overseas.

[drsd]

ESPN.com: LeBron would consider European offer of $50M a year

A person close to James said Tuesday that the Cavaliers' superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of "around $50 million a year."
James' current contract expires after the 2009-10 season, and while several NBA teams are working to create salary cap space for his impending free agency, none could offer a contract beginning at even $20 million a year.

Realistically, a €200-300 million contract would be a financial loss for a team, and as such, a Russian oligarch would be in the best position to pay the salary. I still question whether James would move to Moscow even for €300 over six years. Yes it is a lot more than a l lot of money. And he will get news-cycle after news cycle. But then he has to live in a country where basically he will have to isolate himself in a gated community.

As for Greece, I cannot see a €20 million a year deal ($30 million a year). Olympiacos has no obvious mechanism to absorb financial losses.

[mhectorgato]

You will have to double the number when you are trying to compare that with an NBA player because the money you get is BEFORE TAX in NBA contract.

Oh yeah but US taxes are on average far less than Europe's almost half the % on a regular payroll/contract, so I wasn't that far off. But yeah, good point: not having to pay taxes may be another plus for a NBA star wanting to go overseas.

Question for all the financial people on the board:

If LBJ, as a US citizen, were to take a contract overseas, would he have to pay US taxes on the income?

In the back of my head I seem to remember that the answer would be yes.

[drsd]

You will have to double the number when you are trying to compare that with an NBA player because the money you get is BEFORE TAX in NBA contract.

Oh yeah but US taxes are on average far less than Europe's almost half the % on a regular payroll/contract, so I wasn't that far off. But yeah, good point: not having to pay taxes may be another plus for a NBA star wanting to go overseas.

Question for all the financial people on the board:

If LBJ, as a US citizen, were to take a contract overseas, would he have to pay US taxes on the income?

In the back of my head I seem to remember that the answer would be yes.

Yes.

I am an American living abroad and I know I have to file taxes. And I don't make $50M a year. LBJ would pay full taxes on his contract in the States, up to the levels the lawyers could defer through various shelters. That's when the details become tricky. They involve for instance how many days one is in the States per year. Three is a huge, and I mean HUGE, penalty for being inside the states for more than 50 days a year. For LBJ, that means he would have to fully stay outside the American borders for much of the off-season, plus. That is hard to imagine for a global marketing player such as James.