A European Trend: NBA players deciding to play overseas

[campybatman]

For the Celtics, this isn't good news. These are more small forwards that won't be an option for Ainge next season. But, I don't blame the players; they're following the money and opportunities.

The European Trend

We're seeing something interesting in Europe, where teams are starting to realize that they can draw NBA players to their squads and gain an advantage over fellow European teams. Whether it's Brandon Jennings setting a new standard for high school kids opting for Europe instead of college or Olympiakos trying to lure a player like Anthony Parker away or other teams like Panathinaikos trying to one-up them with an offer to Luis Scola, the European teams are starting to become players in the free agency market.

One of the issues driving the gradual emigration of players to Europe is the ongoing demise of the American dollar. It's a complicated issue, but at the end of the day every time the Fed lowers interest rates it devalues the dollar, and the many recent drops that are currently holding up the house of cards that is the American economy have made the euro a very attractive commodity. More than a few players have told us this week that it's better to earn euros than dollars, and that should be of huge concern to all of us.

How long will be before second tier NBA players decide it's better to play the shorter schedule, earn tax-free money, get free room and board, and live in Italy for half the year than stay in America for an 82-game gauntlet, lose half your salary to taxes, and get paid in dollars that don't buy anything? Maybe not as long as you think.

The latest NBA player to receive an attractive offer from overseas is Ricky Davis, who is currently considering a stint with Olympiakos. Will he be the first domino to fall?

http://www.fantasyplayers.com/nba/FeedI ... M_ID=37062

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. Yahoo! Sports

Nachbar has agreed to a three-year contract with Dynamo Moscow, a deal that will pay the former New Jersey Nets small forward $14.3 million, he told ESPN.com early Monday. The contract, worth 9 million euros, will include affordable buyout clauses after each season to allow him to explore the option of returning to the NBA, and Nachbar said he was keeping a close eye on how the salary cap situation in the summer of 2010 will impact his prospects of returning to the NBA. ESPN.com

"The NBA had better be careful," Nachbar said. "European teams are offering a lot of money. It's much more, considering there are no taxes, than what I could make signing for the mid-level exception." ESPN.com

[campybatman]

Heck, why wouldn't Walker want to play overseas as oppose to sitting on the bench next season as a rookie. Why not, sure. I think Giddens will eventually come to terms on a contract, but Walker has to be seriously considering a stint overseas after this latest news.

Perhaps, Ainge was already onto something. The NBA should look to Europe as a potential farm system for rookies and undrafted players. I believe Jennings' shift will propel the NBA in that direction or the wheels are beginning to spin. Will the NBDL soon be deem irrelevant?

[BeanTownBrawler]

Besides the money, Europe is just a much more fun place to be young and rich

[RickyDizzle]

Ricky Davis? He'd have to be real good in Europe, right?

Athletic, fast, proven NBA player, I would think he could make some serious bank across the pond.

I think I am coming around to him making his second tour of duty here though...still doubt it happens, but he is the instant offense and energy we need off the bench. People claim to know info about him undermining Pierce in the locker room, etc, but I dont know that any of this has been confirmed...has it?

I always liked Ricky, people after he left were quick to jump on the 'he's a cancer/bad locker room guy' bandwagon, but lets not forget that for a while when he was here everyone was applauding him as a possible 6th man of the year and were very happy with his 'maturity turnaround' on the C's.

Sure it might have been local writers looking through green glasses since he was on our squad but personally I thought it was ridiculous how he went from 6th man of the year and such a energy player off the bench to being a bum before he even left town (in perception I mean).

Doesnt always make the smart player, but I liked his hustle and would welcome him back...I doubt we'd offer as much as Olympiakos though...kind of crazy to say, but true.

-Dizzy

[TheCelticTruth]

Will the NBDL soon be deem irrelevant?

i think its the american economy rapidly approaching irrelevance that concerns me and is creating these issues.

gotta love the slow economic decline where people are spending money they dont have, industry profits go up but down make their way to the workers or consumers, and the infrastructire slowly begins to cave so that the top, which is apparently all anyone looks at to measure the economy, looks fine but the support structure rapidly decays so all of a sudden its just going to collapse unless the trend gets reversed...

[return2glory]

I was just going to start a thread about this. My friend and I were talking about this yesterday. This is the future of the NBA. We will see more and more NBA players going over seas.

The reason for this is because our economy is is getting weaker and weaker by the day. The European countries can offer more and more money and usually there is no tax overseas. And as already see, it's all about the money.

In the next 10-20 years, I can see this also happening with some U.S. citizens. We will see more people going to live overseas because it's a better and more laid back lifestyle over seas.

[the sea duck]

The affordable buyout is the key to making this make sense for the players and for both leagues.

It is a good opportunity for some players to make good cash over in Europe... but no one wants to get stuck over there when things shift back the other way (or their priorities change).

I think it was Arvydus Sabonis who once explained why he eventually came to the nba. He said his kids would grow up hearing about how he was such a great player, and he didn't want them to ask him why he never played in the best league in the world. He felt it would tarnish his legacy.

I think if guys go to europe with affordable buyouts, they can go make their money and then come back and compete for glory in the nba if they get a good opportunity. Just like some superstars sign max contracts early on in their careers and then accept less money to join up with a contender because they want the championship.

[return2glory]

I think it was Arvydus Sabonis who once explained why he eventually came to the nba. He said his kids would grow up hearing about how he was such a great player, and he didn't want them to ask him why he never played in the best league in the world. He felt it would tarnish his legacy.

Yes but that was about 20 years ago. Times have change. The U.S.A. is not the powerhouse it once was. Before more people liked Americans in other countries than they do now. Most people in other countries actually don't like Americans or the United States. That's wat happens when you start a war over oil.

As far as the NBA goes, the teams overseas have steadily caught up to the level of the NBA. A few years ago, the NBA players failed to win the gold. Things have changed alot in the last 20 years.

This used to be a great country. Let's hope like the Celtics, it can return 2 glory.

[campybatman]

Besides the money, Europe is just a much more fun place to be young and rich

What of the language barrier for American born players only knowing English?

The advantage that Jennings is establishing for himself is that since he obviously won't be declaring for the NBA draft after a year in college, no one team owns his rights. So, he can remain overseas as long as teams have an interest in him or he wants to. Why come to the NBA if the salary and opportunities are better? I can see why Marbury desires to finish out his playing days overseas. The NBA seems to be catered more to young players. So, if you're an older veterans with a little left in the tank. I'm sure a team overseas could sign you to an one or two-year deal. Money aside, the only thing that the NBA can sell on the second tier players is the ultimate dream of playing on the biggest stage in the world, so to speak. But, when does that "ultimate dream" no longer becomes important? I mean the LeBrons and Durants of the world will continue to enter the NBA draft and make a lot of money and have financial security. But, what of the next pool of players?

The only thing about the Jennings story is he creates a loophole for high school players that weren't fortunate to come out prior to the age change by the NBA. For some of them, the more talented ones, they won't have to wait and go to college for one year if they don't want to. Jennings revealed that he would've entered the NBA draft straight out of high school if not for the age rule.

[SonicYouth34]

If Childress signs that deal they're talking about, he'll make like $9 million American a year. That sounds like a good deal to me. But I like this idea especially if we can keep a players rights. Anyone know if this is true?

[campybatman]

I would guess that a NBA team only retains your rights if you were drafted but went unsigned. If you're a free agent, then you're free to sign anywhere. An unrestricted free agent is probably more apt to remain with his original team.

You could Google or try here: http://www.nbpa.com/cba_articles.php

[threrf23]

That sounds like a hell of a deal for Nachbar.

Jennings...his contract provides for the possibility he may choose to jump ship to the NBA by offering teams the ability to buy it out. It'll be interesting to see how that will affect his draft stock next year (and/or if whoever drafts him wants him to stay in Europe).

But I'm surprised more high schoolers haven't made similar decisions. They get paid, exposed to new worldly cultures, and get to work on improving their game in an environment where fundamentals run rapid. Sounds like their best option in various respects to me, particularly given the age limit, and it really could have been foreseen with the advent of the age limit.

[bruno sundov]

That damn euro is killing the dollar. Well our junk economy is killing the dollar.

[GuyClinch]

It makes sense for those guys. The kind of money they are throwing around for second tier players is pretty huge. I would go as well. Frankly I wonder if those euro teams will pay out - or if they can really attract enough fans to merit that kind of expenditure. Its kind of good sign if your a basketball fan for the worldwide popularity of the game..

Pete

[BillessuR6]

The initial reports on the deal were wrong. All slovenian media is reporting that he got 6 mio € per year, which makes $9,5 mio net!

I translated an interview from one of the slovenian sites:

Link: http://www.rtvslo.si/sport/modload.php? ... c_id=40269

How long has this deal been brewing?
Less than 24 hours. I am still in shock.

Was the money the only reason?
No. The ambitions of the club are huge. They want to win russian championship, russian cup, ULEB cup and qualify for Euroleague next season. And David Blatt as coach is another reason.

Did you have any special demands?
Yes. I wanted to have an NBA clause after the second year. I still want to return to the NBA. I was in Vegas working out with Brezec when the offer came and no other offer was even close to this one, so I said yes. It was a life time opportunity and I am set for life with this one.

NBA offers?
There were quite a few in the last few days. ATL and GSW were the most serious but the offers where not even close to Dynamo Moscow.

And the team is supposedly also planning on adding another SG from the NBA...

That is a crazy offer for Nachbar! He had to take it!

The weak dollar is really making a huge difference..and the fact that russian millionaires have no idea what to do with their money...

[BillessuR6]

It makes sense for those guys. The kind of money they are throwing around for second tier players is pretty huge. I would go as well. Frankly I wonder if those euro teams will pay out - or if they can really attract enough fans to merit that kind of expenditure. Its kind of good sign if your a basketball fan for the worldwide popularity of the game..

Pete

Most (if not all) of these crazy offers come from Russia. The oil m(b)illionaires don`t really care how much they spend...

The trend already started in football in Europe I guess basketball is the next step...

[campybatman]

Here are Marbury's comments about playing overseas.

Marbury told the New York Post that he plans to play in Italy, having visited the country in May with his wife, visiting Rome, Milan and Tuscany.

"I'm not just thinking of doing it, I'm going to do it," Marbury said, according to the Post. "My wife loved it there."

"It's like a [David] Beckham thing," he said, alluding to the English soccer star coming to America to play in Major League Soccer after years with top-flight European clubs Manchester United and Real Madrid.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2940731

[Red forever]

return2glory, while I do agree that the rest of the world has closed the gap as far as basketball, we are still the ones to beat in China. The USA will bring back the gold medal where it belongs. When you talk about how unpopular the US is most of that can be atributed to media bias, which is even worse in Europe than here. The British military has banned listening to their country's BBC, because they are so bad. Speaking of bias , I don't know where you got that information about "invading a country for oil" nonsense. We have not gotten a drop of oil from Iraq. We gave the Iraqi's something we all can be proud of, freedom, did you forget the purple fingers showing that they were voting for the first time in their lives. Saddam Hussein and his two sons will not be raping, torturing and murdering any more innocent Iraqi's, thanks to us. Return to glory, no we are already there!

[the sea duck]

I think it was Arvydus Sabonis who once explained why he eventually came to the nba. He said his kids would grow up hearing about how he was such a great player, and he didn't want them to ask him why he never played in the best league in the world. He felt it would tarnish his legacy.

Yes but that was about 20 years ago. Times have change. The U.S.A. is not the powerhouse it once was. Before more people liked Americans in other countries than they do now. Most people in other countries actually don't like Americans or the United States. That's wat happens when you start a war over oil.

As far as the NBA goes, the teams overseas have steadily caught up to the level of the NBA. A few years ago, the NBA players failed to win the gold. Things have changed alot in the last 20 years.

This used to be a great country. Let's hope like the Celtics, it can return 2 glory.

i think you may have missed the point i was making. i acknowledged that things have changed. but the roles have not reversed by any means. IF the current economic trends continue (and yes, that is an if, because really, the euro is right behind the u.s. dollar in this whole thing), then we will see players shift back and forth between the leagues as long as they have reasonable buyouts.

the sabonis story still applies. euro-legends will forever be just that, if they never play or succeed in the nba. the challenge and glory of the nba is going no where in terms of superiority for at least 10 years (though the gap may shrink), and many players will be tempted, and should be, to test or re-test the nba waters, even at significant financial sacrifice. some players will make their money in europe and their name in the u.s.

however, nba europe could be in full swing by this time in 2018, so who knows.

[campybatman]

With Childress recently agreeing to a contract to play overseas, add Landry's name to a seemingly growing list of NBA players jumping ship for more money.

The agent for restricted free agent forward Carl Landry says his client may entertain offers to play overseas. "Carl would entertain all serious offers," Landry's agent, Buddy Baker, told Houston television station KRIV-TV on Wednesday. "There is serious interest in Carl by both other NBA teams and internationally." Houston Chronicle