Overhyping Overseas

Can we please stop all the talk about Kobe Bryant and LeBron James playing in Europe for $50 million? Enough already.

First of all, there aren't even any offers on the table for either of these guys to play overseas. All we have are these wild "what if" scenarios that involve a perfect storm of circumstances that would enable these players to play for a European team.

Second of all, it's not like Kobe and LeBron are out there selling themselves to these teams in hopes to land lucrative deals. They are being asked specific questions about hypothetical situations and answering honestly. Kobe's "do you know any reasonable man that would turn down $50 million?" response is a perfect example.

What is he supposed to say there?

If he answers any differently in that situation, he's a liar. What's worse, brutal honesty or are calculated deceitfulness?

Here's another unanswered question: why do we assume that these guys are leaving sooner rather than later? Who's to say that these offers are only on the table after their current contracts expire?

The fact is these overseas teams don't care about Kobe or LeBron the player. They care about the Kobe and LeBron brand.

These teams aren't floating the idea of $50 million contracts because they are that desperate for scoring. They want to pay that kind of money because landing an NBA superstar would bring in more revenue for their team than anyone can even imagine.

Well, guess what: the Kobe or LeBron brand isn't going away. Five years from now if he's still playing basketball, Kobe Bryant is going to sell out any gym he plays in. That's what this is all about.

Here's another "what if" scenario: what if Kobe re-signs with the Lakers, plays another five seasons, wins another title or two, then calls it quits after 17 Hall of Fame seasons with the Lakers? After he retires, he decides to play another two seasons in Europe for $100 million. Is that so wrong?

What would you have rather seen: Michael Jordan labor through two painful seasons with the Wizards or take his diminished skills overseas and still dominate the inferior talent?

You can argue that Jordan tainted his legacy by playing for the Wizards. You can also argue that Kobe could improve his by playing his golden years against lesser opponents and stockpiling championships.

Playing the twilight of one's career overseas makes a lot more sense than leaving at the apex to do it, especially when the money is going to be there regardless.

If you ask me, the bigger concern the NBA needs to have is losing its second-tier players. Obviously, losing Kobe or LeBron would be a deathblow to the NBA, but if I hadn't made myself clear by now, I'll reiterate: it's not gonna happen.

What could happen, however, is that all-star-caliber players could leave the NBA for teams overseas due to the money and damage the league even more than losing one superstar would.

For example, Gilbert Arenas signed a six-year, $111 million contract this offseason with the Wizards. That averages out to $18.5 million per season. Elton Brand signed for five years and about $80 million dollars with the Sixers, or $16 million per season.

If Kobe and LeBron are worth $50 million to these teams, Brand and Arenas have to be worth at least $35 million, right? Now we're talking about European teams paying second-tier stars double what the NBA superstars are making, and that has potential to be a huge issue down the road.

Losing role players like Josh Childress and Carlos Arroyo are minor setbacks the NBA will have no trouble overcoming. But losing an all-star is not acceptable. David Stern cannot, and will not, allow it.

As I've already mentioned, nothing is imminent. Kobe and LeBron aren't weeks away from departing from China and landing in Greece. That potential disaster is years away. It's as if the European market made the first moves of a chess match with the NBA by signing a few of their role players and tempting a few of their superstars with tall tales of big bucks.

Now it's David Stern's move. If you think that commissioner Stern is going to sit on his hands and allow his players to be poached away from him, then you need to take a minute and do some research on the man. Here.

Stern didn't allow a terrible image problem, embarrassing on-court riot, or a major gambling scandal to bury his league. I highly doubt that a few billionaires with blank checks from overseas will take him down, either.

I admit that something needs to be done to prevent this situation from getting worse, but I have total confidence in the man in charge of preventing it.

So enjoy the Olympics, because it's most likely the last time you'll see Kobe and LeBron play on a continent other than the one they call home.