James Jones...

by amitp06 on Jan 20, 2008 1:25 PM PST

Wants to stay. Not sure if someone already posted, but I didn't see any discussion on it.

"For me, it has always been about just thinking in the near future,'' Jones said. "If an opportunity presents itself for me to opt out and stay here, cool. Or if it doesn't present itself - an opportunity for me to opt out _ and I stay here, that's fine too. But either way it goes, I want to stay here.''

http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/01/jonesing_for_james.html

That's great news, I hope he gets a modest contract with the Blazers for the next four or five years this summer. Thoughts?

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regarding contracts and extensions

i completely trust management to do the right thing. If they think jones is worth 5 mil for 5 years, then that's fine. If they don't think he's worth resigning, then that's fine too. To this point, these guys have yet ot make a mistake. Blake looks like a solid signing. Outlaws extension looks like genius. Letting udoka go was brilliant. We didn't use our midlevel on some low level scrub (remember when we tried to sign trenton hassel back in the day). Until management makes a mistake, i'm completely ok.

Personally, regarding James Jones, i don't think he deserves a 5 yr contract. That's the same mistake we made with Przy. I like the way Pritchard has been handing out shorter contracts. And if he's got serious plans with that cap room, i don't think jones will get that long of a deal. Outlaw and Blake both got 3 year contracts with the 3rd being a team option. If he does get resigned, it'd be something like that. The risk a 5 year deal implies is not worth taking on role players. We've learned that with Miles, Ratliff, Przy. etc.

by ssa400 on Jan 20, 2008 2:55 PM PST reply actions

Bottom Line

What was missing from Portland's lineup the first, oh 15-17 games of the season (5-12 start), and what was in the lineup the next 23 games where we won about 19 out of those 23 games?

Is it:
A)JAMES JONES
B)JAMES JONES
C)JAMES JONES
D)JAMES JONES
P)JAMES JONES

The correct answer is P, as in Pritchslap.

I rest my case...

I'm hip, I'm slick, and all the women want my phone number!

by silkybrown on Jan 20, 2008 8:57 PM PST up reply actions

True

Keeping it shorter would be ideal, but Jones is looking for stability. It never hurts to have a 3-pt threat like Jones coming off the bench for a competitive team like we will be. So I think it's fine as long as the salary is in the Blazers' favor; I'm personally thinking four years as my prediction.

by amitp06 on Jan 20, 2008 3:47 PM PST reply actions

If Jones

keeps this 3pt% up I don't see how we can even consider not resigning him. He FORCES one player to be glued to him and if they don't then in JJ33's words "All Day". That skill is to rare and valuable to not lock up at a modest price. Steve Kerr anyone?

Brandon Roy Western Conference Player of the Fortnight! 12/02/07 - 12/16/07 Credit to Rockingharder! (He's Coming! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odin)

by Idog1976 on Jan 20, 2008 4:05 PM PST reply actions

to quote an ecstatic mike rice

at the end of the Miami game

"you can't leave James Jones open! he's the number 1 three-point shooter in...in the WOOOORELD!!"

dunno if anyone else noticed that but i was watching that game in the living room with a bunch of friends and everyone nearly died laughing

by DominicanAvenger on Jan 20, 2008 4:15 PM PST up reply actions

Heard this too

That was pretty funny. My first thought was, "I wonder if he has checked all the league stats from all the leagues in the entire world."

That Mike Rice is an excitable fellow.

by tssbro on Jan 20, 2008 8:17 PM PST up reply actions

I think a lot might

depend on how chronic James's sore knee is.

by TwoDeep on Jan 20, 2008 6:12 PM PST reply actions

Nothing

a little "chronic" can't fix.

"Life is a meaningless sequence of events in between Blazer championships"

by broggerboy19 on Jan 21, 2008 1:08 PM PST up reply actions

Thought this might be the case

A player option can go either way for a player or a team. It is tough to give up guaranteed money to test the market. Lately the market has not been kind to players willing to test the market. Jones might be an exception because of how he is shooting from deep and his good character.

I hope he stays.

by tssbro on Jan 20, 2008 8:22 PM PST reply actions

my hope

(without knowing anything about the status of te knee which bothered him early on) is that he is here for years to come. he seems like a good teammate, a smart player who contributes in many ways besides raining in 3s.

ignacio

by ignacio on Jan 20, 2008 9:06 PM PST reply actions

I think re-signing

Jones means bye bye Martell. They duplicate skill sets and I assume that Outlaw will get more minutes at the 3 with Oden in the line up. I could see Jones starting and thriving with Oden posted up and kicking out for open looks.

by JPop on Jan 20, 2008 11:59 PM PST reply actions

Nah

Resign Jones for 2 years and expect him to play, then resign him again on the cheap and he can be Steve Kerr of the Spurs and just come off the bench and shoot threes, but not much else.

Our blog administrator could beat up your blog administrator.

by tominhawaii on Jan 21, 2008 12:13 AM PST up reply actions

I was

in your camp a week ago until I read that Nate considered Martell "the future" and Jones as his mentor.

Until then I was worried.

BTW their games are somewhat similar but I wouldn't call their skill sets "duplicate".

Jones is a better shot-blocker, Martell is a better rebounder.

Jones is a consistent long range threat, Martell is an explosive streak shooter with the capacity to kill a team all by himself.

We need all the 3 pt shooters we can get for Oden's return. Keeping Jones, Martell, and Blake is a good start and probably more than adequate.

"Life is a meaningless sequence of events in between Blazer championships"

by broggerboy19 on Jan 21, 2008 1:12 PM PST up reply actions

He strikes me

As a guy who is in it for the long haul. He has found his role on this team and Loves it! He is a calming presence on the White Team and a quiet
assasin that most teams just seem to forget about.
He can be an invaluable tool for training Martell
Webster on what a good shooter can be.

by coastrider on Jan 21, 2008 12:50 AM PST reply actions