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Wilson Chandler Signs Deal In China

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

On August 30, 2011, J.A. Adande of ESPN.com reported that Wilson Chandler stated he has signed a contract to play for Zhejiang Guangsha, which plays its games in the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA).  There are two reasons why I find Chandler’s move to the CBA and the article itself to be of importance to Sports Agent Blog readers.

1. Wilson Chandler is “stuck” in China

As I discussed last week, the CBA has decided to implement a rule that effectively prevents NBA players currently under contract with NBA teams from playing in the next CBA regular season.  However, as I noted, players with NBA experience who are currently free agents will be allowed to sign with CBA teams, but will not be permitted any opt-out clauses in their CBA contracts.  Since Chandler is not currently signed to any NBA team’s roster, he certainly has the right to go ahead and sign with Zhejiang Guangsha.  The caveat is that even if the 2011/12 NBA season is played (in any form or fashion), Chandler is effectively prevented from leaving his CBA team and signing with an NBA team.  It will be interesting to see if players like Chandler (who have NBA experience and are currently free agents) decide to sign CBA contracts and then make a decision to breach those contracts should the 2011/12 NBA season have a chance of being played.  Perhaps the penalty for breaching the CBA contract would be worth paying should an NBA offer come the way of Chandler or other NBA veterans.

2. Wilson Chandler is once again represented by Chris Luchey

Scroll down to paragraph 7 of J.A. Adande’s article and you will read, “Chandler’s agent, Chris Luchey, did not specify the amount of the one-year contract with the Guangsha, or Lions, but said it was worth less than the $3.1 million qualifying offer the Nuggets made in order to retain their rights to Chandler, and more than the $1.7 million offer that has been reported elsewhere.”

On January 24, 2011, I published an On To The Next One piece regarding Wilson Chandler ending his agency relationship with Chris Luchey of CGL Sports.  Chandler later hired Happy Walters of Rogue Sports.  But apparently, at some point in time between the end of January and this month, Chandler made the switch back to Luchey.  Congrats to Chandler and Luchey on the overseas contract.

By Darren Heitner

Darren Adam Heitner, Esq., is a preeminent sports attorney and the founder of Heitner Legal, P.L.L.C., a Fort Lauderdale-based law firm specializing in sports law, contract negotiations, intellectual property, and arbitration. He earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 2010 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida in 2007, where he was named Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Admitted to practice in the state bars of Florida, New York, and the District of Columbia, as well as multiple federal courts, Darren also serves as a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

As an adjunct professor, Darren imparts his expertise through teaching Sports Law at the University of Florida Levin College of Law and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) at the University of Miami School of Law in the Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LL.M. program. His scholarly contributions include authoring several books published by the American Bar Association, such as How to Play the Game: What Every Sports Attorney Needs to Know, and numerous articles in prominent publications like Forbes, Inc. Magazine, and Above the Law. His thought leadership in NIL has earned him recognition as one of the foremost experts by The Wall Street Journal, USA TODAY, and On3, and he has been lauded as a “power player in NIL deals” by Action Network and a “top sports trademark attorney” by Sportico.

Darren’s passion for sports law led him to establish Sports Agent Blog on December 31, 2005, initially titled “I Want To Be A Sports Agent.” The platform, created as a New Year’s resolution, has grown into a cornerstone of the sports agency community, offering in-depth analysis of industry trends, legal disputes, and agent-player dynamics. His commitment to the field is further evidenced by his representation of numerous athletes and sports agents, as well as his prior role as an Adjunct Professor at Indiana University Bloomington, where he developed and taught a course on Sport Agency Management from 2011 to 2014.

Darren’s contributions have been recognized with prestigious honors, including the University of Florida’s 40 Under 40 Award, the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Outstanding Young Alumnus Award, and designation as the best lawyer in Fort Lauderdale by Fort Lauderdale Magazine. He remains an active voice in the sports law community, sharing insights through his weekly NIL newsletter and his X posts, engaging a broad audience on legal developments in sports.