Who knew the NBA's path to true globalization would one day travel through Atlanta?

Former Hawks swingman Josh Childress had no idea he'd be the pioneer he appears to be today, the morning after signing a three-year, $32.5- million contract with Greek powerhouse Olympiakos, rather than accepting a deal from the Hawks.

Childress, 25, is the first player at this stage of his NBA career to spurn the world's most high-profile basketball stage for one of its international alternatives.

Atlanta had offered him a five-year, $33 million contract. But the Hawks' slow-paced negotiating tactics and the limits of restricted free agency, combined with what Childress called Wednesday the "opportunity of a lifetime," resulted in his decision.

Whether others follow remains to be seen, but Pandora's Box has clearly been opened.

"I've talked with a few guys and it could become a trend," said Childress, whose net pay from Olympiakos will be $20 million. "I'm not so sure it won't. It's certainly different. We thought outside the box on this one. If players can see a fellow NBA athlete come overseas and live a normal life and adjust to the culture [they may] think, why not me? I'm also interested to see how these next weeks turn out for some of the other restricted free agents in my draft class."

One Greek newspaper reported that representatives for at least two other players contacted Olympiakos to let the team know that if it didn't reach terms with Childress that they'd be interested in the same offer.

"History has shown that the best players in the world prefer to play in the NBA," Hawks general manager Rick Sund said. "The last few years there have been some pretty aggressive movements to sign players, mostly from Russia. It will be interesting to see how this plays out in the future."

Seven players who were on NBA rosters last season have turned down offers from NBA teams this summer to play in Europe, including Juan Carlos Navarro, Bostjan Nachbar and Carlos Delfino.

"I just think logic dictates that if you believe in the globalization of the sport, there is no reason the path can't travel in both directions," said Childress' Washington-based agent Lon Babby, a veteran who has seen the change in the NBA's tide over the past two decades.

"Given the relative strength of the Euro, there are teams with the relative ability to compete with NBA teams for players. It's going to change the dynamic of the process and I'm sure some others will look at it and it could become a part of the business."

The nation's top-rated high school player beat Childress to the punch last week. California point guard Brandon Jennings chose to sign a professional contract with an Italian team instead of playing at Arizona, where he was expected to stay for just a year to appease the NBA's age-limit rule.

Childress' decision to leave the NBA for Greece could have a much more tangible impact on players already in the league, particularly those trapped by the restrictions of free agency.

"I'm sure the players would like the system to be re-thought," Babby said when asked if the system was broken. "We'll see how it goes. I never underestimate the power of the NBA to respond to market trends."

Childress averaged 11.8 points and 4.9 rebounds last season. He finished sixth in the voting for the NBA's Sixth Man of award last season.

The NBA market for Childress, a player whose skills can fit into almost any system, consisted of teams under the salary cap such as the 76ers, who courted him and teammate Josh Smith. But even if they had tendered an offer sheet, the Hawks owned the right to match any offers within seven days of Childress signing one.

By opting for an overseas alternative, Babby and Jim Tanner, another of Childress' agents and the chief negotiator on the contract with Olympiakos, snatched the leverage away from Atlanta.

The Hawks will retain Childress' NBA rights for at least the next two years, provided they tender qualifying offers to him every summer. If they don't, Childress becomes an unrestricted free agent and can pursue an NBA future without Atlanta receiving any compensation.

Childress' contract with Olympiakos also offers the flexibility to return to the NBA via an opt-out clause at the end of the first two years of the deal. There's also no buyout clause in the deal, meaning Childress will be allowed to weigh his options every summer.

"I signed this deal with the intention of playing with Olympiakos for the duration," Childress said, "but obviously, if an opportunity comes up in the NBA I'm more than willing to have my ears open to it. I'm an NBA player and I think I've proven that. This is a little change-up."

A change-up for sure, but hardly a little one.