Aside from the money, I think Gasol played a huge factor here. If Gasol was in Memphis, Navarro would still be in Memphis.
Right. I tried to support the point of US players opting for quick Euro cash but the points werent strong enough. Yet at least. I can see maybe 1 exception out of the next 500 potential NBA prospects going the early Euro route, but would that be enough to start a trend? I like the numbered lists so 1) I figured its not like a full time job at a company where you work year round. They stay 9 months out of the year in Europe and come back home for 3 months in the US. Like a foreign exchange student, except with millions in the account. But the US is one of the WORST with people learning a 2nd language. 2) Absolutely the college life with the girls, prestige and the adoration they receive from it plays HUGE. Its NBA-lite. Plus regular things young people are into like nightlife, hip hop scene for a lot of them. "Making it rain" in the club is a little part of what they aspire to do. Prospects of doing that are sketchy in Madrid. 3) For more than a couple mil, mom and dad best go along with 'em Right thats another thing hard to break away from...You can be a 5 time reigning MVP in Europe and get hardly a blip of writeup in the US. Other countries watch the US. The US watches the US. 4) Just exposure and popularity by itself is gratifying enough for most players. Being rich is super, but its even more nice when some recognition goes along with it (i'd suppose since I'm far from experiencing that...) Just being the guy everyone's seen and heard of has its own perks that go with it. Such as... 5) The Bush-Mayo benefits package. Rhett Bomar was probably the least paid of all the Big 12 QBs for all we know.
Memphis made him a qualifying offer in case he ever decides to come back to the NBA it gives them the right to match it. What kind of contract did they give the guy, just one year? He averaged over 10ppg.....and was on the all rookie 2nd team, he is NO slouch of a player...... I would have liked the Rockets to pursue him....not at that level but at the 2 to 3 million a year level. The Euro being stronger than the dollar is hurting the NBA....another reason to hate W. DD
