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Billy Preston: Most likely the next LeBron James

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Nathan S said:
If you go to Europe instead and play a fairly unremarkable 10-year career in one of the top domestic leagues, you probably make enough money to retire and live comfortably wherever you want. That's a huge difference.
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Retire? Not if they bring over a friend or two and live it up while they're there.

But yes, I get your point.

This is a conversation that requires data. We could bullshit all day on both sides of this. What do most of the really good but not good enough for the NBA players end up doing? Does anyone know where we could get data on this?
 
TitleTown said:
Not if you don't speak the language, feel isoloated, and can't afford to bring friends along with you. 6-figures in Europe is a lot less money than 6-figures in somewhere like Canton.

Lots of places are amazing to visit for a week or two, but suck ass to live there permanently.

This is PRECISELY why many of these guys prefer the G-league.

I'm not trying to be anti-Europe or anything like that. All I'm saying is that it's not as peachy as it might sound at first.
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Not a thing wrong with Canton, I love Ohio. But if you're talking 5 figures in Canton versus 6 figures in Europe for a kid just out of college I'd have a hard time seeing many opting for less money and a mid America town versus more money and an adventure in Europe. The G-league is not a career, it's at best a potential stepping stone. Europe can turn into a career plus it is just as valid as a stepping stone. It seems pretty simple from where I sit. I might stay the hell out of places like Turkey though...
 
TitleTown said:
It depends on WHERE in Europe you're talking about. Canton is WAY better than large portions of Europe. It's not like every team is in Paris or Portugal.
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Main difference is that, in Canton, you're hours from anywhere relevant. In Europe, you're pretty much always an hour or two away from awesome places, and flights and other forms of transportation tend to be a lot cheaper as well so you can get around much easier to boot.

Also generally cheaper cost of living, although obviously that depends on where you're at respectively. London is going to be more expensive than Canton, obviously, although you're probably getting paid a hell of a lot more if you're living in London.
 
The $35K + daily stipend contracts are more for the filler players in the G league these days. The guys with names can do better.

Mathias was offered an NBA contract that probably had at least $100k guaranteed. He would have earned that $$ even if he was waived and sent to Canton without getting a 2 way contract But sometime the Euro contracts can get higher than that.

Billy Preston was rumored to have received a 2 way contract. He'll earn at least 75K and possible up to 279K if he plays in the NBA for the full 45 days allowed.

Now with Mathias gone, seems possible he could get a real NBA min salary contract if the Cavs like what they saw this summer.
 
I remember reading years ago when Josh Childress went over there that the top teams also pay living accommodations(apartment,etc) for their players in addition to a daily stipend. I'm going to assume it's the same way over there now. Not a bad way to make a living if you can catch on and stick with one of those teams for a few seasons. Of course it's alot different when it comes to language, lifestyle,etc so you have to be a person that can adjust to living outside the U.S.
TBH from what I saw in limited playing time Mathias did not look like an NBA player. At least someone like Delly in a similar situation showed some basic level of NBA ability back in 2013 summer league.

Obviously Preston looked a bit raw in s/l but he does have some skill and an NBA body. I really hope he can take some positive steps this coming season with the Cavs/Canton.
 
TitleTown said:
It depends on WHERE in Europe you're talking about. Canton is WAY better than large portions of Europe. It's not like every team is in Paris or Portugal.

But, yeah, the money side of it is probably better in many cases.
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Damn, i don't know why you thought of Portugal but you just kind of made my morning reading this.
It's an awesome place to live, but if you're talking basketball, players can find A LOT better than here in Portugal.

Daequan Cook was here for a year in 2015 i think, and i'm sure he liked living here, but it must be pretty disheartening playing in half empty small arenas for most of the season.
Spain is probably the place to go for most players, good weather, good support, good money, good visibility. In Portugal we only have the good weather to offer to basketball players in general.
 
If Billy is called up by the Cavs for at least 15 days this year, he will be a restricted free agent for the Cavs next summer.
 
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