A bogus, er, Bogut opportunity

So there’s one more NBA player going overseas.

Not to play; to coach.

The Associated Press reports that former Utah Ute Andrew Bogut will be an assistant coach on the Australian national team during it’s Olympic qualifying series against New Zealand. He originally wanted to play for the team.

In coaching, rather than playing, Bogut provided some insight into international basketball of all sorts: There’s just not that much money out there. Bogut actually wanted to play for Australia, but Basketball Australia couldn’t afford to insure his multi-million dollar NBA contract.

Imagine if a team wanted to do that, plus pay his salary.

A handful of players such as Deron Williams have perpetuated the myth that foreign basketball is a good alternative to the NBA. There may be a few spots, but it’s not a long term solution. Could basketball in Turkey really afford both Kobe Bryant and Deron Williams? If so, what would it pay the other players in, coupons?

As time passes and players look into their options during the lockout, the reality of the situation is setting in. The place to play, the place with the money, is still in the NBA.

Anything else is a spotty proposition.

On the bright side, maybe this the first step toward Bogut becoming the next Phil Jackson.