FanHouse Overseas Defection

The "LeBron James could go to Europe" meme is picking up steam. ESPN's Chris Broussard reports that a person close to LeBron has indicated that LeBron would strongly consider getting his passport stamped if he's offered a salary "around $50 million a year" when he becomes a free agent the summer of 2010. And from the sounds of it, at least two Euro teams are chomping at the bit to get in line:

The Russian team CSKA Moscow and the Greek team Olympiacos, which recently gave Josh Childress a contract approaching $30 million over three years, have already contacted James, according to the person close to him. The person added, however, that no monetary or contractual discussions have taken place.

[...] The source close to James said he would play in Europe only for a year or two before returning to the NBA. He said James would view it as an opportunity to popularize the game and himself overseas.

I know some people cling to the romantic notion that LeBron would never abandon the NBA because he cheered for it growing up, but let's face it, he didn't have Warren Buffet on speed dial back then. These days, James has big picture aspirations such as becoming a global icon as well as the world's first billionaire athlete.

If he can bank $100 million in two years while playing on an international stage and still return to the NBA as a 27-year-old free agent in the summer of 2012, well, why wouldn't he go? He'd still be in the prime of his career with plenty of time to achieve all of his NBA goals upon returning, and who knows, by leaving, he might freak out the NBA so much that it eliminates the salary cap. The more I think about it, the more this makes sense. All we need now is a European billionaire to step up in 2010.

Forget LeBron James to Greece, today's hot rumor is Kobe Bryant to Russia!

Asked if, like many of his fellow NBA stars, he would consider moving to Europe to play, Bryant answered very straight-forwardly. "Of course. By the way, are you the owner of a Russian team? It can be arranged for $40 million per year."

Okay, straight forward or not, Bryant was almost certainly having some fun with Sport Express Daily, the Russian pub that reported his quote today. But the question remains, when will the first bona fide All-Star follow in the footsteps of Josh Childress, Nenad Krstic, Carlos Delfino and all the other rotation guys who jumped overseas this summer.

Jason Kidd alluded to the possibility of finishing his career in Europe three or four years down the line, but Bostjan Nachbar, who turned down the Nets in favor of a three-year deal with Dynamo Moscow, thinks his former teammate might join him even sooner.

"Taxes are lower in Europe and wages depend on the euro, which is much more stable than the dollar. If dollar rates don't stop falling many famous players will move from the US to Europe. And I do not think Jason Kidd was joking when he said that next year he could join a European club."

Think about it: Kidd is entering the final year of a contract that will pay him just over $21 million this season, and there's absolutely no chance that he'll ever sign a contract that pays him that much in the NBA ever again. But might there be a Russian billionaire out there willing to splurge simply for the sake of making a name for his team? It certain seems possible (and, who knows, it just might help in the LBJ sweepstakes a year later).