Your country generally has 20+ active teams listed so that's enough for at least two leagues. My wonder is if the grass is truly greener on the other side.
Depends what you mean by "active". As far as concerning the NT, I'd guess we have about 10-12 teams that are trying to help out with the NT. Maybe not that many.
@Malice - Have you seen Kobe's new 40+ mill extension at work? Thoughts? ;) (http://youtu.be/jhFqSlvbKAM)
Here's the thing: by signing Kobe to this extension (which I agree - way overpaid), they tell every other elite player in the league that 'if you come to the Lakers, we will look after you'.
LA has a history of doing this (have a look at Magic's contract! ), and it's just a continuation of their history.
That said, I STILL wish Kobe had gone the Timmy route...
Gasol... not sure, but LA hold his Bird rights, so he could re-sign with them end of this season for a pittance (if he chose to, but why should he when Kobe gave 'em no discount?).
What they get from external sources (as you mentioned - TV/Merch) more than covers Kobe's contract (that and a WHOLE LOT more)...
How quickly the Lakers pushed this through kinda blew my mind. I do think it's an attempt to play to their history, and entice future elite FAs via a belief that you will "get looked after" if you come to the Lakers. I think that maybe they're saying to the players "We're an old school franchise who looks after their own, in a day and age where everybody else will nickel 'n dime you."
Might work...
http://with-malice.com/ - The half-crazed ramblings of a Lakers fanatic in Japan