http://nba-point-forward.si.com/2011/08/25/chandlers-gets-unusual-deal-with-italian-team/

Chandler gets unusual deal with Italian team

Wilson Chandler is a restricted free agent in the NBA. The Nuggets tendered him a $3.1 million qualifying offer to retain the right to match any deal a rival team might offer Chandler once the NBA’s business resumes.

We have no clue when that will be, of course, but Chandler might be pessimistic: He just signed a deal with an Italian team (Olimpia Milano) that will keep him in the Euroleague competition through the latter part of December, according to Sportando, which broke the story late Wednesday night. Chandler will earn $500,000 total for two months of games and (presumably) a month or so of training before then, according to the report. That works out to a little more than $160,000 per month, or the equivalent of about $2 million per year, though we don’t know yet about things like housing, perks and taxes. I’ve reached out to a representative for Chandler’s agent, Chris Luchey, but I haven’t heard back; Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld reported Wednesday night that Chandler recently switched back to Luchey as his primary rep.

The deal does not appear to have an out clause that would allow Chandler to leave Milano early in the event that the NBA and the players’ union come to an agreement before December. The Euroleague is a serious business – not an NBA farm system – and Milano views Chandler as a key player who can help the team get through the first stage of Euroleague competition, according to Sportando.

To some degree, everything about the future of the NBA is an unknown right now, but Chandler’s deal places him in an even more uncertain future. If the league is back in business in November, can Chandler sign a contract right then for whatever portion of the 2011-12 remains after the new year? Will teams outside of Denver view him as devalued, at least in the immediate future, since they might not have time to integrate Chandler into their systems during whatever sort of training camp might precede an abbreviated 2011-12 season? If his $3.1 million qualifying offer still applies — an unknown, again — how exactly would that work, considering that amount is intended to pay for a full season of NBA play?

There’s also an issue Henry Abbott of TrueHoop raised recently with Aaron Goodwin, a high-profile agent who represents (among many others) Kevin Durant: The idea that NBA players who sign with overseas teams might be able to negotiate individualized merchandising deals giving them a much fatter chunk of the proceeds from merchandise sales than they get in the NBA. Goodwin brought up other licensing deals players might strike, deals that could make up some of the difference between NBA and international salaries and allow some lucky players to hold out a bit longer once they start missing NBA pay checks. Does Chandler’s deal include any of that? I hope to find out.

Remember, though, that Chandler is a free agent, unencumbered by an NBA contract scheduled to last into 2011-12 and beyond. I’m skeptical that any player under such an ongoing contract could sign up for a Chandler-style deal, at least without an opt-out clause that would allow the player to return to the NBA at any moment.

But this is an interesting move. Agents, players and lawyers are watching carefully.

CrushAlot wrote:Apparently he posted this on his twitter. Link is from another knicks fan forum.

http://forums.nykfp.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33719

I would love to get Wilson back. I think NJ might make a big run at him once the lock out is done and I think he would fit very well there.

NixLuva wrote:I would also LOVE to have Chandler back. He's just a perfect role player. He's another kid that just does a little of everything. Those are the kind of players that will always be productive. He can play SG, SF and PF so who wouldn't want that on the bench?

This thread shuld have been send closked right there. Locked, stickied and preserved as proof that even miracles do happen! Jus' messin..

Only player I don't miss from the trade.

Childs2Dudley wrote:No thanks.

Only player I don't miss from the trade.

wow really? hard to dislike the dude.