Now I admit I was a skeptic on the whole Brandon Jennings going to Italy scenario. But now, with Josh Childress pondering a move to Greece, even I have to admit that we may be on the verge of a major shift in the basketball universe. Childress is reportedly mulling a 3 year, $20 million deal that will allow him to return to the states in the offseason should he choose.
Let me be blunt in saying that there is no way Childress gets almost $7 million per season to play in the NBA right now. He's a sixth man and a good, but not great player, whose production pretty much cratered during the playoffs. If he played on any playoff team other than eight seed Atlanta, he'd be further down the depth chart. He's no bum, but you can find Josh Childresses on every team in the league. And with all but a few teams pretty much capped out, the best he can hope for is a midlevel exception. Now about five years ago, somebody would have given him 6 years and $50 million, but that's not today's NBA.
Whether it's because they overextended themselves or just got wiser, NBA GMs are less likely to give out big contracts to rotation guys like Childress than they used to be. James Posey was the big prize as far as free agent rotation guys and he only got 4 years and $25 million. Childress has nowhere the track record of Posey, so there's no way he could honestly expect to top that with so many teams over the cap and up against the luxury tax. Seriously, who would go over the luxury tax for Josh Childress? But all that being said, it looks like he could on the verge of blazing a new trail. It's one thing for Jennings to go to Italy having never played a game in the league, but it's a whole other thing for a guy who's been in the league and is not a fringe guy at all to just up and bounce like this. With the money for guys like him drying up and offers from abroad, the very landscape of the league could be shifting.
There's no telling how this could end up. If more middle of the pack guys like Childress take the overseas money and run, it could hollow out the midsection of a lot of teams, leaving the NBA with top tier All-Stars and glorified D-leaugers. Now I doubt that things will go that far, but if Childress goes don't be surprised to see others do the same. After all, more money is money, whether it's in te U.S. or in Greece.
It's amazing that it takes Streetball.com and BlackSportsOnline.com to state the obvious, There is mad loot in the game of basketball. Add Hip-Hop to the mix and you got every 12 to 24 year old around the world with disposable income, not to mention advertisers by the pound.
JChill is on top of his game and European Leagues can pay that loot. Now just imagine if the U.S. ballers that choose to play overseas can stay in the blogosphere my brother. That's us too.
Great lookin out and great article on Josh Childress
Cash rules
I agree with Bonnete. He isnt that great of a player, but he is a good business man. These agents are going to start forcing these leagues to make some tough choices.
Josh is a quality guy in the league he can play the game and get on teams in the league but who wants to ride the bech and not get paid "NO ONE" the nba is the best league but dont offer the best money at all times. europe league have to sell tickets and make money too if josh goes over sees there will be other that follow. Money is allways gonna talk no matter what i would do the same thing.. www.allprofitorganization.com