LeBron would consider playing in Europe for about $50 million per season!

[salsadancer7]

Here is some more fuel....now mind you, it's not Lebron...but it goes to show you that $50 million a year seems to be the asking price to make the move. Now again, do I think he, Lebron or Wade is going anywhere? NO! But....it would be incredibly NAIVE to think these guys would not SERIOUSLY look at $50 million a year!

Sunday - August 10, 2008

Is Kobe Bryant guilty of premature posturing?

At the very least, he gets the bad timing award for telling the worldwide media, during a USA Basketball news conference Friday in Beijing, that he would consider signing with a pro team in Italy if offered a $50 million salary when he becomes a free agent next summer.

"I'd go. I'd probably go," Bryant said when asked by a Boston Globe reporter if he would think about playing in Europe, as Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James earlier hinted he would do for an outrageous contract. "Like Milan or something like that, where I grew up ...

"Do you know any reasonable person that would turn down 50 (million dollars)?"

The Lakers brass — especially owner Jerry Buss — had to be thrilled to hear that.

Sure, Bryant spent much of his childhood in Italy while his father, Joe, was playing professionally overseas, but the Olympics are not the time to talk about money or to fuel such speculation.


Sports: Bryant: I'd go to Italy for $50 million | teemu, season, new, york, angels - OCRegister.com

 

[HD MM]

I'm not debating the fact that it's a posibility that LeBron or any player for that matter would leave Cleveland or the NBA for a $50 million yr. salary.

I would never be as naive to think anyone in their right mind would pass up the opportunity to make that much money, but I AM still debating on how legitamite this speculated number is. I still have yet to see an official quote offering the type of figures that this original thread posts suggests. So far, this is the best you have offered....

The top Russian club, CSKA Moscow, is reportedly considering offering James at least $US40 million a year to switch from the NBA.

Notice the words, "reported" and the lack of an actual quote from the supposed source. I'm a print journalism major. I have a knack for scoping out these key confirmation details. To me, "reportedly" is just as good as a rumor or speculation until I see a real quote.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

It sure sounds like these guys are "negotiating" their next contracts. I don't see either of these guys leaving for Europe, but if the "threat" of leaving has a purpose, it's surely to drive up the numbers of their next NBA contracts. In the meantime - "Show me the money"!

 

[salsadancer7]

I'm not debating the fact that it's a posibility that LeBron or any player for that matter would leave Cleveland or the NBA for a $50 million yr. salary.

I would never be as naive to think anyone in their right mind would pass up the opportunity to make that much money, but I AM still debating on how legitamite this speculated number is. I still have yet to see an official quote offering the type of figures that this original thread posts suggests. So far, this is the best you have offered....

Notice the words, "reported" and the lack of an actual quote from the supposed source. I'm a print journalism major. I have a knack for scoping out these key confirmation details. To me, "reportedly" is just as good as a rumor or speculation until I see a real quote.

But European media and US media are 2 different animals. What you have not mentioned and forgot to notice is that there has been NO response from Lebron DENYING IT? Nothing at all.

 

[HD MM]

But European media and US media are 2 different animals. What you have not mentioned and forgot to notice is that there has been NO response from Lebron DENYING IT? Nothing at all.

Again, I wouldn't doubt if LeBron would consider an offer of such magnitude. That is if it actually EXISTED! Until an official offer and or confirmation that this anonymous European Conglomerate Basketball Team Owner admits his intentions, it is all just speculation.

 

[salsadancer7]

Again, I wouldn't doubt if LeBron would consider an offer of such magnitude. That is if it actually EXISTED! Until an official offer and or confirmation that this anonymous European Conglomerate Basketball Team Owner admits his intentions, it is all just speculation.

Come dude...like if you are gonna get a public offer? You know better than that.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

Just read this quote from Charles Barkley, which I think echo's what I've said about this situation:
"First of all, I think Kobe and LeBron have too much time on their hands. These guys want to be the best players in the world. I've been on TNT for years and no one's ever asked me, "Who won the the championship in Greece last year?

Want to build your "brand"? Like I said, win some NBA championships, LeBron.

 

[salsadancer7]

Just read this quote from Charles Barkley, which I think echo's what I've said about this situation:
"First of all, I think Kobe and LeBron have too much time on their hands. These guys want to be the best players in the world. I've been on TNT for years and no one's ever asked me, "Who won the the championship in Greece last year?

Want to build your "brand"? Like I said, win some NBA championships, LeBron.

And Charles is talking out of his ass and a jealous player on top of that. He has always been pist the Michael out played him, his teams outperformed his and he never got the Michael Jordan type money he has ALWAYS THOUGHT he deserves.
Charles is ONLY on the TNT team because of the outlandish crap that come out of his mouth and shtick.....nothing else. IF he was that NBA savy, SOME TEAM would have picked him up by now.

 

[HD MM]

Just read this quote from Charles Barkley, which I think echo's what I've said about this situation:
"First of all, I think Kobe and LeBron have too much time on their hands. These guys want to be the best players in the world. I've been on TNT for years and no one's ever asked me, "Who won the the championship in Greece last year?

Want to build your "brand"? Like I said, win some NBA championships, LeBron.

+1. Thank you voice of reason!

 

[salsadancer7]

+1. Thank you voice of reason!

LMAO!!! CHARLES BARKLEY is the voice of reason??!! Man, you ARE in trouble!

 

[HD MM]

LMAO!!! CHARLES BARKLEY is the voice of reason??!! Man, you ARE in trouble!

No, but Paul is.

 

[salsadancer7]

No, but Paul is.

There have been MANY times that Paul has been the voice of reason...but HE IS QUOTING CHARLES BARKELY....!!! LOL!:haha:haha:haha

 

[Paul Wozniak]

Charles is right! Go ahead, name me some European champions. Hell, their best players all want to play here. In China, the kids were holding pictures of American players, and the best selling jerseys were all American, they out sold Yao in his own country. The NBA is where it's at. Win some NBA championships, and your "brand" goes through the roof.
Nobody is famous for winning European championships, at least not in the USA, and NBA champions are more famous than their European counterpoints in Europe. By the way, anybody who follows BB in Europe knows who Charles Barkley is, and he didn't win anything. What does that tell you?

 

[salsadancer7]

Charles is right! Go ahead, name me some European champions. Hell, their best players all want to play here. In China, the kids were holding pictures of American players, and the best selling jerseys were all American, they out sold Yao in his own country. The NBA is where it's at. Win some NBA championships, and your "brand" goes through the roof.
Nobody is famous for winning European championships, at least not in the USA, and NBA champions are more famous than their European counterpoints in Europe. By the way, anybody who follows BB in Europe knows who Charles Barkley is, and he didn't win anything. What does that tell you?

You are missing th point Paul. The point is MONEY...has NOTHING to do with brand and all to do with money. IF a team can offers $50 million, you know damn well that he, regardless of who HE is...will look at it. Again, have you heard ANYONE in the LeBron camp DENY ANYTHING??!! There are HUGE deep pocket in Europe...DEEPER pockets than NBA owners where the word "salary cap" I think doesn't even exist.

 

[berkly]

This seems exactly like beckham coming to the US to me.

 

[HD MM]

This seems exactly like beckham coming to the US to me.

1 big difference. Beckham isn't in the prime of his career anymore. I can see LeBron possibly touring the European Basketball league once he achieved everything statistically that he wants to in the NBA, but not before.

 

[salsadancer7]

This seems exactly like beckham coming to the US to me.

Yep....and Beckham is TWICE as worldly known as LeBron James. Yeah, the IDEA was to promote MSL...but in the end...it was ALL about the 'Benjamins'.

 

[Paul Wozniak]

I can't help but notice that Beckham came to the USA for the big money. What does that say? I'm not missing the point, my point is that the money is here in the USA. Endorsements are where the money really is, and those endorsements spread world wide from here, and winning NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS! An extra $30M is peanuts if you're giving up $50M in endorsements. I'll say it again, winning NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS will bring you more world wide fame than playing and winning European championships. Ask Michael Jordan the next time you see him, he'll set you straight. You are just arguing for the sake of argument.

 

[salsadancer7]

I can't help but notice that Beckham came to the USA for the big money. What does that say? I'm not missing the point, my point is that the money is here in the USA. Endorsements are where the money really is, and those endorsements spread world wide from here, and winning NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS! An extra $30M is peanuts if you're giving up $50M in endorsements. I'll say it again, winning NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS will bring you more world wide fame than playing and winning European championships. Ask Michael Jordan the next time you see him, he'll set you straight. You are just arguing for the sake of argument.

No...he came here because he had already owned Europe. He was already recognized world wide and the ONLY country where soccer is not the end all be all sport. And did you see how is contract is structured? I guess not. Because of salary restrictions, he signed a 'personal service contract' to THE OWNER, not the team.

Leiweke refused to discuss the details of Beckham's deal, but league sources confirmed that Beckham's guaranteed salary will be around $50 million over the entire five-year length of the contract. That's hardly chump change, but it's still less than the salaries of a lot of U.S. sports stars.

Nor will Beckham's salary bankrupt MLS. Per the league's new designated-player rule, MLS's owners (who otherwise share the costs for all player salaries) only have to contribute $400,000 a year for each of the league's 13 designated-player exceptions. (Right now Beckham is the only one.) The rest of Beckham's salary comes from Galaxy owner Phil Anschutz. The result: Anschutz is on the hook for around $48 million guaranteed with Beckham, while MLS owners only have to pay $2 million. Don't worry about Uncle Phil's ability to pay: He has a net worth of $7.8 billion, according to Forbes.

There is more to Beckham's deal than the guaranteed salary, however. Beckham will also earn 40-to-50 percent of Galaxy jersey sales and an undisclosed share of ticket revenues. And that's not all. "There are certain aspects of the deal that are ultimately about the upside value of the league as a whole that David can participate in," says Leiweke. "Our partners all had to sign off, and they did. We had a couple of interesting board calls, but they did."

Long story short: Beckham may or may not earn $250 million over the next five years, but the majority of his income will continue to derive from endorsements and not from the Galaxy or MLS. From my perspective, it's a shame that the phrase "$250 million contract" became gospel in the media, because it's terribly misleading and just not correct.

In any case, Leiweke feels confident about the agreement. "This is an economic deal that makes sense for everybody," he says, and as long as Beckham doesn't suffer a serious injury or become a total bust on the field, I'm inclined to believe he'll be worth the investment.

SI.com - Writers - Grant Wahl: The truth about Beckham's new contract - Wednesday January 17, 2007 9:01AM

 

[Paul Wozniak]

No...he came here because he had already owned Europe. He was already recognized world wide and the ONLY country where soccer is not the end all be all sport. And did you see how is contract is structured? I guess not. Because of salary restrictions, he signed a 'personal service contract' to THE OWNER, not the team.



SI.com - Writers - Grant Wahl: The truth about Beckham's new contract - Wednesday January 17, 2007 9:01AM

So are you saying the $$ is not here?