LeBron in Europe??? Are you serious???
Lebron James is actually thinking about playing in Europe, sources close to James said that he would consider playing in Europe, for $50 million a year. Will they pay him that? I don’t think so. I know Europe has some deep pockets, but I don’t think their pockets are that deep. I thought every kids dream was to play in the NBA and win the championship, seems like things are changing now. The NBA teams are drafting guys from Europe to play in the NBA and the American players are going to Europe to play. Why is that?
Between 2000-2005 there have been 58 European players drafted and only two all-stars came from those drafts and that’s Tony Parker and Mehmet Okur. In those same drafts the American players produced 16 all-stars including six in the 2003 draft alone. Why is the NBA drafting these guys? Do they think they are going to get the next Dirk Nowitski? They aren’t becoming all-stars. WHY? WHY? WHY?
My opinion: Draft Americans not Europeans. I believe that in sports today, its all about money first and foremost, secondly its winning. Owners, the people want to see their own from the American colleges not from Yugoslavia or Turkey. This theory would bring more fans to the game, the more fans you get the more MONEY you make. It also seems like the more Americans you bring in, the more wins they bring in, which also leads to more money. Its a win win situation.
Lebron is money that serious to you? Are you giving up on the Cavaliers? Are you giving up on the NBA? Like I always say, whatever floats your boat!!!
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6 COMMENTS
Forget 50 million. If Kobe, Lebron, or Wade is even offered 30 or 40 million they are gone. Consider that 50 million figure that Lebron threw out there as the first step in negotiations. The pockets over there are plenty deep. With a team payroll of 50 million; would you rather have one 40 million per year player Lebron with 11 euro teamates to eat up the remaining 10 mil or would you rather have 12 “Sarunas Jasikevicius’s” making a combined 50 million. A team would easily recoup the money invested in Lebron. Fans would flock from all over Asia and Europe just to be a part of that historic event(s).
When Lebron becomes a free agent in 2010 the most he could get from the Cavs or any other NBA team is 20 mil at the max. Which only comes out to be about 12 million US dollars after taxes and agent fees. Compare that U.S. dollar to the EURO, and you begin to see why people are taking this so serious. European clubs offer tax free money and cover agent fees. Not to mention that it only takes 32 million euros to equal 50 million U.S. dollars and only 25mil euros for 40mil U.S. dollars. Players like Kobe, Wade, and Lebron would have to play 4 years in the NBA to earn what they could make over there in one season! The one season european rentals is a comin. World history will be made in 2010. And U.S. history will be made in 2011 when the NBA rids itself of the salary cap in a “knee jerk” reaction to the all european signings.
I do see your point, but what happened to the American dream? winning the NBA Championship and going to the Hall of Fame, I guess it doesn’t matter, it’s all centered around MONEY.
I don’t believe that the “dream” would be tossed aside, it will just be put on lay-a-way for a season or two. 50 million per year non taxed, man that’s the equivilant to an nba team giving you a 2year $155 million dollar contract.
MONEY!!! MONEY!!! MONEY!!! TAX FREE!!! WOW!!!
I’m all for LeBron leaving for a coupla seasons… Just to show the NBA that they dont have a monopoly on young black males.
I absolutely detest David Stern, and I think it will keep the NBA “honest” if a few of their stars leave for a year or two. It’s been like three years and Im STILL mad over the dress code rule they implemented.
Great point Chuck!!! It will really keep the NBA honest. Josh Childress is going to take advantage of it, why shouldn’t everyone else? If this Europe thing flies, we may see more players going to Europe and the NBA won’t have the best players anymore, Europe will.