Source: LeBron Might Go To Europe For $50M Per Year
A European Vacation? Several NBA players have left for Europe and more lucractive contracts, but no big stars……yet. It is a possiblity ESPN reports.
A person close to James said Tuesday that the Cavaliers’ superstar would strongly consider playing overseas if he was offered a salary of “around $50 million a year.”
James’ current contract expires after the 2010-2011 season, but he can opt out after the 2009-2010 season, and while several NBA teams are working to create salary cap space for his impending free agency, none could offer a contract beginning at even $20 million a year. The Russian team CSKA Moscow and the Greek team Olympiacos, which recently gave Josh Childress a contract approaching $30 million over three years, have already contacted James, according to the person close to him. The person added, however, that no monetary or contractual discussions have taken place.
While $50 million a year seems outlandish, it is within the realm of possibility, considering the reported $250 million contract David Beckham received two years ago to join Major League Soccer, the $33 million Michael Jordanwas paid by the Chicago Bullsfor the 1997-98 season, the strength of the euro in comparison to the dollar, and the fact that European clubs are not bound by a salary cap. While several NBA players have left the league this summer for more lucrative contracts in Europe, no stars have done so or even considered it. But losing a player of James’ magnitude would be nothing short of a nightmare for the NBA. The source close to James said LeBron would play in Europe only for a year or two before returning to the NBA. He said James would view it as an opportunity to popularize the game and himself overseas. He added that James would not consider himself to be playing in the “minor leagues.”
The entire scenario falls in line with James’ stated goals of becoming a billionaire and “global icon.” But the representative from the players’ association will have to see James in a European uniform before he believes it.
“First of all, we don’t know that there’s going to be a $50 million offer,” the official said. “And secondly, he wouldn’t be able to accomplish over there the things that he wants to do over here, which are to win NBA championships, MVP awards, etc.”
This could be a major concern with the NBA having to compete with the European leagues for players. Although the Knicks might be able to compete with the rest of the league.
List of players that have already signed with overseas teams:
- Atlanta Hawks’ Josh Childress set things off by taking a $20 million, three-year deal offered by Euroleague basketball team Olympiacos.
- Boykins Signs $3.5 Million Deal In Europe
- Carlos Arroyo has reportedly signed a three-year deal worth $7.5 million with Maccabi Tel Aviv.
- Kobe has said he would play in Europe for 40 mil a year.
- Juan Carlos Navarro rejoined FC Barcelona after a one-season stint with the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Nenad Krstic left the Nets to sign with a Russian team.
- Carlos Delfino and Jorge Garbajosa left the Toronto Raptors to sign with a Russian team as well.
This entry was posted on 6. August 2008 at 20:00 and is filed under Misc NBA, NBA. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response or trackback from your own site.
