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Tuesday July 22, 2008 11:13 AM

Q&A with Daryl Morey


Rockets' GM tackles the topic of NBA players taking their games overseas

Jason Friedman
Rockets.com Staff WriterHOUSTON - One of the interesting developments of this offseason has been the defection of a handful of NBA players who have chosen to take their games to Europe. This migration has some fans buzzing as they attempt to discern whether this is the start of a trend which will make a significant impact on the NBA landscape, or simply much ado about nothing.

So in order to gain some insight and perspective on the subject, Rockets.com’s Jason Friedman fired off a few questions to GM Daryl Morey. What follows is the transcript of their conversation.

JCF: Bostjan Nachbar made a few waves yesterday when he said, “The NBA better be careful,” in reference to the supposed threat European clubs pose to the NBA’s talent pool. Is there any sort of concern on your part that the big money overseas will have an adverse affect on the NBA?

DM: I don’t think it’s a concern, I just think it’s part of the dynamic of how basketball is evolving. The international leagues are getting better and better; they have more resources and want to compete. So I think it’s something you factor in to all your decisions now.

JCF: Right now it seems like the guys the league is most in danger of losing are the role players. We’ve already seen guys like Boki, Carlos Delfino and Juan Carlos Navarro head overseas, and now we’re hearing that Josh Childress is possibly considering an offer from Europe, too. In the past it seemed like you could wait some of these guys out, and when the free agent money dried up, you could grab a few of them for a bargain basement price. But now that some players are starting to explore their international options, the effectiveness of that tactic could be really called into question. Do you agree?

DM: Yeah, I think the veteran players who are in the prime of their careers, who are -- as you call them -- role players, those are definitely the ones where the competition is highest.

JCF: Do you see basketball eventually becoming like soccer where you’ve got a few extremely powerful leagues which attract all the best players and top talent? Or are we already a lot closer to that reality than some would like to admit?

DM: No, I don’t see it that way. I think the NBA is the dominant league and it will stay that way because the top money and top talent are still drawn to the NBA, and that’s going to continue. That will have a feedback effect where, as each top player chooses to play in the NBA, it will maintain its status as the top league. I do think the NBA is fine. I think the main competition is going to be for the players who are the next tier down from the top talent, where the money may be as good or better [overseas], and their options in the NBA might be more limited.

JCF: How much do you feel like this player migration – and I don’t want to blow it out of proportion; I mean we’re obviously only talking about a handful of cases here – has to do with the strength of the Euro as compared to the U.S. dollar? Or do you think that issue is overblown, and that the real reason comes down to these clubs being run by mega-billionaires?

DM: Yeah, I think it’s more that you’ve got highly competitive owners and a sport that’s continuing to gain popularity and recognition, and that’s the primary driver. Obviously the Euro’s economic factors have been a factor that’s made the money more attractive, but I think the primary driver is just owners who want to win and a sport that’s gaining popularity around the world.

JCF: So do you even see this as a negative? Or do you look at the flip side and see that basketball is gaining popularity and that, ultimately, it’s going to help the NBA fulfill its long-term goals of international expansion?

DM: I don’t see it as a negative or a positive. I just think it’s a factor that – I guess I can only focus on my job – you have to bring into all your decisions.

JCF: Now this is a slightly different case, I know, but what about the Brandon Jennings situation, where you have a player deciding to forgo his opportunity to play in college and just going straight to Europe to play? Do you see that as a trend, or sort of a singular case; somewhat similar to when Maurice Clarett challenged the NFL, everybody made it out to be a big deal, but then nothing tangible really came of it?

DM: Well, something happened. He lost (laughs). So something did happen there. But I’d say this: For high school players who may have eligibility issues, I do think this [playing overseas] will be a growing option for them.

JCF: Do you think it’s a risky maneuver on his part based on the fact he’ll be playing with adults, facing potential culture shock?

DM: I think it’s a viable option for players to consider. I think it gives high school players another option, so it’s probably good for them.