What is Happening to the NBA?

Josh Childress just signed a three-year deal to leave the Atlanta Hawks for, get this, Olympiakos of Greece. Yes, the Euroleague is a decent one and, yes, Childress is no Kobe Bryant. But, the steady stream of players leaving the NBA for Europe gives me pause.

Consider the following:

• A handful of second-tier foreign talents moved back to Europe this summer--or decided to stay. Tiago Splitter, long valued by the Spurs, decided to stay in the EU. Carlos Delfino, Primoz Brezec, and Juan Carlos Navarro decided to leave the NBA and go to the Euroleague.
• Brandon Jennings, supposedly the top high school guard prospect in the country, is going to Rome instead of Arizona.
• Now, Josh Childress, a solid swingman on an up-and-coming but dysfunctionally managed team, is leaving Atlanta for Athens.

There are disparate reasons for these signings: the strength of the euro, the mismanagement of the Hawks organization, Jennings' low SAT scores, the restrictive nature of the NBA's restricted-contract rules. The NBA should not be worried about Delfino, Navarro, Brezec, and Splitter opting for Europe: they're Europeans and they're not top talents.

The NBA SHOULD be concerned about Jennings and Childress because both went to Europe to circumvent NBA rules. Jennings decided to go to Rome instead of spending a rather useless (from his perspective) one-year at Arizona. The NBA tried to force high school talents to play for free in college. This talent said, "No, thanks" and is playing for big bucks in Italy. It's unclear whether he'll get the minutes or exposure that he would get in the NCAA, but he'll get paid.

Childress could have signed a one-year deal with Atlanta and then become an unrestricted FA. Instead, he signed a three-year deal with Olympiakos, which has opt-outs in each year. Basically, this gives him a lot of leverage with the Hawks for whenever he chooses to come back to the NBA. Europe is beautiful and I don't blame Childress for taking the money to go there. But, where's the thrill and excitement for playing against the top-competition in the world that only the NBA provides? He could be competing with LeBron, instead he'll be up against NBA retreads and a few European stars, playing less games, and getting very little exposure. Anthony Parker managed to get to the Raptors after a trip to Europe (he was drafted by the Sixers and played for the Magic). But, Childress doesn't have to prove himself like Parker did. Childress is basically just leaving a bad situation in Atlanta and taking the money. This is not about love of the game, this is about quality of life and the freedom to choose your employer.

Maybe the NBA should be worried....