This makes me feel even stronger about a need for the NBA to globalize like we talked about a bit in the sergio thread. Of course it would be crazy difficult. It would also factor in a ton of other things: what happens in conversion ($?), what about the Olympics, what about politics, blah, blah, blah. It would be an interesting experience though. This happens in the same year that a high school player decides to go overseas instead of college…It makes great sense. He makes bank, Greece is a nice place, everyone except the Hawks are happy. What happens if they don’t sign Smith? Ouch.

I kind of assumed he was using it as a ploy to get more cash from the Hawks. That’s crazy! I hope Stern uses this as an opportunity to improve the league (although, I shouldn’t trust him after the past couple of years).

I wish I could get paid millions to move from Atlanta to Europe.

good teams in Sweden?

From the above-cited story:

The deal [$20M over 3 years] is the most lucrative current contract in European basketball and the biggest in Euroleague history, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, which first reported the signing.

Childress has an option at the end of each year of his three year contract, to opt out of it and return to the NBA (per Pro Sports Daily).

Strictly as a guess, I’d expect him to get homesick and return to the US after one season in Greece.

waht impact this has on the CBA when it’s renegotiated.

Clearly, at the very least, the first round rookie scale has to change if the NBA wants to have a chance of getting any talent from Europe.

the fact that Olympiakos is taking care of the taxes so he’s essentially receiving 20+ million net…Also, lets not forget that the Hawks organization is very poorly run. Ownership bickers about everything, so why not get out of there and play in Europe. That way, he doesn’t have to worry about another team signing him then the Hawks matching and being stuck somewhere he doesn’t want to be

Alot of the guys in the NBA are pretty myopic: All they want to do is play basketball, or eat at the Cheesecake Factory. Who among us wouldn’t want to take our jobs, except move to one of the world’s most historically significant cities, for more money, and a less competitive atmosphere?

I only wish I could get paid to play Basketball all over Europe! Most of us pay for the pleasure.

for basketball. Maybe it will get the NBA off it’s complacent butt.

Do something about the officiating, and a few other things

I have a feeling, when Childress finally speaks, he will say his reason is something we didn’t think of, even though we probably came up with the real reason. All the good WNBA players spend 8 months a year in Russia playing basketball and they only come back to America for the WNBA.

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Yesterday: “Chill isn’t going to Greece…it’s jsut postering by his agent, and you guys are taking the bait hook, line, and sinker….”

Today: “We are the new Clippers”, “Hawks management are clueless”, “Only team not to have made any deals”, “One step forward two steps back”, “Back to the lottery”.

Seems to be a lot of frustration in the land of the Hawks. If Smith goes too, they can probably write off the next season(s) after coming surprisingly close to stopping Boston this year. At least they now have to overpay for him. “So if they go, who’s left to be our SF’s? Marvin and ?”. “Salim Stoudamire?”

But Childress is not going to “play in relative anonymity” as the post suggests. Already he’s garnered more attention in the press here than he would signing with any NBA team. Further, the if his abilities translate into European ball easily he will enjoy starting minutes and superstar-level adulation from the fans (who are more devoted, on the whole, than American fans). I think it makes a huge amount of success. More money. More playing time. More prestige. More Mediterranean Sea. What is the downside? Not being invited to the 3-point contest?

... a) there is a growing trend of deep pocket owners coming into the euro leagues, meaning they are expected to be more competative on salaries. b) according to Josh’s agent, it sounded like he could get more money from a euro team than from the NBA. c) with 3 years in the league, he’s shown he’s a proven commodity, so why not play a few seasons in Europe to broaden his horizons. He can still expect to get a decent contract if he decides to return to the NBA in two or three years.