Greek team may make run at Lebron

[phinpunk14]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/ian_thomsen/08/01/lebron.greece/index.html

You'll never guess which NBA star the Greek team Olympiakos of Athens may be targeting next.

Here's the buzz I heard Friday: Olympiakos is considering a run at LeBron James when he becomes a free agent in 2010.

As a free agent in 2010, his new contract in the NBA would start at less than $20 million annually.

What if Olympiakos were to offer him $40 million per year? Or $50 million? Who knows how much the Greeks would be willing to pay? The point is that the limitation on his salary is entirely up to them.

Although I highly doubt that Lebron would ever leave the nba, brandon jennings and josh childress may have really started a trend by opting to go to Europe instead of college and the nba. David Stern is going to have to keep a close eye on this if he wants to keep his league from falling even more in the eyes of the public.

Personally, I don't see how this could last for long. The article even states that the team does not expect to make enough money to cover Childress' contract. Eventually they will have to cut back on the size of these contracts.

 

[Ferretsquig]

Lebron is a pipe dream. He makes more in sponsorship deals than he does playing ball and that money isn't going to be made in Greece. But its only a matter of time before a second tier star goes overseas. Now its just the role players lured by the euros, but only a couple years ago anyone offered a deal in the NBA took it without thinking.

Now we have Kristic, Delfino, Garbojosa, Navarro....all guys that were offered deals and spurned them to go play in Europe. And $40-50 mil isn't out of the question. A team like Olympiakos operates on a budget around 35 mil euros......and they cover taxes, doubling the income again. Would Nowitzki turn down a 15 mil euro/$45 mil a yr contract?

 

[djfresh47]

I don't think many American born players will go to Europe. Though I think European players may not come over if they're drafted by the NBA. Some stay anyways or have absurd buyouts. Though if guys can stay where they're comfortable make more money why would they come to the NBA?

 

[Vertical Limit]

They would have to offer ridiculous money. David Beckham type of money, or more.

 

[Amars]

the weaker the dollars the easier for European teams to top salary.

 

[ChambersWI]

I don't think many American born players will go to Europe. Though I think European players may not come over if they're drafted by the NBA. Some stay anyways or have absurd buyouts. Though if guys can stay where they're comfortable make more money why would they come to the NBA?

Josh Childress?

The best young Foreign borns will all want to come here, but if they don't do how they'd hope, they'll go back overseas.

JC Navarro only came over because he thought he'd be playig with Pau, one of his best friends.

A lot of the guys that left to go back just weren't as good as they thought they'd be. However, guys like Calderon,Pachulia, Biedris, and Vuajic all stayed (although the last 2 said if they weren not given long term deals they would've taken the money in Europe)