NBA Lockout: Players could opt to sign with teams in Europe

[Auggie]

espn.com / July 10, 2011

SAN DIEGO -- Though he plans to play in Turkey during the lockout, New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams will rejoin the NBA as soon as an agreement on a collective bargaining agreement is reached. But if the owners break the players and get the proposal they're pushing for, Williams believes some stars could opt to play overseas long-term.

"If the proposal (the owners) have, if that's what they're sticking with and that's what they want, then I think it would be hard for a lot of guys to come back to the NBA," Williams said Friday in an interview at a private golf resort in San Diego.

Williams said any collective bargaining agreement that would leave stars such as Kobe Bryant making only $11 million a year -- the owners have proposed cutting players' salaries by roughly a third -- could open the door for an unprecedented exodus to Europe.

"(Kobe) could go make more money overseas, I guarantee you." said Williams, who has a one-year, $5 million deal with Besiktas. "If (European teams) knew he could be there for a full season, or they knew I could be there for a full season, or they knew LeBron James could be there for a full season, they'll pay more money, of course."

MORE: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/nba/news/story?id=6753259

:o

[madinmaryland]

1. Thanks a fucking lot, Auggie. Another "DECISION" fiasco by LeBron. Who will be the

DU'er posting a "jealous douchebag" thread this time.

:hide:

[Auggie]

2. ROFL

:rofl:

[joeybee12]

3. Der Entscheidung; Le Decision; La Decision

Da Pешение...And so it goes.....

[Auggie]

4. +1,000,000

[KamaAina]

5. Il Decisione

Italy's got one of the strongest leagues in Europe.

No, I don't know it in Turkish. :P

[joeybee12]

6. Dil Ingilizce!!!!