BY GERY WOELFEL
Lynn Greer believes he’s going to be “set for life.’’
And, ironically, he can thank Charlie Bell for that.
Greer, after being granted his request to be released from his contract with the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday, has verbally agreed to a two-year, $7 million contract with Olympiakos in Greece.
Olympiakos is the same team that extended an almost similar offer to Bell several weeks ago. Bell instead opted to re-sign with the Bucks, getting a five-year, $18 million deal.
“They wanted Charlie or Sarunas Jasikevicius (of Golden State) and, when they didn’t get either of them, they called my agent,’’ said Greer, referring to his Cherry Hills, N.J.-based agent Leon Rose.
“It’s tough to leave Milwaukee, but compared to what I was getting in Milwaukee, I had to make that move.
“It set me up for life.’’
Greer, who was to make $770,000 this season, played in 41 games as a backup for the Bucks last season.
Greer, 28 averaged 4.1 points and 1.3 assists. His biggest game came against New Orleans/Oklahoma City when he scored 15 points.
Greer had been playing in Italy before signing with the Bucks. He has also played overseas in Russia, Poland and Greece.
Greer was in Milwaukee when he was contacted by Rose last Friday about Olympiakos’ offer.
Initially, Greer said he was going to pass on the offer because of his desire to keep playing in the NBA.
“I wasn’t going to take the offer; I wanted to stick it out here and do my best to get a long-term deal,’’ Greer said. “But I didn’t get no sleep that night.
“And when I looked at those numbers … man … I had to take it.’’
Greer said Bucks general manager Larry Harris and Dave Babcock, the team’s director of player personnel, were quite supportive of his decision.
“Larry was very helpful,’’ Greer said. “He didn’t make me buy out my contract. He wasn’t trying to hold me back.
“He said if he was in the same situation as I was, he’d probably do the same thing.’’
While Greer has reached a verbal agreement with Olympiakos officials, he has yet to formally sign a contract.
But Greer expects to do that Wednesday, when he flies from his hometown of Philadelphia to Greece.
