http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1218779717240380.xml&coll=7 Dickau signs deal with Italian team Friday, August 15, 2008 GEOFFREY C. ARNOLD The Oregonian Staff Add Dan Dickau to the list of NBA players deciding to play in Europe. The former Prairie High School and Gonzaga guard signed a two-year deal Tuesday with Italian League team Avellino. Dickau joins Josh Childress, Earl Boykins and Carlos Delfino as players who have opted to play in Europe next season. "Things on the NBA front were going a little slow," Dickau said. "A number of European teams showed a lot of interest and I decided to look into it further." Dickau said a big factor in choosing Avellino is the team plays in Italy's top league. Also, this season and for the first time Avellino will join the Euroleague, which consists of top teams from 13 countries. "I talked to a lot of guys -- (fellow Gonzaga alumni) Matt Santangelo, Richie Frahm -- who have played over there and they all said Italy and Spain are the top leagues," said Dickau, who averaged 5.3 points and 2.6 assists with the Clippers last season. "Avellino had a really good year last season and I'm looking forward to playing." The two-year deal, which Dickau said pays him a salary comparable to his deal with the Los Angeles Clippers last season ($770,610), includes a clause allowing him to return to the NBA after the first year if he wants. The team will provide Dickau and his family a furnished apartment and use of a car. "It's a very good deal and something I'm very comfortable in accepting," Dickau said. Dickau said he will leave for Italy on Aug. 31, and expects his family to join him two weeks later.
Oh **** guys, another great NBA player gone. How oh how will the NBA counter this loss of amazing prospects??
yeah this isn't really a big deal. dan dickau, mike wilks, brevin knight (just naming guards of the same caliber)...if they can make an impact in europe, then it's a good opportunity for them.
Why does the threa title say "NBA player" leaves for Italy, when the thread is about Dan Dickau? Dickau was simply the latest guy who is not quite good enough to get consistent NBA minutes to take his game to a lesser league.