The European Connection?

Now that Josh Childress (pictured) has officially taken himself off the NBA market by taking a massive pay increase to  cross the Atlantic, you have to wonder if this is going to become a common item for American players. Childress is no superstar, he was fifth in scoring for a 37-45 team, yet he will make $20 million AFTER taxes to play in Greece. Compare that to the 5 year/$33 million dollar NBA offer he had and it is understandable why he made the leap. NBA All-Star Jason Kidd has already spoken about the possibility of him ending up overseas down the road by declaring it "a legitimate option now with Childress going over there." Just think about it: if a player like Childress can get $20,000,000 a year after taxes, how much would a superstar receive? Just weeks before this move, Brandon Jennings bypassed the NCAA in order to make over $600,000 playing in Europe. Jennings, considered by some to be the top player in the 2008 high school class, had signed a letter of intent with the Arizona Wildcats but failed to qualify academically. With Europe nabbing two marketable players this summer alone, look for Europe to become more of a player in NBA free agency since the majority of the NBA teams are hampered down by the salary cap.