Player Movement on the European Summer Market

[admin]

2030
Continuing to explore the behind the scenes world of the free agent market, we take a look at the just-as-intriguing (at times) world of the European transfer market, which represents a true hierarchy of “haves” and “have-nots”. The top guns of the Euroleague continue to reload thanks to massive budgets-- rivaling their NBA counterparts at times—while we continue to see some of the top international players move to the NBA—and the players they replaced on rosters move to Europe. A more disturbing trend has to do with the recent trend of American players and their clubs buying or acquiring Eastern European passports – a true win-win situation for both parties involved, but extremely damaging for the moral integrity and competitive nature of the sport.

Click here for the Full Article (http://www.draftexpress.com/viewarticle.php?a=2215)

[Genjuro]

Excellent article, as usual. Just a few comments:

The terms of Navarro's buyout is that Barcelona will recieve this year only the half million Memphis can play to buy him out. For for every extra season Navarro gets to stay in the NBA, he will have to pay one million (not sure if dollars or euros) to Barcelona. Whenever he comes back, his rights belong to Barcelona and I presume he would be tied to his old contract.

As for Mike Wilkinson and his name for FYROM, Majkl is how you would write in their language the sound that "Michael" produces.

Finally, I'm not sure how relevant is that Spain and Greece were finalists in the Worlds with only two foreigners. In the end, a lot of foreign Euros play in Spain. Actually, I have to think that countries in the Balkans have similar rules, while they play almost extrictly national guys besides the two Americans.

[DonMonte]

I want to say that also Israel has american players. They had Sharp, Bluthental, Arnold and now it is another i think his name is Roberts. So it is not fair to talk in this case only about Bosnia and FYR Macedonia.

[Jonathan]

Bluth is jewish...all Jews are able to get an Israeli passport.

Sharp, Arnold and Roberts (and Deon Thomas) lived in Israel for years and years and married Israeli women before getting their passports. Sharp even served minimal time in the Israeli army!

There's a big difference between living in a country, immersing yourself in their culture for years and marrying a native-- and buying a passport from a dodgy country you have never stepped foot in. It's actually not even close.

[andwho]

Although I don't think Kosta will amount to much in Golden State's system, I wouldn't consider the signing a head-scratcher.

The details of the contract is a two-year deal at $3.5 million with a team option for the third year. So, in essence, the Warriors are paying $1.75 million a year for a seven-footer with a jump shot.

[Genjuro]

Bluth is jewish...all Jews are able to get an Israeli passport.
We should do the same with Catholics here... :P

Sharp, Arnold and Roberts (and Deon Thomas) lived in Israel for years and years and married Israeli women before getting their passports.
Did Deon Thomas live so many years there before getting the passport? I don't think so... I think he married some Israeli girl and that's how he got one.

Actually, we had that similar stuff going on in Spain. In one summer a few years ago, there was like half a dozen marriages between foreign guys and Spanish girls, and most of them were a fraud (not saying by any means that Thomas' was).

Although I don't think Kosta will amount to much in Golden State's system, I wouldn't consider the signing a head-scratcher.

The details of the contract is a two-year deal at $3.5 million with a team option for the third year. So, in essence, the Warriors are paying $1.75 million a year for a seven-footer with a jump shot.
The big problem is not the money. The problem is they will lose his rights once those two years run out, as he's going to be completely useless in the current system. If you allow him to sign with Unicaja, you can still sign him a few years down the road, particularly if he develops, and enjoy a skilled a very big center that can actually help your team.

[Hitster]

How are GSW able to put Perovic on a salary of $1.75 million per season when he was only drafted in 2006 and was a 38th pick, this is more than say Cedric Simmons who was the 15th draft last year will earn this season. I know this is to help with the buyout etc but does this mean that say next summer the Spurs could pay Splitter a similar amount which would be above that his draft pick entitles him to to enable buyouts to be paid off etc.

[coachjon]

perovic was a second round pick which means GS can sign him for whatever they want i believe.

[Jonathan]

We should do the same with Catholics here... :P

If the Catholics ever go through a holocaust and have 6 million of their people wiped out by the Nazis, I don't think anyone would oppose them creating a tiny country of their own either where their people can live together in peace...That's why all Jews are able to get Israeli passports if they want.


Did Deon Thomas live so many years there before getting the passport? I don't think so... I think he married some Israeli girl and that's how he got one.

Thomas played in Israel in 98-99...and married an Israeli woman then. 5 years later he got the passport like the rule in Israel states. You can't compare between that and what is going on in Macedonia and Bosnia where these people have never played there and probably couldn't even point out those countries on the map.

[Hitster]

In any sport where teams look for talent there are always backdoor citizens, with a European passport, a player can automatically play anywhere in Europe from the many sports I 've seen this happen in (Football, Cricket, Rugby etc). With so many American players spending their careers playing around Europe they can quite easily apply for an EU passport. Also some Israeli teams have entered European competitions in many sports over the years so an EU passport could enable players not to be counted as Internationals playing in countries such as Israel etc.

Passports of convience will always go on look at Team GB who were actively advertising for any eligible players on their website as they try to build a team around Deng. The old Scottish Great Aunt or 2nd cousin can always come into play.

[Genjuro]

If the Catholics ever go through a holocaust and have 6 million of their people wiped out by the Nazis, I don't think anyone would oppose them creating a tiny country of their own either where their people can live together in peace...That's why all Jews are able to get Israeli passports if they want.
I guess no one would oppose but the people living in that tiny country before.

[Jonathan]

I guess no one would oppose but the people living in that tiny country before.

Funny you bring that up, but actually Jews and Arabs alike both lived in Israel before it was known as Israel--well before the Holocaust started.

The UN actually decided to split the country into two separate states...not anyone else. The Jews accepted the plan, but the Arabs in all their wisdom decided to reject and attacked Israel when they declared their independence. The Arabs, unfortunately for them, lost, and that's the main reason Israel looks the way it does today.

[Genjuro]

Funny you bring that up, but actually Jews and Arabs alike both lived in Israel before it was known as Israel--well before the Holocaust started.

The UN actually decided to split the country into two separate states...not anyone else. The Jews accepted the plan, but the Arabs in all their wisdom decided to reject and attacked Israel when they declared their independence. The Arabs, unfortunately for them, lost, and that's the main reason Israel looks the way it does today.
Yes, the immigration flow started well before the WWII. Anyway, it doesn't change the fact that the people living there before wouldn't be too happy with the whole process.

So again, no one would oppose but the people living in that tiny country before.

[wardjdim]

Funny to see this discussion in a basketball forum, but I think it is better that both of you drop it, sooner or later. This is, anyway, one of the most discussed topics in recent history. Not many things are left to add and, although Israel has been heavily benefited from Hitler's crimes, it is pointless to look for solutions, as history has proven that there is no absolute right to either side.

[dave f]

And of course FIBA does a good job of protecting the competitions it runs by limiting nations to one naturalised player.

This means that unless you have a passport through birth or relatives (Grandparents and parents are the only relatives that qualify) you count as that one player.

Deng is actually an interesting exception to this as because of his refugee status he does not count as naturalised.