A power realignment in world basketball?

[Dal-Las Mav'a Riq]

It's kinda buried amongst all the other free agent talk.

Now Pargo is not a star. I doubt he has ever averaged more than 10ppg in a season. But he did average 9 this year with NOH and has been courted by some teams. He is an NBA player and is an adequate back-up PG for average teams and an able 3rd PG for better teams.

But apparently Jannero Pargo will sign a contract in Greece. He will probably spurn contract offers to sign in Europe.

I can't think of another player doing this previously. Danny Ferry did but that was a contract holdout- it was an exceptional case. But I think this could be the first case of a NBA caliber player electing to sign in Europe rather than in the US.

This could have ramifications. Obviously Kobe or LeBron are no risk of doing so. But what if a slew of mid-range and lower mid-range players can get at least the same money in Europe and the guarantee of a more significant role.

We are already seeing some quality players struggling to get mid-range contracts signed while the Rashad Lewis' get 115 mill. Matt Barnes is a good shooter and defender but hasnt gotten the MLE that he expected. Pietrus is the same.

I think the league will clearly have to institute new salary cap rules designed to keep these mid/lower-mid level players in the league.

I'd suggest letting teams have 2 X MLE exceptions per year to attract these players or probably even better, excluding the MLEs from luxury tax formulations

 

[mdc]

I think you're reading too much into this. Pargo is a streak shooter that can catch fire but does NOTHING else (used to see him a lot when he was on the bulls). No-one was ever going to give him the mid-range or anywhere near that. In Greece he might get 1 mil tax free with free accommodation, car, plus the chance to be a star. In the US, the most he's getting is about 2 mil pre-tax, and he gets to sit on the bench most of the time.

There's certainly been other players who have chosen Europe over a minimum (or near minimum) NBA contract, and for good reason.

 

[Stiffy_18]

For a Dallas fan I am somewhat surprised that you have forgotten about Predrag Danilovic. He was a starting SG for the Heat a few years ago and was traded to Dallas as part of the package for Jamal Mashburn. Dallas wanted to re-sign him and offered him a pretty lucurative 3-4 year deal at the time but he opted to return back to europe for the same figure but that was after tax where as the NBA salary is pre-tax.

He was the best player in europe before crossing over to the NBA and could shoot with the best of them. He impressed Pat Riley enough that he gave him a strating SG job over a few other, more recognisable names.

 

[Dal-Las Mav'a Riq]

For a Dallas fan I am somewhat surprised that you have forgotten about Predrag Danilovic. He was a starting SG for the Heat a few years ago and was traded to Dallas as part of the package for Jamal Mashburn. Dallas wanted to re-sign him and offered him a pretty lucurative 3-4 year deal at the time but he opted to return back to europe for the same figure but that was after tax where as the NBA salary is pre-tax.

He was the best player in europe before crossing over to the NBA and could shoot with the best of them. He impressed Pat Riley enough that he gave him a strating SG job over a few other, more recognisable names.

We had a similar situation with Antoine Rigadeau.

The difference is they were Euro's, Pargo is an American going to Europe

 

[peternorth]

a lot of nbl players go to europe if that helps ........

also anthony parker went over there. a handy player early on in his career but was forever being moved.

 

[Alex99]

For a Dallas fan I am somewhat surprised that you have forgotten about Predrag Danilovic. He was a starting SG for the Heat a few years ago and was traded to Dallas as part of the package for Jamal Mashburn. Dallas wanted to re-sign him and offered him a pretty lucurative 3-4 year deal at the time but he opted to return back to europe for the same figure but that was after tax where as the NBA salary is pre-tax.

He was the best player in europe before crossing over to the NBA and could shoot with the best of them. He impressed Pat Riley enough that he gave him a strating SG job over a few other, more recognisable names.

Didn’t Dino Radja do the same thing in the mid 1990’s? IIRC he was given a contract extension from the Celtics but decided to return to Europe.

 

[Dal-Las Mav'a Riq]

Sorry n00bs, these are all native Euro's returning.

Find me an American who has spurned a US career for Europe

 

[Stiffy_18]

Sorry n00bs, these are all native Euro's returning.

Find me an American who has spurned a US career for Europe

peternorth just mentioned Anthony Parker.

Come to think of it, Maurice Evans did the same thing before returning to the NBA with the Kings and the moving on to Detroit and Lakers. Granted, he wasn't exactly more than just a bench warmer in his first NBA stint.

 

[Dal-Las Mav'a Riq]

peternorth just mentioned Anthony Parker.

He was waived and bounded around. I'm pretty sure he ended up in the CBA before heading to the occupied territories.

 

[haterade]

Don't for get Stephen Jackson spurrned the NBA for the riches of the NBL.

 

[Portmanteau]

Well, the aren't the absolute top line European players raking in 3-4 million dollars? There are various reasons why they would choose to stick around, or return, such as guaranteed playing time, buyouts cutting into their NBA salaries, NBA franchises not willing to spending on unknowns.

I don't mind it at all, indeed, I hope Starbs makes his way over to Italy in a couple of yurrs.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

Well if you get 3 mill in Europe and 3 Mill in the USA i'm not surprised more than a few players resist the lure of comming to the NBA.

They'll see far more court time in Europe and their 3 million will go further and lead to a better lifestyle for them as well.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Well if you get 3 mill in Europe and 3 Mill in the USA i'm not surprised more than a few players resist the lure of comming to the NBA.

They'll see far more court time in Europe and their 3 million will go further and lead to a better lifestyle for them as well.

The thing is that players salaries in europe are after tax where the salaries in the NBA are pre-tax.

Taking that into account, if someone offers $3 million in europe and $3 million in NBA, the money offered in europe is double that offered in the NBA after you take away all the taxes.

 

[peternorth]

aside from the tax breaks, living in europe would help open the players eyes to countries other than america.

 

[Altum Volantes]

Dominique Wilkins did it in the mid 90s, Greece if I remember right, only to return to the NBA later on. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a matter of Nique not being able to land an NBA contract.

I know he was born in France but surely he'd be American enough to count?

 

[Stiffy_18]

Dominique Wilkins did it in the mid 90s, Greece if I remember right, only to return to the NBA later on. I'm pretty sure it wasn't a matter of Nique not being able to land an NBA contract.

I know he was born in France but surely he'd be American enough to count?

Great get

I forgot about Wilkins. He went to Greece to play with Olympiakos I think.

Far bigger name than Pargo!

 

[Portmanteau]

Yeah, he was American for international basketball purposes (played Dream Team 2 IIRC), but his birthplace probably enabled him to fast track a Euro passport. Darryl Dawkins went over there with something left in the tank also, I believe.

Shammond Williams probably could always land himself a 13th-15th man spot in the NBA, but spent a few years over there presumably for more $ and PT. I believe he has like, a Latvian passport, or something.

EDIT: Correction, he is a Georgian (i.e. former USSR) national. Ell owe ell.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

I thought this was interesting and kinda related to the subject.

Allen Ray (yes there will be no Allen Ray playing with Ray Allen) has just signed a $2 million/ 2 year contract with an Italian club.

Considering he was only due to get $667,000 of Boston this season he's upgraded his bank account big time.

And it shows the kind of money starting to get about in the Euro leagues.

 

[Crow-mo]

The thing is that players salaries in europe are after tax where the salaries in the NBA are pre-tax.

Taking that into account, if someone offers $3 million in europe and $3 million in NBA, the money offered in europe is double that offered in the NBA after you take away all the taxes.

spot on

 

[Brad Goodman]

Does Tony Delk count?

 

[DoubleA]

David Andersen repeatedly has turned down the Hawks for more money and playing time in Russia.