Kobe Bryant and 7 Players Who Shouldn't Play Overseas

The NBPA likely thinks it'll gain leverage if NBA players head overseas, but the owners understand this is only temporary. 

The teams abroad don't have the financial means to support NBA players long-term. While I understand some players are starving for a paycheck, going overseas will not solve the most pressing issue that lies here in the U.S. 

With that, I give you several NBA players who've already made the mistake or are going to make the mistake of heading overseas.  

Kobe Bryant

As a Laker fan, I absolutely hate hearing all the talk about Kobe Bryant heading overseas, especially when it's coming from No. 24 himself. 

Kobe Bryant likely hasn't been affected financially by this lockout, making all the talk about heading overseas a head-scratcher. Bryant is a 15-year veteran with a lot of miles on those knees, so rest should be a priority. 

Wilson Chandler

Chandler may have jumped the gun when he signed a contract with a no-opt-out clause to play for China's Zhejiang Guangsha squad. 

Chandler would have been a hot commodity in the free agent market, but decided to go the safe route. You can't blame Chandler for taking the money, but he'll now have to either wait until the end of the 2011 regular season (in order to be eligible for the playoffs) or the start of the 2012 NBA season before he joins a ball club in the States. 

JR Smith

JR Smith is also headed to China with a no-opt-out clause in his contract. Like his Nugget counterpart, JR Smith likely would have garnered serious attention in the open market. 

Like Chandler, Smith can still sign on with an NBA ball club at season's end, but his deal in China could prove costly. As volatile as Smith is, he needs to cash in with his stock this high. 

Kenyon Martin

Is there a Denver Nugget theme going on here? I promise this is the last Nugget you'll see on this list. 

Like Chandler and JR Smith, Kenyon Martin has also signed to play in China. NBA teams will overpay for bigs, even if Martin is slightly on the wrong side of 30. He may have lost his chance for a solid contract, considering it could be his last multi-year deal due to age and injury issues. 

Chris Douglas-Roberts

I have always loved CDR's game, but his inconsistencies on both ends have troubled the three-year veteran. If CDR ever lands in the right situation, he has star potential. 

Chris Douglas-Roberts, according to ESPN, has reached an agreement with Italian club Virtus Bologna on a one-year deal with a no-opt-out clause. CDR will not play with the same level of competition overseas than he would in the NBA. Playing overseas may stunt his growth. 

Tony Parker

Tony Parker signed with his ASVEL squad in France for a $1,995 month. Parker is a 10-year veteran with a history of injuries. Coach Gregg Popovich and general manager RC Buford probably agree with me. 

The Spurs need a healthy Tony Parker to stay in contention in the West. 

Chris Paul

Paul hasn't signed with a team yet, but there are rumors he may be interested in heading overseas if the lockout continues. 

Paul is another big-name player with a recent history of injuries. It would be a shame to see any other version of Chris Paul than the one we witnessed in the first round of last year's playoffs (and this is coming from a Laker fan).