As most of the NBA-to-overseas attention remains on Kobe Bryant, whose representatives will reportedly meet with officials from the club in Turkey that signed Deron Williams, two other All-Stars added their names to the list of players keeping their international options open. The Associated Press reports that during a promotional tour in Hong Kong, Chris Paul of the New Orleans Hornets and Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks told SNTV that they will both look at playing in China if the lockout cuts into the NBA regular season.
Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony Will Consider China If NBA Lockout Persists
Williams is the only top-flight NBA player to sign a deal overseas since the NBA locked out players on July 1, having signed the equivalent of a $5 million contract with Besiktas, a second-tier team in Turkey. That contract -- and any negotiated by players under NBA contract for next season, as Paul and Anthony are -- includes an out that will allow Williams to return to the New Jersey Nets as soon as the lockout ends.
China is seen as more feasible for some players, given that its season begins later than most if not all European seasons. Williams is due to report to Besiktas in late August, whereas the Chinese league begins play closer to December.
See More:
