Paul Pierce is again making headlines. This time the union mouth piece is letting the world know Spain is a possible destination for the “Truth”. It seems a few Spanish teams have Pierce on their radar. Well, of course any team in Europe would jump at the chance to land a star like Paul Pierce. Pierce also has expressed a desire to play in Europe once his NBA career ends. However, this report reeks of a union negotiation tactic.
Of course the labor battle is about leverage. The players have no realistic place in the USA to go and ply their trade and that gives the owners a lot of leverage. The only way the NBA players can gain any of that leverage back is to have another option. The only obvious answer is Europe in places like Spain and Russia. By saying they can go and earn income elsewhere they get at least a small morsel of leverage. The problem is that everyone including the owners know that no one player wants to leave their home in the USA and play in Europe away from their families and friends. Heck, the only guys that will truly want a contract overseas are young guys like Avery Bradley trying to get better and broke guys like Delonte West. These guys are hardly players that will break the owners resolve. Even if Pierce goes, he will have an opt out clause once an NBA season begins.
The bottom line is plan on seeing more players have interest in Europe. Star guys like Pierce, KG, Kobe, and even LeBum will probably be rumored to be signing somewhere. In fact Rondo and Kendrick Perkins have already had rumors surface about them playing together overseas. This is just a union tactic. I hope these players get a grip on reality and get together with the owners and get a real deal for NBA basketball soon because time is running out. No more ploys with lawsuits and foreign leagues. Shut up and deal and make the fans the winners that they deserve to be. Remember Go Green Or Go Home!!!!!!!!!
