He's figured to get a 6 year extension from LA worth about 150 million but he needs to bolt to Europe for financial security? I don't even wanna ask about my future in that case.

He could be a pioneer and build European Basketball to a level on par with the NBA.

He could be a pioneer and build European Basketball to a level on par with the NBA.

 

I could see him doing this in 3 years, for this reason, and for the reason that GT mentioned.

Don't know if anyone's mentioned it, but it would not be tax free in the US. He may not pay taxes over there but I believe the foreign earned income exclusion is around $80,000. Of course, if he stayed there and gave up US citizenship it would be tax free, I guess.

Nothing really to do with this thread but didn't want to make a new one for it, plus Odom at least plays with Kobe so here it is.

 

Racist A. Smith is reporting that people shouldn't be surprised if the Heat & Lakers strike a deal that sends Odom down to Miami and Marion out to L.A.

Stern not worried about stars signing overseas

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/10/24/stern.stars.ap/index.html

 

 

He says that there is not enough fan support there to help support the players salaries. They only average 6,000 fans per game. The thing is though, if the prominent players came over, the number of fans attending games would obviously rise.

This is also a problem that the NHL has encounter this season. The new Russian Superleague (KHL) has swayed a handful of talented players overseas. Jaromir Jagr left to play there and Alexander Radulov of the Nashville Predators, abandoned his contract with Nashville and signed a deal with a KHL club.

 

I don't think it will be as easy to sway NBA players over because the majority of NBA stars are american born, whereas the majority of NHL stars, are from Europe.