Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

[BATMON]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

I don't know why you just assume that european cities couldn't support a team better than some US teams.

They have some big cities over there and also people with money.

My issue isnt w/ Money. Its stretching out the Product that i have a problem w/. There are already teams out there that are languishing due to weak rosters. New Jersey has a millionaire and that team/franchise sucks.

I'd like to see those markets get better. I've read that Toronto isnt a great destination for player because the taxes are high. When have u ever heard of an A-List player requesting to get traded to Toronto?

The "new trend" of A-listers joining up at a team is cool. I'd like to see that in Memphis, Charlotte, Sacramento, or any other languishing franchise.

We'll never have 30 Bostons/Los Angeles, but could we have 25 better franchises vs 30 in America and 7 more abroad?

Like i said before - im fine w/ a separate D-league abroad, but Ron Artest in London w/ a bunch of 4th round draft picks isnt my cup of tea.

[Wang Chung]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

My issue isnt w/ Money. Its stretching out the Product that i have a problem w/. There are already teams out there that are languishing due to weak rosters. New Jersey has a millionaire and that team/franchise sucks.

I'd like to see those markets get better. I've read that Toronto isnt a great destination for player because the taxes are high. When have u ever heard of an A-List player requesting to get traded to Toronto?

The "new trend" of A-listers joining up at a team is cool. I'd like to see that in Memphis, Charlotte, Sacramento, or any other languishing franchise.

We'll never have 30 Bostons/Los Angeles, but could we have 25 better franchises vs 30 in America and 7 more abroad?

Like i said before - im fine w/ a separate D-league abroad, but Ron Artest in London w/ a bunch of 4th round draft picks isnt my cup of tea.

I think a more relevant question would be whether there will be a number of Euros wanting to play in Europe.

Just because you're not happy with what's going on in New Orleans, Memphis, Toronto, etc, that doesn't mean European cities wouldn't make very viable sports franchises. You could possibly actually say the same for Asia. And actually, like I think I said previously, floundering US teams could possibly be moved there instead of being contracted.

[BATMON]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

I think a more relevant question would be whether there will be a number of Euros wanting to play in Europe.

Just because you're not happy with what's going on in New Orleans, Memphis, Toronto, etc, that doesn't mean European cities wouldn't make very viable sports franchises. You could possibly actually say the same for Asia. And actually, like I think I said previously, floundering US teams could possibly be moved there instead of being contracted.

Do u actually forsee the Tokyo Timberwolves drawing the best American Talent? Or will the best Euro/Asian/etc players lining up to play in Tokyo?

No matter how many seats get filled or money gets tossed to players overseas, the concentration of talent is still coming out of America.

I just dont see players optioning for overseas if they have the talent to play against LeBron. Overseas Ball has always been the other option. Extending the League overseas wont change that....IMO.

Those overseas cities have the money and can build the fan bases to sustain a team, but I just dont see Raheem Williams from Memphis really wanting to get drafted to the London Foggers to compete in the NBA regardless of the money and fans.

The better Euro players come to America.

[Wang Chung]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

Do u actually forsee the Tokyo Timberwolves drawing the best American Talent? Or will the best Euro/Asian/etc players lining up to play in Tokyo?

No matter how many seats get filled or money gets tossed to players overseas, the concentration of talent is still coming out of America.

I just dont see players optioning for overseas if they have the talent to play against LeBron. Overseas Ball has always been the other option. Extending the League overseas wont change that....IMO.

Those overseas cities have the money and can build the fan bases to sustain a team, but I just dont see Raheem Williams from Memphis really wanting to get drafted to the London Foggers to compete in the NBA regardless of the money and fans.

The better Euro players come to America.

That may not be the case if the NBA expands.

What I can actually see happening is Europe signing a lot of Euros (not all) and also a lot of American players who are unheralded coming out of college...the guys that bounce around or take some time to find their game. Europe will represent an opportunity to play for a lot of guys like that.

What I can also see possibly happening is the US having a US draft and Europe drafting global players. Part of the reason is that the top American players often won't want to stay in Europe past their first contract. It's not necessarily true for all players but it could happen enough where European teams would be reluctant to build around someone they think will leave. To some extent, the same could be true for Euros in the US. If there was a Berlin Bears NBA team when Dirk's first contract expired, maybe he would have gone back to the fatherland.

[BATMON]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

That may not be the case if the NBA expands.

What I can actually see happening is Europe signing a lot of Euros (not all) and also a lot of American players who are unheralded coming out of college...the guys that bounce around or take some time to find their game. Europe will represent an opportunity to play for a lot of guys like that.

What I can also see possibly happening is the US having a US draft and Europe drafting global players. Part of the reason is that the top American players often won't want to stay in Europe past their first contract. It's not necessarily true for all players but it could happen enough where European teams would be reluctant to build around someone they think will leave. To some extent, the same could be true for Euros in the US. If there was a Berlin Bears NBA team when Dirk's first contract expired, maybe he would have gone back to the fatherland.

Do u think casual Baskeball fans are going to tune in to The Berlin Bears w/ 10 Euro players and 5 American second round draft picks?

[Wang Chung]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

Do u think casual Baskeball fans are going to tune in to The Berlin Bears w/ 10 Euro players and 5 American second round draft picks?

Yes..........

[BATMON]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

Yes..........

Let me rephrase the question.

Do u think casual American Basketball fans will tune into the Berlin Bears while they dont even attend many of the arenas in American cities.

After College ball, NBA, D-League on cable, The WNBA, what Amercian demographic is going to support the NBA in Tokyo?

If the NBA is expanding by placing American talent overseas, American basketball fans are going to tune in? How many Toronto games are scheduled for national tv?

[cubsball899]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

Let me rephrase the question.

Do u think casual American Basketball fans will tune into the Berlin Bears while they dont even attend many of the arenas in American cities.

After College ball, NBA, D-League on cable, The WNBA, what Amercian demographic is going to support the NBA in Tokyo?

If the NBA is expanding by placing American talent overseas, American basketball fans are going to tune in? How many Toronto games are scheduled for national tv?

why does it matter if it is americans tuning in?

[Wang Chung]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

Let me rephrase the question.

Do u think casual American Basketball fans will tune into the Berlin Bears while they dont even attend many of the arenas in American cities.

Are you talking about the games that are played in Europe? If so, it doesn't matter. You have to understand that there's a 6 or 7 hour time difference between NY and Berlin. What matters is that Europe has a lot of people and if they support teams, it represents an opportunity to increase its revenue. It's quite likely that the games on foreign soil would have different tv contracts.

After College ball, NBA, D-League on cable, The WNBA, what Amercian demographic is going to support the NBA in Tokyo?

The Asian demographic. It doesn't hinge on whether or not American's will watch. It's about opening up new markets and new revenue streams.

If the NBA is expanding by placing American talent overseas, American basketball fans are going to tune in? How many Toronto games are scheduled for national tv?

Do Canadian's pay attention to the Raptors? Why would Europe and Asia not pay attention to teams on those continents? It's not really so much about whether American's will stay home from work to watch a Wednesday night game between the Berlin Bears and the Madrid Matadors.

[BATMON]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

It doesn't hinge on whether or not American's will watch. It's about opening up new markets and new revenue streams.

[Wang Chung]

Re: Clyde Drexler comments on an NBA team in London and going global

What does Bryant Reeves have to do with anything?