Then it would become the most impactful NBA-to-Europe move yet. It is one thing for NBA players with European roots to go back : It is an understood part of player movement and can be somewhat planned for. At the very least, at least teams will understand why it happened.
But when a young, contributing rotation player born and bred in the United States with every logical interest to stay in America decides to go to Europe, that leaves teams scrambling to replace him. If it becomes a regular occurrence, then it makes the already cutthroat business of international basketball even more cutthroat. Even the almighty NBA clubs won't be safe!
If you haven't heard already, then let me update you : Josh Childress is seriously considering moving to Greek basketball powerhouse Olympiakos, serious enough to fly to Greece to meet with club officials :
( 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. )
Folks, this isn't a guy from Europe going back home. Nor is it about a washed up veteran going overseas to play a few more years. This is about money, pride and opportunities. Josh Childress is a blue-blooded American, and apparently unhappy with the Atlanta Hawks' unwillingness to neither pay nor trade him. Childress was the No. 6 pick in the 2004 draft, and is a career averages of 11.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1 steal, so he's a player. He also has a real chance at packing up and jetting to Greece.
Last month, I wrote a piece on the four types of NBA-caliber players who could be packing to leave in the future. They were :
1. The local or national hero (in Europe)
2. The young Latin American player
3. The late-blooming American
4. The American high school prodigy
Even if Childress were not to go, examples of all four cases have already happened. However, if you were to tell me a month ago that a young American NBA player with a bright future would pack his bags for Europe the next month, I would've looked at you as if you were crazy. Thus, there was no No. 5 : The disgruntled young American NBA player.
However, as the Josh Childress situation indicates, even if Childress were not to go, it's a matter of time before a young NBA vet leaves for Europe.
So if you're an NBA team, and are serious about your young player, treat him and pay him fair. If not, even with the affordable buyout clauses, with the nice exchange rate, taxes-paid services by the clubs and the nice basketball and lifestyle, there is no guarantee that your boy will be coming back!
P.S. On a related note, forward Bostjan Nachbar, formerly of the Nets, has signed with Dynamo Moscow.
But when a young, contributing rotation player born and bred in the United States with every logical interest to stay in America decides to go to Europe, that leaves teams scrambling to replace him. If it becomes a regular occurrence, then it makes the already cutthroat business of international basketball even more cutthroat. Even the almighty NBA clubs won't be safe!
If you haven't heard already, then let me update you : Josh Childress is seriously considering moving to Greek basketball powerhouse Olympiakos, serious enough to fly to Greece to meet with club officials :
( 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. )
Folks, this isn't a guy from Europe going back home. Nor is it about a washed up veteran going overseas to play a few more years. This is about money, pride and opportunities. Josh Childress is a blue-blooded American, and apparently unhappy with the Atlanta Hawks' unwillingness to neither pay nor trade him. Childress was the No. 6 pick in the 2004 draft, and is a career averages of 11.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1 steal, so he's a player. He also has a real chance at packing up and jetting to Greece.
Last month, I wrote a piece on the four types of NBA-caliber players who could be packing to leave in the future. They were :
1. The local or national hero (in Europe)
2. The young Latin American player
3. The late-blooming American
4. The American high school prodigy
Even if Childress were not to go, examples of all four cases have already happened. However, if you were to tell me a month ago that a young American NBA player with a bright future would pack his bags for Europe the next month, I would've looked at you as if you were crazy. Thus, there was no No. 5 : The disgruntled young American NBA player.
However, as the Josh Childress situation indicates, even if Childress were not to go, it's a matter of time before a young NBA vet leaves for Europe.
So if you're an NBA team, and are serious about your young player, treat him and pay him fair. If not, even with the affordable buyout clauses, with the nice exchange rate, taxes-paid services by the clubs and the nice basketball and lifestyle, there is no guarantee that your boy will be coming back!
P.S. On a related note, forward Bostjan Nachbar, formerly of the Nets, has signed with Dynamo Moscow.
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