League of Ex-NBAers to Launch Next Season with a Plan to Place a Team in Philly
File this under COUNT ME IN: According to Sam Amick of USA Today (via Basketball Talk), there is a plan to launch a so-called “Champions League” of former NBA players (and others) in 2016, with up to 16 teams. The super ambitious project is being put together by CEO Carl George – not George Karl – and here’s the plan:
• Sixteen teams to begin competing in the summer of 2016, with a strong preference for players who have competed in the NBA during the last three years. According to George, the New York team is already fully formed and includes former NBA players Al Harrington, Rasheed Wallace and Maurice Ager. Teams in Boston, Philadelphia, Washington, Miami, Orlando, Atlanta and Cleveland are up next, with the goal to employ approximately 250 players in all (170 on teams, others as player-coaches or in other roles). Each team would have two former NBA All-stars on the roster and a Hall of Famer in the front office. George said that 60 players have committed to this point, with many more “in the pipeline” while the subsequent teams are rolled out.
• Approximately 30 games to be played in July and August, with 10 charity/marketing events in non-NBA markets during the non-season months also included as part of a player’s compensation package. On average, George said, players would make approximately $200,000 per year (for 80 or 90 days of work) in their pay structure if they take part in both the season and the charity events.
The draw for former (and fringe) NBA players is a short season, more money than the NBA D-League, and not having to uproot your life to play in Europe. The Championship would also be set up in a March Madness-style tournament with the winners getting a financial bonus.
As you see in that first bullet point, the plan is to set a team in Philadelphia – likely not at The Center. But if we’re saying each team would feature two former All-Stars, why can’t the Philly squad get ‘Sheed. That would leave only one more All-Star slot to fill, one Allen Iverson is probably already calling about.
Rich people have these kinds of ideas all the time, but with the Sixers’ attendance numbers on the loooowwww end, seeing a nostalgia-tour type team play some games at The Palestra or Liacouras Center (for example) would be a welcome alternative.