The first NBA-to-Europe departure happened today as free agent, Sergio Rodriguez, signed a 3-year deal with Ettore Messina's Real Madrid basketball team.
Rodriguez, who has been in the NBA the past 4 seasons, has failed to find his groove in the NBA. He spent some time in Portland and couldn't contribute that much to Nate McMillan's Trail Blazers. He backed up Tyreke Evans last year in Sacramento and didn't hav ethat much playing time. In a trade to the Knicks last season, he couldn't take advantage of the below average team he was on. He wasn't re-signed by New York and thus, went to Europe to play out his 3-year contract. And although there is a thin PG free agent class, he really wasn't desired by any NBA teams.
Josh Childress, however, could be the first Europe-to-NBA acquisition this summer. Childress was chosen 6th overall by the Atlanta Hawks in the 2004 NBA Draft. After 4 mediocre seasons in Atlanta, he spurned the NBA to go to Europe. He was offered a 5-year/$33 million contract by the Hawks in the 2008 summer, but left when Euroleague club, Olympiacos Piraeus, offered him a 3-year/$20 million contract. The contract he signed included opt-out options after the first two seasons. He also signed a Nike shoe contract in Greece, in which he was expected to make more money combined than he would with Atlanta. Childress averaged 8.8 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in the Euroleague 2008-09 season. In his career with Atlanta, he averaged 11.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game.
Childress could command up to a $40 million contract if he decides to return to the NBA. According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Childress could very well return to Atlanta this offseason. His current opt-out clause expires on July 15th. Bringing Childress makes sense for the Hawks, as they can either play him or use him as trade bait in this year's astounding free agent market. As of right now, no one knows if he'll come back. Milwaukee extended an offer to him last season, with a $5.5 million contract, but he turned it down because he was due to make $6.5 million in Greece. I think Childress will come back to the NBA, and if he does, I don't think it'll be with Atlanta.
If Linas Kleiza comes back, he could get somewhere around a $30 million contract. In the 2005 NBA Draft, he was taken 27th overall by Portland, but his rights got traded to Denver later on in the draft. He was seldom used in his rookie season, but gained more playing time the next three seasons. While his time in Denver, he always seemed to be a subject of trade talks, but was never traded in the NBA. On January 17, 2008, Kleiza scored a personal best, 41 points, against the Utah Jazz. He never played that much in the playoffs, as coach George Karl said he didn't want to use him that much because he wasn't a "playmaker". Before the 2009-10 season, Kleiza signed a 2-year/$12.2 million contract with Childess' choice, Olympiacos Piraeus. He did exceptional for his team, leading the team with an average of 17 points and 7 rebounds per game. He was Euroleague's leading scorer, winning the Alphonso Ford Trophy, which is given to the league's leading scorer. Like Josh Childress, Kleiza can opt out of his contract on July 15th. He hasn't ruled out a return to the NBA, stating, "I still like it in Greece, but I have until July 15 to come back to the NBA. If a good situation comes along (it would be considered). If it was the right situation for me, it would be very nice to come back." A team could offer a contract to Kleiza, and if he accepts, Denver would have 7 days to match it.
Last month, the Nuggets extended a qualifying offer to Kleiza for a 1 year/$2.7 million contract. He said he would not accept the offer, as the contract would be far less than what he would be making in Greece.
Although it isn't certain, I think Kleiza will eventually return to the NBA this year, but like Childress, it won't be to the team he played for before he left for Europe. There will probably be some team out there that offers Kleiza a contract somewhere around the range that Channing Frye signed with the Suns today. And if it does happen, he will more than likely accept and return to the NBA.
In the end, I think that both players will come back, but Sergio Rodriguez probably will never return to the NBA. Childress and Kleiza both deserve to be in the NBA, as they have proven they can take advantage of their opportunities.
