European expansion?

[BaltimoreTerp]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/ian_thomsen/02/13/international.expansion/index.html

I think this is a very interesting idea.

Basketball is a growing sport in Europe, with so many players starting to come over here to play. The proper arenas are being built.

Does anyone else believe that having an actual division of European teams under the NBA structure, instead of a seperate league like NFL Europe, would succeed?

[Sports Guy]

It will make travel a problem.

A lot of talk that the pro and national teams over in Europe wouldn't be happy with this.

[Camden_yardbird]

There are some pretty huge national leagues over there that I would think wouldn't be too thrilled with the idea. France, Italy, and Greece all have very successful leagues already.

I don't think travel would be horrible if they worked out the schedule right, and think it would be a pretty decent idea, but when push comes to shove I think the individual nations would support their home grown leagues.

It would also disperse the NBA talent a lot to support expansion on that scale. I don't know that it would be great for the game.

Imagine some Stevie Franchise type college player too who throws a hissy fit becuase he was just drafted by the Athens Gladiators or whoever...doesn't really help his state side marketability.

A lot of factors have to come together to get it to work out.