Sonny Weems

[Hawg4life33]

CSKA Moscow, Sonny's current team playing on NBATV right now against a Greek team if anyone is interested in seeing the former Hog.  Team has a number of former NBA players including Andrei Kirilenko and Nando de Cola. European crowds are raucous.

[SooiecidetillNuttgone]

Still a little surprised Sonny didn't stick with someone.   He has a lot of all-around skills and very good physical tools.

[-Blu]

Still a little surprised Sonny didn't stick with someone.   He has a lot of all-around skills and very good physical tools.

Don't' feel bad for Sonny.  He can easily be in the NBA right now if he wanted to be, he went back overseas during the lockout and decided to stay.  He's one of the primer players in that league making really good money.  He decided to be a primer player rather than a role player in the NBA, and nothing is wrong with that.

[intelligence]

Don't' feel bad for Sonny.  He can easily be in the NBA right now if he wanted to be, he went back overseas during the lockout and decided to stay.  He's one of the primer players in that league making really good money.  He decided to be a primer player rather than a role player in the NBA, and nothing is wrong with that.

IIRC, he commented after the lockout ended that going back to the NBA would mean taking a pay cut.

[SONofHAM]

Don't' feel bad for Sonny.  He can easily be in the NBA right now if he wanted to be, he went back overseas during the lockout and decided to stay.  He's one of the primer players in that league making really good money.  He decided to be a primer player rather than a role player in the NBA, and nothing is wrong with that.

are you trying to say premiere?

[latrops]

Don't' feel bad for Sonny.  He can easily be in the NBA right now if he wanted to be, he went back overseas during the lockout and decided to stay.  He's one of the primer players in that league making really good money.  He decided to be a primer player rather than a role player in the NBA, and nothing is wrong with that.

I don't fault him for sticking with the good thing he has going overseas.  However, his career was trending toward his being a bit more than a role player.  He started about half his games in his last NBA season, averaging just over 9 ppg.  I don't think he'd have gone on to be a NBA star, but he could have gone on to a few 15 point and 5 rebound per game type seasons as a regular starter.  Of course, that wouldn't have been guaranteed.  He could have instead never been viewed as more than an average bench player/stop-gap starter.

[Hawg Red]

Yeah, Sonny is in the Euroleague by choice. One of the higher paid guys over there. Wouldn't be surprised to see him back in the NBA in a few years a la Anthony Parker (short initial NBA career, starred in Euroleague, closed in NBA).

Whatever the case may be, he's been successful.

[-Blu]

are you trying to say premiere?

Haha yea.  Gotta love auto correct on the phone.

[1highhog]

Weems has it better overseas than here in the States, he doesn't get robbed like he would here.  He gets a house, two cars, paid staff, and tax free income, as he stated, he'd take a big paycut coming home, Obama would want his cut fresh off the top.

[Hawgvillain]

Weems has it better overseas than here in the States, he doesn't get robbed like he would here.  He gets a house, two cars, paid staff, and tax free income, as he stated, he'd take a big paycut coming home, Obama would want his cut fresh off the top.

Moving overseas doesn't remove US income tax liability unless you renounce your citizenship...

[k.c.hawg]

The guy lives the life of a superstar. Sends out occasional tweets from some of the most picturesque places in the world. He has secured his long term financial future and with the short seasons they play might very well have enough left in the body to come do a 3 or 4 year contract here when it becomes more lucrative to play here than there.

Curious as to what a "great offer" means? Well, according to sources, Weems inked a long-term $10 million agreement with CSKA, cementing himself as the highest-paid player overseas.

"I'm 28 years old, I'm not getting any younger, and a basketball career is short," Weems said. "CSKA is pretty much my team. I have a lot of control over here and can basically do whatever I want. I think I made a smart move career-wise."

[1highhog]

The guy lives the life of a superstar. Sends out occasional tweets from some of the most picturesque places in the world. He has secured his long term financial future and with the short seasons they play might very well have enough left in the body to come do a 3 or 4 year contract here when it becomes more lucrative to play here than there.

Curious as to what a "great offer" means? Well, according to sources, Weems inked a long-term $10 million agreement with CSKA, cementing himself as the highest-paid player overseas.

"I'm 28 years old, I'm not getting any younger, and a basketball career is short," Weems said. "CSKA is pretty much my team. I have a lot of control over here and can basically do whatever I want. I think I made a smart move career-wise."

Great post, I remember coming across that but forgot where.  If I were in his shoes, I would have done the same thing.  +1 for posting.

[GlassofSwine]

Moving overseas doesn't remove US income tax liability unless you renounce your citizenship...

  Depends, you have to file taxes but there are things like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion that if you qualify for can eliminate taxes on up to the first 100k earned overseas.

[Cresthog]

One of my all time favorites.

Wish we would have had him all 4 years.

[Biggus Piggus]

are you trying to say premiere?

Are you trying to say premier?

[Hawgvillain]

  Depends, you have to file taxes but there are things like the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion that if you qualify for can eliminate taxes on up to the first 100k earned overseas.

I live in Sydney and work for an accounting firm so I'm pretty familiar with this.  Obviously, Weems is making more than 100K but the more relevant point is that moving overseas doesn't mean you don't have to pay US taxes.  The law is written to specifically not allow that.

As you mention, there are some ways to get credit for foreign taxes paid to reduce US tax liability -- but this isn't a very strong argument for why someone should play basketball overseas.

[jrulz83]

Are you trying to say premier?

Maybe he's British.