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Are we seeing the start of an ominous trend? It used to be that European players would go back if they washed up or weren't getting playing time, but now they seem to be going simply for more money, based on the weak dollar and strong euro.
So far this summer, three big-name international players (Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Carlos Navarro, & Carlos Delfino) have taken contracts in Europe.
Today it is reported that Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic, a restricted free agent, is prepared to leave the team and accept an offer from a European team in the next few days if the Lakers don't make him an offer he deems fair.
We may be looking at a much darker NBA in the next few years. So far, the European clubs are just picking off mid-level free agents (including some black Americans), but many clubs have "superstar" budgets and no salary caps, so it seems inevitable that they will start poaching all-star players soon enough.
So far this summer, three big-name international players (Jorge Garbajosa, Juan Carlos Navarro, & Carlos Delfino) have taken contracts in Europe.
Today it is reported that Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic, a restricted free agent, is prepared to leave the team and accept an offer from a European team in the next few days if the Lakers don't make him an offer he deems fair.
We may be looking at a much darker NBA in the next few years. So far, the European clubs are just picking off mid-level free agents (including some black Americans), but many clubs have "superstar" budgets and no salary caps, so it seems inevitable that they will start poaching all-star players soon enough.