Josh Childress Headed to Europe?
Josh ChildressIt made sense when J.C. Navarro and Jorge Garbajosa opted to return to Europe after spending a serious portion of their ‘07-08 seasons riding the pine in North America. But it would be an unprecedented move if Josh Childress, an American born and raised California kid, spurns the Hawks in favor of a three-year $20 million deal with the Greek club Olympiakos.
As of right now, the only squad with more than mid-level exception money ($5.6 million) available for Childress is Memphis, and they’ve basically closed their checkbook for the summer. Thus, one league source told Yahoo! Sports that there’s “better than a 50-50 chance” that he’s headed to Greece.
“Unless he just gets there and doesn’t like it at all, I think he’s going to go,” one league source said.
Childress is a restricted free agent, but the Hawks would have no matching rights with a FIBA contract. Olympiakos’ offer also would allow Childress the opportunity to return to the NBA over the next two summers. The Hawks would maintain his restricted free-agent rights provided they make him a qualifying offer.
If Childress defects, then what will happen in Atlanta? Rumors are that they’ll go after Nets free agent Bostjan Nachbar to replace him.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
July 21st, 2008 at 8:44 am
josh says:
what the…………..man the hawks are clueless.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:49 am
Dagomar says:
Three years, and twenty million Euros? Tax free?
If so, that boils down to a lot more money than American teams can actually afford for a talent like this. I think you’re going to see more low and mid-level players heading to Europe as the market there expands and the economy keeps booming.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:56 am
Muwu says:
I don’t think its 20 mil euros. Dollars make more sense. But that’s still more money than he’s gonna be making here so seems logical
July 21st, 2008 at 8:58 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Thats equal to $31.6 million u.s. Damn the slumping u.s. economy and its weak ass dollar. Take it Josh.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:58 am
Truth says:
I think this is actually good for the game. With all the contract issues that the league has, this is a goood avenue for players. I think the NBA would be a lot more competetive if they would switch the rules to match the NFL’s when it comes to contracts. Garaunteed money, then after that if you don’t perform, hit the road. The Blazers having to keep Darius Miles contract even after he’s considered medically discharged is insane. Go get your money childress!!
July 21st, 2008 at 9:08 am
Kobeef says:
If this keeps up the NBA will be going global sooner rather than later.
Or at least NBA players will go global!
-A
July 21st, 2008 at 9:17 am
shake&bake says:
Damn, who would have ever thought that the NBA would have to compete with the Euro leagues for American talent?
July 21st, 2008 at 9:19 am
ticktock6 says:
Too bad Nachbar is also signing with a team in Europe. I read this morning he’s going to Russia.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:22 am
The Jed says:
Come on. Someone has the mid-level that they’d give Childress forcing the Hawks hand. This is an empty threat.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:26 am
gary says:
z-bo and steph for the joshes…id love it..it’ll never happen , but i love it.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:33 am
Spliff 2 My Lou says:
Muwu is right. Its not 20 million euros its 20 million dollars, I just checked. Tax free. Chance at being a team star. Mediterranean beaches. New (at least to him) pussy. I’d take it.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:50 am
Rasheed says:
Mediterranean b*tches as well.
July 21st, 2008 at 9:52 am
EvanD10 says:
nachbar is gone to russia…
July 21st, 2008 at 10:18 am
Stiletto says:
euroland rules the Dollar this days if the dolar gets any weaker this could be the future we are seeing with spain italy and greece spending serious money to get some prime bball talent as are the russians u only have to take a look at the nhl they have major problems to get the best talent availible
July 21st, 2008 at 10:27 am
James says:
This is ridiculous man- stay in the U.S.A man- I can’t believe he would leave.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:59 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Read Agent zero’s blog about his trip over seas….then you will understand why an NBA player would want to leave the US- to sum it up, they will treat him like a Greek God.
I would do it in a heartbeat. Especially if he has the option to come back after a year or two
July 21st, 2008 at 11:22 am
bballinca says:
Good for him! Why not see a little bit of the world on someone else’s dime. He’ll be playign agaisnt some pretty good comp in the euroleague as well as the Greek league. I hope more players start opting to play in the top divisions over there. I wonder if Childress and Jennings play against each other in the Euroleague?
July 21st, 2008 at 11:28 am
Borgs says:
Basketball is slowly but surely joining (proper) football as a global king. It makes sense that Europe will eventually be in the market for the best Americans, just as in the other game. A comparatively weak US economy is only going to expedite the process.
July 21st, 2008 at 12:13 pm
daQUeSt?oN says:
i would go to greece, Olympiakos is a great team that has alot of money, childress has already been in the nba, go to greece, get paid more money, be a super star over there and if u get tired, come back.
July 21st, 2008 at 1:33 pm
weezy f says:
nachbar is signing with dynamo moscow
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3497994
July 21st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
GarethChantler says:
take the money
July 21st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
Diego says:
This is a real possibility, and I could see Chill taking it. He is a bright, cool, Stanford-educated cat, who seems to dance to his own beat a bit. I loved his happy, easy-going (but take care of business) attitude last year.
With more $ than the Hawks are willing to pay and a chance for a young, single guy to have some fun in Europe for a couple of years, if the offer is out there, watch him take it. Damn!
July 21st, 2008 at 4:45 pm
doc says:
He should go take the bread.He can be the man and get more dough,what more do you need.He aint never gonna be more than a role player in the states anyway.
July 21st, 2008 at 10:57 pm
zmafuel says:
Hate to break it to you kids, but after the first 80K each year, all of that 20m mill is just as taxable as if he made in the states.
Still, ballin’ in Greece for that kind of bank would be pretty sweet.