In 2008 Josh Childress stepped away from the NBA game voluntarily in sort of a trail blazing move to sign with the Greek team the Olympiacos. The fact that his contract was a solid $20 million over 3 years brought all sorts of speculation that some Euro League teams may have enough cash to draw NBA players away from the bright spot lights of the NBA, overseas to the European game. Although the move didn’t exactly open the floodgates, there have been some significant signings overseas where players in the past may have opted to keep playing out their contracts and riding the pine in the NBA.
Well today word is out that the Atlanta Hawks, who own the rights to Josh Childress, have signed him again for the purposes of a trade to the Phoenix Suns where Childress will play alongside two time MVP Steve Nash. Yahoo Sports! had these details on the trade:
Now the Hawks have done a sign-and-trade with the Phoenix Suns, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski, that will send Childress to Arizona to help fill the mighty shoes of the man who now will be storming the floor for the New York Knicks, Amar’e Stoudemire(notes). Wojnarowski reports that the Suns will lose a 2012 second-round pick in the deal and pay Childress $34 million over the next five seasons.
Other teams that had interest in Childress included the Washington Wizards, San Antonio Spurs, and Utah Jazz. {via}
