Great posting and insights. Let me add a few remarks from the perspective of an European or more precisely German Basketball fan. I am convinced that a higher number of NBA players going to Europe and probably the establishment of a new tournament would be beneficial especially for European Basketball in several aspects:

1) It will raise the profile of Basketball which visibility is far below Soccer and Handball, Spain being the only albeit not total exception. Europeans are generally very much interested in US sports and an increased presence of well known NBA players would help to provide a broader public awareness of Basketball in Europe.

2) One of the main shortcomings of European Basketball is the lack of stars. More NBA players could contribute to remedy this situation. That the European audience is receiptive to Basketball stars can be seen in the fact that among the more than 300 members of the German Team Dirk Nowitzki was chosen to bear the flag at the opening of the Olympic Games in Bejing.

3) A rising public awareness of Basketball could increase the number of companies and individuals supporting this sports financially and thereby improving the conditions for players and for the development of young promising players.

4) It will in turn, as you pointed out very clearly, help NBA players to get experience especially when confronted with high expectations due to the fact that they are the high paid star in their new team.

Having said all this I can hardly imagine a significant number of NBA player leaving for Europe, at least in the foreseeable future. Despite the present Dollar-Euro exchange rate salaries in Europe are still below US levels and due to the lack of potent supports will remain so for some time. But it the long run things will hopefully change.

As you stated, young NBA players gaining some experience in Europe is a win for everybody. I\’m sure your opinion will change, however, when big market European teams (if there is such a thing) offer Kobe Bryant and Lebron 50 Million/piece to come play in Europe. Once a big name like that goes, it will open the floodgate. I\’m sure NBA owners such as yourself will freak. You should by a European team and get in the game early. You should also check out this… http://www.johnassaraf.com/challenge.php?s=hiac2008

You brought up a comparison to European soccer. It would be a dream scenario for basketball to globalize like Soccer has in Europe. There is so much basketball talent in America, our youth programs are far ahead of any other country. Sending the same type of players that you target with UFL abroad will increase their level of competition, and help to make it mainstream. Once those leagues are strengthened then we can talk about world cups and championships. But always keep in mind the difference between the individual teams competing and national teams competing. Its completely different.

In addition, I believe other countries need to adopt NBA rules. FIBA rules make for finesse basketball, the wider paint, the shorter 3 point line, smaller foul limit. All these rules discourage power basketball played in the paint. This is why foreign basketball gets a reputation of being soft. With NBA rules, they\’ll play like the NBA, which is the best and most exciting brand of basketball. I think that\’s the best thing other countries can do to improve their leagues, better than importing American players.

As an European basketball fan I am also surprised for all these mid-level NBA players coming to Europe this season, but not so much surprised as the american public is.
Actually this is just a new level of bargaining in the \”market-type\” situation between the us and Europe. Since the 1980\’s loads of American pro players have been coming to play to Europe. Once it was just people too old to play in the NBA, then also immature players who had to grow up a bit after college. Finally also people who could only get minimum wages and no playing time in the NBA chose to cross the pond.
This summer, due to the currency exchange rate and to some russian/greek magnates we\’re seeing good NBA players coming to Europe. It was only a matter of time and money. Here we saw everything quite clearly happening year after year. It is a novelty for people who ignore the European scene only.
An example? This year high-school sensation Brandon Jennings is coming to play here in Rome (Italy) instead of going to Arizona in the NCAA; big media exposure both there and here, lots of talking. The kid is quite smart (he really is) but he thought he would be by far the most talented player ever to wear our jersey (Virtus Roma)…wrong. Someone explained him we have seen Larry Wright, George Gervin, Mike Bantom, Michael Cooper, Danny Ferry, Brian Shaw, Dino Radja and Dejan Bodiroga.
He didn\’t know most of the names…unfortunately