Magic first round pick 11th overall wont play for the team

francis4prez -

It isn't about his lifestyle choice, culture, etc. It's about the fact that he used the NBA draft and the Orlando Magic as a bargaining chip to get the biggest possible contract from a Spanish team while having no intention to play in the States. It wasn't that he had a change of heart after being drafted, or that he wasn't drafted by the team he wanted, or that he doesn't like the United States - none of that stuff mattered. His mind was made up before hand.

The fact that he's now signed a four-year deal to play with the worst team in a crummy Spanish league, instead of Real Madrid, tells us one thing: it was all about the money.

He - or his agent - is pretty slick.

 

I like SF, but it almost seems like a taste of his own medicine by not being willing to play for Vancouver and forcing the trade to H-town when he was drafted.

 

I agree with the article that he wouldn't have made much difference this year. But lottery picks have to pay off eventually. Its not the end of the world though but they can't screw up like that again next year.

 

Basketball is becoming the second most popular sport in the world. It will be like soccer soon where the NBA wont be the sole destination for a player with talents. I think this is good for the players as it allows to go overseas when they can't get the NBA contract.

I said it in another thread that we'll see 18/19 yr old phenoms signing for big money overseas, most of the posters that wont happen. But as the Euro league (and maybe the Asian and S. American league) become more viable, we'll see that and its a good thing.

 

Yup, if it keeps getting bigger in europe and they start malking a lot more money and have sponsors as big as the football clubs have over there i wouldn't be surprised if US kids start going over there with the amountof money they can make.

Of course that is a while away but it could happen.

 

18/19 year old American phenoms won't be signing overseas for a while. It's tough enough for an 18/19 year old to adjust to NBA life living in this country, but moving overseas to a foreign culture at 18 or 19 is more difficult than you think. It will also be a while (if ever) before European teams offer teenage American phenoms money that approaches what NBA teams give them. On the other hand, older American players not good enough for the NBA have been playing overseas for years.

While basketball is growing in popularity overseas, the NBA will be THE premiere destination in the world for basketball talent, especially for our homegrown players. The gap is closing, but it isn't even close. I've watched a few Euro games and what I saw was WAY below NBA quality. Speed, strength and defensive intensity separate us from the world.

 

I agree that we might be still 5 - 10 years off, but it's not a impossiblity anymore. Rise in popularity = more money and less need to come to the NBA, which is the bottom line. The last time this came up, I posted how some American players that went undrafted found an home in Europe and developed his game. Is good enough that NBA came knocking and they said no cuz they are making a lot more salarywise (and more stardomwise -> more endorsements and a$$)

The first time it will happen is when a 19 year old being academically ineligle his sophmore year, and perhaps seeing a 3 year deal starting at millions in Europe. Depending on how those guys do, that's when it will become more and more likely the H.S. players go over seas to make the money.

 

If the kid is 19 then he's eligible for the NBA anyway, so I don't see why he would go overseas if he's a highly touted prospect.

 

I thought the new minimum age is 20? Also, anyone knows if and undrafted or post 24 year old player get out of playing on the rookie pay scale or are they still locked in? If an 24+ year overseas player can get paid any amount (by a team under the cap) then we might really see some bidding wars going on for the mid first round22 year olds looking at the rookie pay scale or maybe something that could be higher in Europe.

 

They only bumped up the minimum age to 19. And if you are an undrafted FA, then you are not bound to any type of pay scale.

I really think that you're exaggerating the possibilities of a "bidding war" between NBA and European teams. These European clubs RARELY break the bank for young, unproven talent. And usually young guys don't get much playing time because they run more on seniority. Their m.o. is to sign young talent on the cheap, sit them on the bench, allow them to work out for NBA clubs, and then cash in with a buy-out. That doesn't sound like much of a way to lure American high school seniors.

 

What kind of shoddy logic is that? The writer justifies the ordeal by comparing him to previous #11 overall picks? Uhh...shouldn't it be a comparision from #11 on down?

This kind of miscommunication is just completely unacceptable, even if the kid was using the Magic to negotiate a better deal. You don't suck through an entire season to end up with nothing to show for it. You need every one of those draft picks to help you back on your feet. Heads need to roll for this. That organization chased off McGrady by giving him an ultimatum. After Kelvin Cato leaves next summer in FA, all they will have to show from trading away the best young scorer in the league is Steve Francis. And not even a lottery pick for their troubles. Embarassing.

 

btw - have any of you seen highlights from the Euroleague championships - its like ACC college basketball meets soccar fans. It's wild. 15,000 screaming Euros cheering and standing the whole freaking game

...maybe that is why guys want to stay - they are treated like rock stars there. Here the fans boos them the first time they miss a shot

 

i am thinking that we are going to see more young guys leave college and go to play in europe til they are 24. when they are 24 they are automatically free agents right?

there is definitely gonna be a bidding war..i dont even see why highly touted HS kids would want to stay in america when they cant even get paid. OJ mayo should go to europe and make a ton of cash, then when he's an automatic free agent, cash in on the NBA. the nba's rookie scale screws u over so being a 1st round pick isn't necessarily better.

fran didn't do anything wrong. he was automatically eligible, he never came over to work out, so its the magic's fault. besides i heard he has a 1 year opt out clause, so the magic basically get to develop him for free anyway.

 

First of all they are not automatically free agents at 24. Just like Vasquez, when they turn 22, they are automatically entered into the NBA draft. Only if they go undrafted do they end up as free agents. And there's no chance that a top talent would go undrafted. And if you get drafted then that team holds onto your rights indefinitely, as long as you keep playing basketball professionally.

And secondly, these kids can make money in America. They can play in the D-league, get paid a salary that most Americans can live on, and sign a shoe deal that would likely be millions of dollars for the top kids.

 

but a 15 year old high schooler in america cant get paid at all. would it be better for him to go join a euro youth team and get paid? something like cska moscow

 

I'm actually going to go out on a limb and say that Orlando has all the reason in the world to be pissed at this coward.

 

I find it ridiculous hard to believe that some 15 year old American basketball player is going to go to a foreign country to play for whatever pittance that they hand out to teenagers. Apostolic3 said it best in the other thread: http://bbs.clutchfans.net/showthread.php?t=99903

And you're talking about a 15 YEAR OLD. Give me a call when this actually happens.