With Kobe Bryant Agreeing to Play in Italy, Who's Next? Top Players to Watch

With Kobe Bryant leaving to play ball in Italy during the lockout, we might expect another big name or two to take off as well. New Jersey Nets star point guard Deron Williams? already agreed before Bryant to play for Besiktas in Turkey, but he might not have the same persuasiveness as, arguably, the best player in the NBA for the past decade.

We've all heard that other stars are open to playing overseas if the lockout continues to persist. And, as of right now, it looks like it WILL persist.

Italy and its Italian basketball lovers are extremely happy. Laker fans, though not as happy, can still breathe easy since Bryant is allowed to return to the Lakers if and when the lockout is over with no penalties. That may not be the same story for others who end up following Bryant's move.

Keep your eyes peeled superstar lovers. Here are the top superstars to watch out for who are thinking international basketball:

Derrick Rose

The face of the Bulls franchise carried the Bulls on his back to their Eastern Conference Finals since 1998. The MVP averaged 25 points and eight assists per game.

Rose has said that the lockout is unnecessary and he will consider playing overseas if it drags on.

Yes, I am taking into consideration that I might move overseas, he said to the Chicago Tribune's K.C. Johnson. I don't know where. There are a lot of great places overseas. I haven't really had time to get the details of every place.

Johnson reported that two sources close to Rose confirmed that he had one concrete offer from an unknown foreign team. However, one of the sources stressed that Rose will not be going overseas anytime soon.

Dwayne Wade

Flash was just as integral to the Heat's success -- depending on how fans define the Heat's success -- as King James. James overshadowed him in points, assists, and steals during the season, but Wade averaged more points per game in the postseason.

I'm not ruling it out, he told reporters at a Florida kids basketball camp in July. At the end of the day, we get that itch as a basketball player. You want to play the game. I have no idea when I will get that itch.

Wade also validated Deron Williams' decision to move:

It's not just something that came overnight, Wade said. [He] didn't wake up and say, 'All right, go play in Turkey.' Obviously, this is something that he felt that if a lockout was to last a long time, 'I would consider playing.' It's because of the game. He wants to play the game, wants to play it at a high level, and if we can't play in the NBA, he's going to take that opportunity to try to play somewhere else. Hopefully, we don't get to that point, but if we do, I'm sure a lot of guys will possibly explore it.

And, Wade made it clear that he could be in that group.

If there's an opportunity there, I'd consider it, he said.

Dwight Howard

Superman, a five-time all-Star who led Orlando to the NBA finals in 2009, is probably one of the most frustrated players to go through the lockout. While Dwight Howard become a perennial defensive force, averaging two blocks a game for his career, he doesn't have the benefit of refining the skills many people criticize.

In an interview with The Associated Press back in July, Howard said he would consider playing in China or Europe if the NBA lockout doesn't end.

Howard also said in an earlier interview with the Orlando Sentinel that playing overseas during the lockout would be fun.

I'd have to think [about Europe] seriously, but it's not a decision that should be made in a rush, he said, speaking to reporters during a promotional tour in Spain. I think China has more options. I've thought about it a little bit, but not in depth. The big issue is the potential of injury.

Deron Williams has said that after signing with a team in Turkey, he could see Howard becoming a worldwide star if he played in China.

For Howard, maybe a change of scenery is a good thing after all.

If I decide to go overseas, the main thing is for me to continue to get better, not to do the things that I normally do, but do better at the things I'm not good at, Howard said. So I can use that talent to go overseas, working on my skills and staying in great shape.