Martin McNeal: LeBron James should consider huge offer from Europe

Bron-Bron should listen to the coin offers.

There's talk a European team will make an outrageous financial offer to Cleveland's LeBron James when he's expected to become a free agent in the summer of 2010.

A number of lower-level NBA players (Atlanta's Josh Childress', Orlando's Carlos Arroyo and Milwaukee's Earl Boykins) have signed deals with European teams this summer.

It's been reported CSKA Moscow of Russia and Olympiacos of Greece have made James aware they have interest.

James also should have interest, if he truly wants to become a global icon, as he has said he wants to be.

The NBA salary cap will preclude teams from offering yearly salaries higher than $20 million or so for five years.

Cleveland, his parent team, can add a sixth year.

However, as I was mentioning to my son Phillip on Monday, imagine if a team comes at James with, say, a three-year, $150 million offer. Man, James has to consider grand theft loot like that.

That's too much money to turn away from without serious consideration. There are many things to consider in deciding whether to live and play in another city or country and culture. And then there's how the game is played in a foreign environment.

Yet, $150 million for three seasons would be incredibly difficult to pass up.

Does anyone believe NBA Commissioner David Stern would turn down $50 million per season – for any length of time – to run a European league? Not me.

James will be 26 in 2010. He might not even be in his prime yet. He could earn three years worth of megafunds overseas, then return to the United States with an even fatter wallet.

European teams do not play four games in five nights as in the NBA, so James might suffer less wear and tear on his body than other players his age who also entered the league early.

And if $50 million annually is a consideration, you can imagine where $75 million a year for two years might fit. Don't laugh. I remember reading an article as a little kid about the late Wilt Chamberlain getting paid $1,000 per game and soon to be making $100,000 a season. Amazing!

Kings gagged?

Kings basketball President Geoff Petrie's voice-mail message at the team's practice facility indicates he's out of the office until Aug. 14. Petrie, reportedly, is in Hawaii.

The 14th just happens to be the day Ron Artest officially becomes a member of the Houston Rockets, or perhaps more importantly, is no longer a member of the Kings.

Actually, I was half-kidding the other day when I wrote the Kings wanted to make sure no ill words were said about Artest by the front office before the deal became official.

Unquestionably, Petrie would be the last person to give up the goods on Artest. However, word has it, there's an unofficial-official gag order for Kings folks on the basketball operations side.

U.S. Olympic hoops issues

For about two weeks, I've been trying to figure out why Jason Kidd was starting at point guard over Chris Paul and/or Deron Williams.

Perhaps the coaching staff was trying to show respect to Kidd.

Whatever! There is no way Kidd should be starting over those two stallions. Well, maybe five years ago, but not this summer.

Head coach Mike Krzyzewski's reluctance to make that decision has me wondering. Everything is good when things are going well.

However, should games get tight and situations become pressurized, it'll be interesting to see how the coach and his players handle duress.

Paul should be running the show when the Olympics start, and hopefully that'll be the way it is.