Olympiakos, the Greek powerhouse that signed former Hawk Josh Childress a year ago, plays Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James in an exhibition game next Monday in Cleveland. While Braylon Edwards might wanna put his tickets on StubHub, Olympiakos’ players are well advised to make their own return travel plans, just in case, as the Plain-Dealer’s Brian Windhorst explains.

On Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Cleveland, Judge Christopher A. Boyko cleared the way for old American creditors of Olympiakos to attempt to collect more than $400,000 Olympiakos owes to an former American player’s agent from a five-year old lawsuit.The plaintiff, agent Tom McLaughlin, wants to have federal marshals seize everything they can that belongs to the club — including any currency and perhaps even the charter jet it will fly into town.

Boyko ordered a representative from Olympiakos to be deposed in court by Friday afternoon before he will rule whether McLaughlin can proceed with the asset seizure. Of course, a settlement could be reached before then or before Monday. Tuesday, Olympiakos was defended by powerful local law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey.

McLaughlin used to represent NBA player Chris Morris, who also played in Greece before a knee injury cut short his career. Olympiakos cut him in 2001, owing him $1.3 million in salary and fees and McLaughlin $400,000 in fees. In separate civil cases, Morris and McLaughlin won default judgments against Olympiakos by 2004.

The problem was, the team was in Greece and outside the jurisdiction. Until now, that is.