2008-09 general league thread (non-Pistons)

[mikhail1973]

With summer leagues in effect, it's time to start looking forward to the 2008-09 NBA season. Teams made changes so far during the offseason, there were some surprises, some trades, some big contracts. There are still a few players remaining to be signed. Some players decided to turn to Europe. But the excitement is on the way.

[mikhail1973]

Here's a look from hoopsworld on the top draft picks and their performance during the summer league.

Now the Las Vegas has come to a close we have gotten our first look at the top ten picks of the 2008 draft against other NBA players. Some disappointed, some excelled, and some did as we expected. Summer league success/failure has never been a true indicator of pro success, but it does give us an idea of what the player's strengths and weaknesses are. With just one player on this list still actively playing in the summer, here are the grades for how the top ten picks played in their respective summer leagues

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=9547

[mikhail1973]

Is this becoming a trend? Nachbar has signed with another Russian team has become the latest NBA regular to sign in Europe:

ESPN - Ex-Nets F Nachbar, Dynamo Moscow agree to 3-year, $14.3M deal - NBA

[roscoe36]

The US dollar is cheap in oil producing countries. Thus, there is probably a 20% discount on signing American players over their cost only 18 months ago.

[mikhail1973]

Raptors' reserve center Primoz Brezec has agreed to sign a contract with Rome's Virtus Roma.

Here goes another former Piston. And Raptor.
Also, from what I've read, ex-Raptor Garbajosa is going to play in Spain after getting released by Toronto. Club that signed Delfino was also interested, but he decided to go back to Spain.

[lpgrl26]

Originally Posted by mikhail1973

Is this becoming a trend? Nachbar has signed with another Russian team has become the latest NBA regular to sign in Europe:

ESPN - Ex-Nets F Nachbar, Dynamo Moscow agree to 3-year, $14.3M deal - NBA

It's actually even more than that. The European version of the news is reporting it. They interviewed his father. It's 28 mio$$ which with taxes is cca 41 mio$$, equivalent to about 13.8 mil PER season.

That's just insane . . .

edited to add;
In an interview, he said the money they offered him was just too good. The most serious suitors in the NBA were Atlanta and Golden State, but when he told them the Russian number, they just "shrugged".

[mikhail1973]

Warriors get PG help:

ESPN - Marcus Williams reportedly dealt to Warriors - NBA

The New Jersey Nets have traded point guard Marcus Williams to the Golden State Warriors for a future first-round draft pick, sources told ESPN.com on Tuesday.


Williams


The news was first reported by the New York Post.
Williams backed up Devin Harris last season, but Williams' role grew more uncertain by the acquisition Monday of Keyon Dooling from the Orlando Magic via a sign-and-trade deal.
The Post reported that the pick the Warriors are sending New Jersey is lottery-protected for 2011, meaning the Nets will obtain it if the Warriors reach the playoffs.

[mikhail1973]

Another former Piston news.

Report: Warriors to add Maurice Evans - Inside Bay Area

Golden State has signed Evans to a three-year, $6.4 million deal, according to the Riverside Press-Enterprise. By adding Evans, it more than likely means the Warriors will not match the three-year, $9 million contract restricted free agent Kelenna Azubuike signed with the Los Angeles Clippers last week. Golden State have until Friday to match Azubuike's deal, but Evans represents a cheaper _ and perhaps better _ alternative.
In Evans, the Warriors are getting an athletic swingman who's known as a solid defender and good 3-point shooter (he shot 39% on 3-pointers last season). The 6-foot-5 Evans averaged 9.3 points per game in 68 games for Orlando in 2007-08. He came to Orlando with Brian Cook in a November trade with the Los Angeles Lakers that sent Trevor Ariza to Southern California. The 29-year-old Evans, who has played five seasons in the NBA, has also played with the Detroit Pistons and Sacramento Kings.

[mikhail1973]

The Sports Network - National Basketball Association

The Atlanta Hawks have reportedly lost the services of swingman Josh Childress to the Greek franchise Olympiakos.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported Wednesday that Childress, 25, turned down a five-year, $33 million offer from the Hawks to sign a three-year deal overseas. The paper did not have the exact terms of the deal, but did say that it is worth much more than the $20 million that was initially reported.

The exodus continues.

[TaShawn]

Money talks.

For enough cash, many players would probably agree to quit the game all together.

Stern wanted to internationalize the game and it could come back to bite him.