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Doktor Lucsok #8541 Will Heat lose D-Wade to Greece?
Posted: Saturday August 09, 2008 10:31AM ET
First, Heat fans have had to wonder about Dwyane Wade's hometown Chicago Bulls luring him away in two years when his contract expires. Now, Greece? Here was the question that came from a Greek reporter: Would Wade think of playing in Greece if he received a deal like the rumored one revolving LeBron James for $50 million a year? "Oh, yeah," he says. Has anyone contacted him? "No, no, no," he says. "I'm happy with the Heat. But we've been joking with LeBron about that. The numbers talk, no question about it." It was eye-opening for Wade to see Atlanta Hawk Josh Childress sign recently with a Greek team for three years and $32.5 million. That suggested something in the game is tilting, some residue from the past couple of decades of building up the international game. "Look, a lot of guys like me got the [maximum contracts]," Wade said. "But the way his deal is structured Josh is making just about the same as I am after taxes. If LeBron can make what's being thrown around, that's crazy. "We never thought we'd be in a position like this, but we'll see what's going to happen in the next several years."
Kobe: I could play in Italy
Posted: Friday August 08, 2008 06:54AM ET
If Italy comes knocking with big money next summer, the NBA could lose its biggest star in Kobe Bryant. In lieu of a report that Cleveland star LeBron James would strongly consider playing in Europe for $50 million for one season when he becomes a free agent in two years, when asked by The Boston Globe about the report Bryant said he would take a similar deal by a pro team in Italy if offered when he becomes a free agent next summer. The Associated Press originally reported that Bryant could have interest in playing professionally in Europe. "I'd go. I'd probably go," said Bryant, during a USA Basketball press conference on Friday morning. "Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up or something like that? Peace out." Bryant continued: "Do you know any reasonable person that would turn down 50 (million dollars)?"
Why LeBron may play in Europe
Posted: Friday August 08, 2008 07:09AM ET
Not surprisingly, LeBron James was happy to fan rumors that he would be open to fielding offers from European teams when his contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers expires in 2010. For the N.B.A. megastar, what better place is there to attract foreign investors into the eventual bidding war than the Summer Olympic Games? "Growing up, you never think about any other league besides the N.B.A.," James said at the United States men's basketball team news conference Friday morning. "But things are changing really fast and you never know. I can't throw all my eggs in one basket. There are going to be a lot of opportunities for me in 2010 to decide if I want to stay with Cleveland or if I want to go elsewhere." Asked if he ever imagined the possibility of playing abroad, he added: "Did I ever imagine it? No. Is it a possibility? Yes." With N.B.A. teams still bound by a salary cap, with the U.S. economy in a downturn and the dollar sliding against the Euro, it is always possible that in two years LeBron Inc. would take a hard look at a tax-free megadeal to become the American David Beckham. Of course, Nike, his corporate underwriter, would have to give such a relocation its blessing. A salary of $50 million has been floated, which may sound ridiculous, except for the fact that Michael Jordan earned over $30 million at the end of his run with the Bulls -- and that was 10 years ago. Is such an offer from an owner in Europe -- let's hypothesize from a Russian with oil money to burn and the audacity and ego to reel in an American celebrity -- so far-fetched?
stb.