The not-so -appealing NBA

ON BASKETBALL

The upcoming Olympic Games have taken on new meaning for the United States men's basketball team.

Kobe, LeBron, D-Wade and company must prove that their country is still the king of the basketball universe. Anything less than a gold medal would say otherwise.

But the Olympics aside, the past month has not been a good one for David Stern's league. (And I'm not even gonna say Tim Donaghy's name, besides just doing it.)

All of a sudden, Josh Childress of the Atlantic Hawks bolted to play professionally in Greece.

Then went another player. And another.

And ... oh ... I just looked at the bottom line, and Orlando backup point guard Carlos Arroyo is making a exodus as well. He'll play in Israel now.

This isn't something that happens every summer, folks. This is a new phenomenon.

Bottom line: For players who aren't the centerpieces of their franchises, the NBA no longer holds the appeal it used to. Just playing in the world's best basketball league isn't enough any more.

I don't have Childress' phone number in my Fave Five. Actually, to be completely honest, I don't even have T-Mobile. But to get to my point, I can understand what Childress, Arroyo and many others — such as former Nets big man Nenad Krstic — are thinking.

Consider the lifestyle of a sixth man in the NBA. Sure, you're still earning more than people like me will make in four lifetimes. Sure, you're still living the dream. But you're on a team full of other stars who get all the attention. You're simply expected to do the dirty work, wash the dishes.

Now consider the life Childress will enjoy in Greece, playing for Olympiakos. First of all, I've heard from trusted sources that living in Greece isn't bad. Secondly, thirdly, fourthly and fifthly, Childress will earn more money (about $20 million after taxes for three years guaranteed); he can opt out of the contract after each season and still make the full $20 million!; his housing will be provided and he'll be given a car; and, as if that's not enough, he'll be a star. Fans will love him. He won't simply be considered Atlanta's sixth man.

Now tell me how that's not better than his situation in Atlanta. As long as a player is comfortable with living overseas, it's a no-brainer.

And I didn't mention the style of play. No offense to the NBA, but foreign basketball is more team-oriented. It's not all about the stars and one-on-one basketball. All five players on the court are involved in the offense.

Granted, a reason for this is that you won't find any LeBrons or Kobes in Turkey or Russia. There aren't players that dominant, guys who you can simply give the ball to and get out of the way.

And part of what makes most of the U.S. stars so great is their ability to create easy shots for their teammates, for guys like Childress. Outside of the money he got, Kobe Bryant, I'm sure, is a reason why bench playerSasha Vujacic decided not to join the exodus and stay with the Lakers. Bot only so many players are privileged enough to play on teams like the Lakers and Celtics.

Childress was on a team — the Hawks — with an aging point guard (Mike Bibby) and a star (Joe Johnson) who knows how to do one thing: shoot. Staying with the Hawks was an invitation to stay the player he was without much room for becoming a mainstream-type guy. With a few signatures, he changed all that and became much richer.

Sounds like a tasty deal to me.

This is just the beginning, basketball fans. As we've seen in international competition the last five years, the level of play around the globe is only getting better each year. Don't expect this trend to end. The quality of play in the NBA, however, hasn't improved. And there's no reason, really, to expect it to.

When high-schooler Brandon Jennings chose to play in Europe for a year instead of college, American players suddenly noticed the overseas option. Playing abroad is no longer some abstract idea to U.S. hoopsters. It is a legitimate option.

Even for players not seriously considering playing overseas, it could be used as leverage against an NBA team. A player in contract negotiations with his team could use a better offer from a European outfit to garner an increased offer to stay in the States.

None of this can be considered good for the NBA. Only a couple years ago, the focus was on the hordes of international players coming to the U.S. to join the NBA. Italian Andrea Bargnani was taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2006 draft.

Now, could a player of Bargnani's caliber decide to stay in Italy instead? I doubt it — the allure of being drafted in the top five of the NBA draft and becoming a franchise-type player is still very strong. But for lower-rung guys — potential second-round draft picks — a career in Europe could be much more satisfactory. A guaranteed contract (something second-round picks don't get); a spot in the starting lineup right away — players could decide not to come to U.S. in the first place.

All of this is speculation, of course, but what can't be doubted is that international basketball is dunks and jumpers better than it was a decade ago. And, just as important, international teams have plenty of cash to dole out to talented players (foreign or American).

Will the NBA miss Josh Childress, Carlos Arroyo and Nenad Krstic next season? No, don't think so. Their jerseys weren't exactly big sellers (I think). But their respective teams might miss them. And from now on, teams better pay attention to their players who are looking for new contracts — if, of course, they covet the players.

Because otherwise, such players might be gone in the snap of a finger. Headed for more money, better cuisine and stardom in a foreign land.

Brandon Jennings trapped by the system

ON BASKETBALL

I love what Brandon Jennings is saying. I love the publicity he has gotten with his words.

Unfortunately, however, he'll be owned by the system.

If the class of 2008's No. 1 prospect gets back a SAT score Thursday that is good enough for him to enroll at Arizona in the fall, he'll head to Tuscon -- if he knows what is best for him.

Jennings has said in the past week that he's considering playing in Europe for a year -- and earning a bundle of cash -- instead of honoring his letter of commitment to be a Wildcat for one season (he has already confirmed that he'll enter the 2009 NBA draft). It's the first time since the NBA's age-limit rule was instituted prior to the 2006 draft that a high-school graduate has considered such an option.

Of course, a big reason for this is that Jennings needs his third go-round at the SAT test to exceed a certain score just to attend Arizona. If that doesn't happen, he's definitely off to Europe and the land of professional basketball.

But the test more than likely will be fine. Jennings had a solid score the second time he took it, but the NCAA didn't allow it because he did so much better than his first time around. Jennings simply said that he tried harder. Whatever the case may be, I expect his score to get him into Arizona.

And I'm pretty certain he'll be playing for Lute Olson in November.

Which is too bad -- it'd be nice to think that college basketball is more than just a one-year feeding system for the NBA's newest stars. If the draft that just happened is any indication, however, that's exactly what it has become.

This isn't to say that college basketball doesn't remain a great sports spectacle. I still love the games, the team play, the madness. But thanks to the NBA's rule, we become enamored with players -- and their respective teams -- one year only to see them declare for the association before spring exams are complete.

Brandon Jennings is the next in line.

I'd love for him to buck the trend, to hop a plane for Madrid or Moscow, to learn the intricacies of the international game before being drafted into the NBA next year. The truth, however, is that he'd gain much more exposure -- and I'm not talking about the sun -- from playing at Arizona as opposed to running with the bulls.

He'd also likely get more playing time, more offensive freedom from Olson and, ultimately, more of an opportunity to shine for NBA scouts. Come next June, Jennings' stock would be higher coming off a year in college, and, thus, his financial future would shine brighter.

Money, money, money. That's what it boils down to.

Jennings doesn't give a hoot about winning for the Wildcats, or impressing the coeds. He has one goal in mind -- to be a star in the NBA. There's one obstacle in his way -- David Stern's age limit. Jennings, and his agent, just have to decide what would be the better stepping stone to the fulfillment of his dream.

The evidence is right in front of them: In the recent 2008 draft, four of the top five picks were one-and-done college players. The lone foreign player in the top 10 -- and one heck of an established player -- went No. 6. In all, a record 10 freshmen were chosen in the first round (and earned guaranteed cash). Four overseas players made the top 30.

In a year, Jennings almost definitely will be a first-round pick regardless of where he laces 'em up this fall. But where he gets drafted on the rookie pay scale is up in the air, and more endorsements tend to find the higher picks.

Welcome to Arizona, Mr. Jennings. No need to attend classes. Just win games and help us sell jerseys. It's been eight seasons since our last Final Four.

That will be the story come November, and Jennings will get fawned over by the college-basketball media -- and rightfully so. Because he'll be gone before they know it.

And when "Brandon Jennings" is called next June in Madison Square Garden, he will be a household name in NBA circles -- a perfect scenario for Stern. He won't be some foreign star whom only the experts have heard of. He'll be one of the next batch of marketable rookies for the association.

As the NBA continues to reap the benefits of its monopolizing rule.