Olympiacos to poach more NBA players?

[Andrew]

Greek Club Will Continue To Covet NBA Stars

The owners of Olympiacos, the Greek club that signed Josh Childress over the summer, say they have only just begun poaching players from the NBA.

Panayiotis and George Angelopoulos are billionaires with the goal of making Olympiacos the best team in the world outside the NBA.

"Next season I will open up a small office for free agents in New York, and I will take petitions," said Panayiotis Angelopoulos.

Does anyone think this is at all a concern for the NBA? At this point, I'd be surprised if too many top names could be poached, but I could see average to good players in a similar position to Josh Childress - disgruntled with their teams and unhappy with their options in the NBA - jumping at the opportunity, if only to put the pressure on NBA clubs.

[benji]

There wasn't as much money to be had outside the NBA before. Now, thanks to the wonders of markets, there is.

It'll most likely lead to major CBA changes, more than we'll see Kobe, LeBron, etc. fleeing for Europe.

[Mikki]

I guess CBA changes aswell. Prolly they would extend the restrictions (in restricted free agency) up to other (foreign or not) leagues and put the bar a notch for the Cap space.

[Andrew]

I guess CBA changes aswell. Prolly they would extend the restrictions (in restricted free agency) up to other (foreign or not) leagues and put the bar a notch for the Cap space.

You mean specify that restricted free agents can't sign with teams in other leagues, foreign or domestic? Somehow I don't think they have the legal grounds to do such a thing and even if it was somehow feasible, I highly doubt the Players Union would agree to it. They could certainly makes changes that would give players more incentive to remain in the NBA.

[Fresh8]

There's so many players in the World that those who will probably go overseas (I'm anticipating in-between players like Childress) are easily replacable... I think it is a matter of time before players head overseas because clubs can afford it. My view is that it's good for the globalisation of the game. Good for the NBA? Depending on the caliber of players being 'poached', maybe not. For the game to grow into an international one, I think that it's good.

However, there will be many who think that keeping the NBA as 'the elite league' is the best for the game.

[shadowgrin]

Asked how much he would pay a free agent, Angelopoulos said, "I will not tell you. I have already made my investigation into the free-agent market for next year. Even if Josh decides to go back, we’ll be ready."

Smart man, unless he poaches Ben Gordon, ugh.

[frenchy]

Now Olympiacos wants Kobe !!!

"According to the Italian site basketcentral.it, an inner source from Olympiacos has revealed that the Reds are working on an extraordinary project: a super offer to propose to Kobe Bryant (198-G-78) for the next summer. Aggelopoulos' Bros would offer to the Lakers super star a contract of three years for 60 million dollars in total, with the option in the favour of the player to the term of every season.
Incredible, furthermore, seem the long series of benefits that would be included in the contract: from the villa on the Mediterranean, to the payment of the taxes all to expenses of the club, to the payment of the parcel of the agent in order to arrive to one boat with a lot of crew already specified. The final project of the owners of Olympiacos is to make a new arena (with a capacity of 15-20 thousand people), like the ones of the clubs of NBA, which when becoming true will be combined with the purchase of a private jet for the needs of the team."

[Kenny]

Now Olympiacos wants Kobe !!!

Just when Josh Childress thought he could be a starter...

[BIG GREEN]

I'd do it if i were kobe...he really has nothing more to prove other than perhaps winning a ring without shaq for bragging rights. However...his NBA legacy is already cemented. I heard him say before he'd retire in his early 30's...so why not finish up living like he's in the closest thing we'll see to heaven and live to talk about it?

http://www.faniq.com/blog/Kobe-Bryant-T ... Blog-12724

[Maaarf]

Won't happen

[Matthew]

I'd do it if i were kobe...he really has nothing more to prove other than perhaps winning a ring without shaq for bragging rights. However...his NBA legacy is already cemented. I heard him say before he'd retire in his early 30's...so why not finish up living like he's in the closest thing we'll see to heaven and live to talk about it?

http://www.faniq.com/blog/Kobe-Bryant-T ... Blog-12724

Are you kidding? Kobe has the opportunity to be a top 10, or even a top 5, all time player if he gets two more mvps and two more championships.

I think you just want Kobe out of the NBA so everyone will think Lebron is best. Either that or you just hate Bryant.

[Andrew]

That offer would be difficult to refuse, if Kobe does have genuine interest in playing in Europe. The Lakers could offer him a similar deal in terms of annual salary but those additional benefits go above and beyond what the Lakers or any NBA club would provide. Mind you, you'd hope that he'd seal the deal on a string of championships for that kind of investment.

[BIG GREEN]

I'd do it if i were kobe...he really has nothing more to prove other than perhaps winning a ring without shaq for bragging rights. However...his NBA legacy is already cemented. I heard him say before he'd retire in his early 30's...so why not finish up living like he's in the closest thing we'll see to heaven and live to talk about it?

http://www.faniq.com/blog/Kobe-Bryant-T ... Blog-12724

Are you kidding? Kobe has the opportunity to be a top 10, or even a top 5, all time player if he gets two more mvps and two more championships.

I think you just want Kobe out of the NBA so everyone will think Lebron is best. Either that or you just hate Bryant.

ok? Yea...I sit around pining over my "hate" for kobe bryant and about whether or not everyone "thinks" lebron is the best...cause that has everything to do with this conversation and what I talked about. You discovered me.

[Matthew]

Well explain why you think he should go then.

[benji]

I figure at the right amount he'd go, except for Kobe being the kind of guy who wants to prove himself in the NBA relative to Jordan. But for someone who doesn't realize $20 million (without the NBA legacy) won't change much compared to $80 million I could see them going.

Kobe wanted rid of Shaq for his NBA legacy, which is the major reason I wouldn't think he takes the offer. Another player of the same level might not be so concerned with their legacy and take the offer.

[BIG GREEN]

Well explain why you think he should go then.

he really has nothing more to prove other than perhaps winning a ring without shaq for bragging rights. However...his NBA legacy is already cemented. I heard him say before he'd retire in his early 30's...so why not finish up living like he's in the closest thing we'll see to heaven and live to talk about it?

-deja vu

[Matthew]

Ok since we want to play dumb...

he really has nothing more to prove other than perhaps winning a ring without shaq for bragging rights.

According to you he has. Maybe players should take that into account, if they have nothing else to prove to you before they decide to leave for Europe.

However...his NBA legacy is already cemented.

No it's not. Are you saying if he wins 2 more rings he won't be viewed any higher all time then he currently is now?

. I heard him say before he'd retire in his early 30's

Quote please.

so why not finish up living like he's in the closest thing we'll see to heaven and live to talk about it?

You've been to Greece?

[BIG GREEN]

Oh..I get it now..I see where you're heading with your disagreement.

Well gee matthew..it's obvious that my opinion on the matter seems to bother you...and I assure you that I will really lose sleep over it. However, as much as I would really like to explain my opinions to you in a bordorline flame war that i'm sure would end ammicably...i'm going to have to try really really hard to ignore you now. I'm sure I saw benji somewhere around here posting...you can quote argue with him all you like. This is the last post i'm making towards you in this particular thread Adios.

[Matthew]

In other words, you have nothing. Go back to jacking off over Lebron's jersey.

[MarVell]

Greek Club Will Continue To Covet NBA Stars

Does anyone think this is at all a concern for the NBA? At this point, I'd be surprised if too many top names could be poached, but I could see average to good players in a similar position to Josh Childress - disgruntled with their teams and unhappy with their options in the NBA - jumping at the opportunity, if only to put the pressure on NBA clubs.

Childress' move to Europe has been blown out of all proportions over the last few months. Yes, he's a decent player and he's still young but come on, a guy that could only manage to be a sixth man in a mediocre Atlanta team goes to Olympiacos and all of a sudden people start speculating that some of the best players in the NBA will follow next summer

Also, let's not forget that quite a few top American players (much better than Childress) came to Europe in the past for one reason or another, this is nothing new. Dominique Wilkins, Byron Scott and Roy Tarpley spring to mind and they all had very good seasons playing for European clubs and leading them to success, they didn't just go to Europe for tourism.

[shadowgrin]

a mediocre Atlanta team

An eight seed in the weak Eastern Conference that pushed the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics to a do-or-die game 7? Mediocre indeed.

Dominique Wilkins, Byron Scott and Roy Tarpley spring to mind and they all had very good seasons playing for European clubs and leading them to success, they didn't just go to Europe for tourism.

But those players you mentioned were already past their prime when they played in Europe. Josh is still in his prime or about to reach his prime.

[Lamrock]

a mediocre Atlanta team

An eight seed in the weak Eastern Conference that pushed the eventual NBA champion Boston Celtics to a do-or-die game 7? Mediocre indeed.

They were a 37 win team in the worst conference ever played their best two games against a road-weary Celtics team and should have been out in Game 6 if not for a questionable call. Not to mention despite it being a 7-game series they had one of the worst point differentials out of all the series thanks to being murdered whenever the series shifted to Boston.

In Childress' defense, he should have started.

[Andrew]

Childress' move to Europe has been blown out of all proportions over the last few months. Yes, he's a decent player and he's still young but come on, a guy that could only manage to be a sixth man in a mediocre Atlanta team goes to Olympiacos and all of a sudden people start speculating that some of the best players in the NBA will follow next summer

Indeed, as I said I'd be surprised if too many (if any) top players had a lot of interest in leaving the NBA for Europe at this time and I certainly don't anticipate a mass exodus of top level NBA talent. I could however see players in similar situations and of a similar level of talent to Josh Childress doing that or at least using the possibility as leverage with their NBA teams.

Also, let's not forget that quite a few top American players (much better than Childress) came to Europe in the past for one reason or another, this is nothing new. Dominique Wilkins, Byron Scott and Roy Tarpley spring to mind and they all had very good seasons playing for European clubs and leading them to success, they didn't just go to Europe for tourism.

True but the circumstances were a little different. It's certainly nothing new for aging players whose stock in the NBA has fallen to play abroad when the opportunity to still be a star has presented itself and Tarpley is a different case altogether with his ban from the NBA. With the money that's being thrown around there's a possibility that playing in Europe will be a more attractive option for players who still have plenty of opportunities remaining in the NBA, players who traditionally might not consider playing in Europe until later in their careers.

But again, I certainly agree that the speculation has overblown the situation somewhat.