All Things Konstantinos Papanikolaou

Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
Pretty Sure Josh Childress did spurn the NBA for more money in Europe....How did that turn out for him? Weren't there articles stating sometimes they wouldnt even pay him?
 
Back in 2008, Josh Childress(notes) was supposed to be the poster boy for a new generation of NBA players who would consider competitive international offers with the same gusto that they would stateside deals. And with a three-year, $20 million deal on the table from the highly respected Olympiacos team in Greece, Childress would make far more (once taxes were considered) overseas than he would with the $5 million-per-year midlevel exemption he was pegged to make in the NBA.

Once the U.S. economy completely went into a tailspin a few months after Childress' signing, it seemed like the logical thing to do. NBA owners were going to tighten the purse strings, and every good international team needs a former NBA semi-star, right?

Except that the NBA owners kept spending, as if nothing ever happened. And international teams, reeling from their own uncertain economic futures, started playing it smart. But with the lockout having started, and several players musing about jumping overseas alongside the ones who have already jumped, playing outside the NBA this fall would seem to be a viable opportunity.

Apparently not. In a fine piece by ESPN's Ric Bucher, Childress is the lead voice in telling NBA players to stay home. Not because the food is funny and every car seems to come with a manual transmission. No, because according to Josh, those with guaranteed NBA contracts just shouldn't risk it.

From Bucher's column:

"No, I wouldn't," [Childress] says. "And I don't know why guys would. I understand that guys really want to play. But you sometimes have to look at what you have and treat this as a business. The only way I could see it making sense is if you're a player from a particular country going back. But for an American player with a good-sized guaranteed deal here, I can't see why you'd do it."

Bucher goes on to point out that Turkey is alone in the way it is spending money on basketball players, mostly due to a booming economic strata that is feeding off its limited participation with a European Union that is spread thin as it includes several failing economies. For those expecting to pick up Deron Williams'(notes)$200,000-a-month salary anywhere other than Turkey, well, you've had it. And roster spots are running out.

And certainly don't look to Greece, where Childress signed that three-year, $20 million deal back in 2008. Not since the Greek economy took a tumble and a half last year.

Though it appears Childress' main concern isn't with the wide gulf between NBA accommodations (such as they were) and how things are handled by even the best of international teams, the change in lifestyle is worth a pause nearly as big as the pause needed to mull over a contract-killing injury.

Here's Josh:

"I played for one of the biggest clubs in Europe," Childress says. "But there were still six- and seven-hour bus rides, we didn't stay at the best hotels and we flew commercial nine out of 10 times. And not all coaches care about your body. It's more military style. There's no getting tired. I'll be interested to see how guys' bodies respond."

We are too.

We're less interested in seeing how the owners will respond. Because they won't respond, in the slightest, because they don't care. Half the league could jump, and they wouldn't care. Hell, with the potential injuries and void-work that would follow, I'm sure they're hoping for the type of mass exodus players think they can use as leverage.
Click to expand...

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ba...-stern-words-for-those-looking?urn=nba-wp6375
 
It would seem if Denver does waive him it won't be until Oct 4th so they can explore trades.

Would he be interested in playing for the Blazers? We certainly have the cap space to claim him off waivers. Supposedly he didn't want to come here when we had his draft rights. Maybe now he has a new attitude or maybe the same old feelings would come back after a few months here. I'd want him to be a happy camper regardless of how many minutes we have for him. If other Blazers beat him out for minutes we don't want a locker room distraction. Montero would be a player that yes has upside potential but is just happy to be in the league as the 14th man if he doesn't get a minute. The last Rockets castoff we took was Thomas Robinson so I'd be weary of a player that Houston franchise discards; they are a good judge of fringe NBA talent. But if Papanikolaou has a chance of being a solid rotational NBA player it is an option that is interesting to explore.
 
Draco said:
It would seem if Denver does waive him it won't be until Oct 4th so they can explore trades.

Would he be interested in playing for the Blazers? We certainly have the cap space to claim him off waivers. Supposedly he didn't want to come here when we had his draft rights. Maybe now he has a new attitude or maybe the same old feelings would come back after a few months here. I'd want him to be a happy camper regardless of how many minutes we have for him. If other Blazers beat him out for minutes we don't want a locker room distraction. Montero would be a player that yes has upside potential but is just happy to be in the league as the 14th man if he doesn't get a minute. The last Rockets castoff we took was Thomas Robinson so I'd be weary of a player that franchise discards; they are a good judge of fringe NBA talent. But if Papanikolaou has a chance of being a solid rotational NBA player it is an option that is interesting to explore.
Click to expand...
I would claim him just to burn cap space. Could be used in future trade too I would imagine.
 
KeepOnRollin said:
I would claim him just to burn cap space. Could be used in future trade too I would imagine.
Click to expand...

If we don't do any claim we can instead use that cap space in future trades. We could burn cap space by taking on luxury tax team salary for at the least second round picks. So Papanikolaou has to be worth something for claiming him to benefit us.
 
Draco said:
If we don't do any claim we can instead use that cap space in future trades. We could burn cap space by taking on luxury tax team salary for at the least second round picks. So Papanikolaou has to be worth something for claiming him to benefit us.
Click to expand...
He is no all-star obviously but he is no scrub either. I think he is worth something although we have a lot of guys already at the 4/5 position. Can he play the 3 @Rastapopoulos ?
 
KeepOnRollin said:
He is no all-star obviously but he is no scrub either. I think he is worth something although we have a lot of guys already at the 4/5 position. Can he play the 3 @Rastapopoulos ?
Click to expand...

Yes - that's his primary position. He can get beat off the dribble by quick wings but he's a smart team defender.
 
Rastapopoulos said:
Until China gets some REAL money. (And incidentally, given that you can see into the future, you should probably use that talent on something more useful.)

A team in China just offered some Greek player I'd never heard of $1M. Not much by NBA standards, but I've heard of a lot of Greek players, and not him. Eventually the only thing that will keep the NBA's quality up is the xenophobia and fear of American basketball players. And their agents will cure them of that.
Click to expand...
Cool. Maybe if the overall quality of play dips in the league we will be have a better chance of winning the championship! Here's to mediocrity and let's hope the dollar fails!
 
I imagine he'll head back to Europe. He's like Claver: he can play, but he's lacking some key NBA feature. Getting practically no minutes on the Greek team in Eurobasket probably killed his NBA career.
 
Rastapopoulos said:
I imagine he'll head back to Europe. He's like Claver: he can play, but he's lacking some key NBA feature. Getting practically no minutes on the Greek team in Eurobasket probably killed his NBA career.
Click to expand...
I think being a legend in Greek basketball and playing and living well there might seem better than sitting on a bench in Denver or Houston
 
Denver also ruined Rudy, and probably had something to do with Sergio if we examine closely. Nikoloz Tskitishvill, Linas Kleiza, Steve Blake, Birdman Anderson. Not to mention J.J. Hickson and Andre Miller, and especially Taurean Green.
 
jlprk said:
Denver also ruined Rudy, and probably had something to do with Sergio if we examine closely. Nikoloz Tskitishvill, Linas Kleiza, Steve Blake, Birdman Anderson. Not to mention J.J. Hickson and Andre Miller, and especially Taurean Green.
Click to expand...

The Blazers ruined Rudy Fernandez
 
jlprk said:
Denver also ruined Rudy, and probably had something to do with Sergio if we examine closely. Nikoloz Tskitishvill, Linas Kleiza, Steve Blake, Birdman Anderson. Not to mention J.J. Hickson and Andre Miller, and especially Taurean Green.
Click to expand...
It's called Mile High City for a couple of reasons
 
Natebishop3 said:
Yes he did. Rudy was never the same.
Click to expand...

True, but well before the Ariza incident, Trudy was still a soft bitch. Afraid of contact. Always doing that ridiculous, ineffective spin fade away jumper. I think I remember him hitting it once. Without Sergio he was largely ineffective. Sure he could shoot his rookie season. But damn near every Euro can shoot. I for one (especially after demanding a trade) was glad to see his soft ass go away...
 
dviss1 said:
True, but well before the Ariza incident, Trudy was still a soft bitch. Afraid of contact. Always doing that ridiculous, ineffective spin fade away jumper. I think I remember him hitting it once. Without Sergio he was largely ineffective. Sure he could shoot his rookie season. But damn near every Euro can shoot. I for one (especially after demanding a trade) was glad to see his soft ass go away...
Click to expand...
 
Rastapopoulos said:
Click to expand...


We've all seen that. It's only proof that The Sun will shine on a dogs ass. He didn't do shit like that in Portland. Show the myriad of spin around fade away jump shots that he bricked over and over.
 


I wonder if the Bulls will give him a training camp invite now Dunleavy's out for a while with back surgery.
 
dviss1 said:
We've all seen that. It's only proof that The Sun will shine on a dogs ass. He didn't do shit like that in Portland. Show the myriad of spin around fade away jump shots that he bricked over and over.
Click to expand...
 
Rastapopoulos said:
Click to expand...


I watched every single one of those dunks as it happened. You posting that just proved my point. Every single one of those dunks was on a pass from Sergio. Every single one. None of them had any contact from any defensive player. I love that play to be honest. But it confirms my point that he could not do it without Sergio and that he is soft because there was never a dunk on anyone. If you're 6'5 you better damn well be able to do that shit when you're wide open.
 
dviss1 said:
I watched every single one of those dunks as it happened. You posting that just proved my point. Every single one of those dunks was on a pass from Sergio. Every single one. None of them had any contact from any defensive player. I love that play to be honest. But it confirms my point that he could not do it without Sergio and that he is soft because there was never a dunk on anyone. If you're 6'5 you better damn well be able to do that shit when you're wide open.
Click to expand...
Actually that is incorrect. #6 was from Blake. I understand the confusion though since they are both white looking and all.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

42N8Bounce
Blazers Mid-Season Grades and Awards
2
Replies
46
Views
2K
blue9
blue9
MarionBarberThe4th
Dooling or Pargo?
2
Replies
43
Views
3K
Netted
Netted
42N8Bounce
Blazers Mid-Season Grades
2
Replies
31
Views
3K
Shaboid
Shaboid
S
Blake vs Miller December stats
2
Replies
35
Views
2K
PtldPlatypus
PtldPlatypus
PapaG
Rubio in the Olympics
2 3 4
Replies
111
Views
7K
Minstrel
Minstrel

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top