Jones Gone
by Dave on Jun 26, 2008 9:42 AM PDT
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PrintMike Barrett has now confirmed what 95.5 The Game reported and our good friend Douglast relayed in the sidebar. James Jones is not picking up the last year player's option on his contract and is now an UNrestricted free agent. Had Jones picked up his option the Blazers could have had him for one more year at $3.15 million.
Although it would have been nice to have JJ3 back for another year this move makes sense for him. After last year's performance he can probably get that much on the open market, plus another couple years besides. He was important to the Blazers last year but with Rudy Fernandez coming in plus our younger players (whichever are still here) still developing there's no guarantee he'd get that much opportunity again. Had he spent the year riding Portland's bench the interest may not have been there for him when he needed a new contract. Plus it was fairly unlikely that Portland would re-sign him after next season. He was a stopgap measure for us...an important one in this time of transition, but that was his role nonetheless.
As we said in the discussion of Channing Frye, Martell, Webster, and Jarrett Jack, players are professionals and have to make professional decisions about their careers. I appreciate everything James did but I don't begrudge him the chance to sign and play elsewhere. I doubt I've had taken $3 million for one year if I had a more attractive offer out there either.
--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)
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JJ33 as many 3's as you can fit on/in one jersey
We all knew this was going to happen, you don’t shoot the lights out and keep getting paid practically nothing. Hopefully we will be able to compete in the free agent market and bring him back to this team, but this decision makes complete sense.
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
At 3 million a year...
i wish i was getting paid “pratically nothing”.
by Cool Hand Roy on Jun 26, 2008 10:09 AM PDT up reply actions
man for a guy who
led the league in 3pt shooting % for most of the season, he is getting paid practically nothing
Jaws were hitting the floor as Greg repeatedly attempted to tear the rim off the backboard...
by TheOdenator on Jun 26, 2008 10:28 AM PDT up reply actions
A huge loss...
I think this is an underrated loss for the Trail Blazers as I don’t think we’ll ever quite now how important Jones’ veteran saavy was on this Blazers roster. Beyond his 8 points per game and 44% shooting from beyond the arc, Jones knew a lot about appropriate offensive spacing and it really helped guide our offense during crunch time.
When a guy shoots 44% from three-point land, you can bet that his man isn’t leaving him to clog the lane (against Roy) or double-team (Travis).
Jones leaves with a record of 30 wins and 16 losses in games when he got 18 minutes or more. He may not be worth a longterm deal, but if there’s anyway KP can sign him to a moderate extension (2 or 3 years at $4.5 million per – slightly less than Kapono money), I think he would be a great longterm zone buster and spot starter at small forward.
"Now, you take a bobcat or a Jayhawk. You know they'll run if you give 'em the chance. But when one don't run, why, you shoot him and shoot him quick. Raef's my dog, Pa. I've gotta do what's right..." Old Yeller (1957)
by RoyGoesTheDynamite on Jun 26, 2008 11:08 AM PDT up reply actions
I like Jones as much as the next guy.
But he’s not irreplacable.
Like Dave, I understand why he’s opting out and don’t begrudge him. I predicted it as likely back in Feb, for the very reasons Dave mentions. I figured the only way he wouldn’t opt out is if Portland gave him some sort of guarantee he’d be extended.
thats why you pay $5 for a hot dog at the RG
Im still happy with a cold six-pack, pack of dogs and buns, friends and the game on TV. So essentially James Jones is taking the additional bling over playing on a championship caliber team. Good riddance.
Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should--Max Ehrmann
JJ
I have a feeling that his shooting is going to REALLY be missed. The Blazers were a different team last year when JJ was available and playing well.
Here’s one vote for Joe Alexander.
Goodbye JJ
If you don’t come back to us, go East. I don’t want those 3s bombing on us anymore than need be.
RipCity -- now, now ...
JJ? JJ? We love you JJ... I love you!... Good-bye!
I was pretending to be the girl at the end of Pale Rider.
Weather for Honolulu, HI
Thu Clear 85°F | 72°F
Fri Clear 85°F | 72°F
Sat Clear 85°F | 72°F
Sun Clear 85°F | 72°F
Man I miss those 85 and 72 days.
And I will miss JJ as well. Boo-Hoo.
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene.' -Homer J Simpson
well that's a relief!
Maybe, just once, someone will call me 'Sir' without adding, 'You're making a scene.' -Homer J Simpson
Jones will be missed
His three’s were nice, but what will be missed most is his leadership skills. He was a respected “veteran” that had a good relationship with the young guys. Best of luck James.
That he opted out doesn't necessarily mean he is gone
It just means he is pretty sure he can command a better deal. The Blazers still might bring him back at e.g. $11 million for 3 years. Then he would instantly get considerably more than he would have made without opting out, plus some security and the chance to sign one more multi-year contract in the NBA after that when he is just 30 or 31.
Coach, I promise I wasn't running hard ...
I just don't see Portland doing this
for all the reasons I listed in my initial post.
The only way we give him a 3 year deal is if we end the trading and drafting process with only 1 SF on the roster.
James Jones is not coming back
He had the choice to play this year for over three mill and chose to look elsewhere. He sees the writing on the wall which is fine, but any salary increase is not coming from the PTB.
Whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should--Max Ehrmann
Could it be that
JJ is working with the team? Could it be a sign and trade in the works?
2-4 the who
We'll live guys
it’s slightly sad due to the experience and shooting, and it was great to have him on the team, but let’s be honest. We’re gonna be ok.
myspace.com/marktwainindians
"Sad due to the shooting"?!!!
Somebody shot him? That’s pretty drastic, but I suppose it will increase player loyalty in future. Well, perhaps not loyalty, but they’ll be less likely to leave.
Gives a whole new twist to the “JailBlazers” term, I suppose.
Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo
Well that sucks
But good for him. Get the money while he can. Those knees wont hold up forever.
KP if we got a roster spot left after you wheel and deal today, lets resign him
I remember the good old days. The Rasta Monsta days.
by GreatOden'sRaven on Jun 26, 2008 10:53 AM PDT reply actions
Sucks indeed
I was hoping this day wouldn’t come, but here it is. I’m happy for James if he can get some security, but wish it was with the Blazers. That is likely not going to happen now. The Blazers must suspect the knee is not going to heal. Who’s gonna replace those 3’s and court leadership? Rudy (really a complete unknown at this point…he better be good).
by hellsfrozenover on Jun 26, 2008 11:04 AM PDT reply actions
Short term solution
JJ was always a short term solution. It was either gonna be this year or next year. So long JJ, get that money.
BINGO, BANGO, BONGO
Smart move, JJ
You weren’t guaranteed anything beyond next year contractually, and you weren’t guaranteed to get the same or more playing time.
He won’t be back. I think that changes how KP packages some of our assets, as Marty’s value to the team just went up. He’s not so disposable now.
We don't NEED the draft. -Mortimer 6/18
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 26, 2008 11:26 AM PDT reply actions
Udoka, JJ33, ... ?
We let Udoka go. And he ends up stating alot of games on the World Champion Spurs.
James Jones we did not let go. It was his option under the contract, and after a great year, he exercised it.
We need help at the 3-pt line. We need veteran players who have been to the playoffs/been on quality rosters. We need players who “get it” and will do what the team needs them to do to win games.
I hope we re-sign Jones. We have penetrators, slashers, interior turn-around shooters, mid-range jumpers, a monster in the paint, but we are thin in terms of reliable threats from beyond the arc. I don’t see JJ33 starting very often on the Team of the Future (TofF). But I do see a player like him - no liabilities, plays good defense, and stretches defenses - as the butter we need for our bread. (Otherwise … we are plain toast?)
'77
We don't need help at the 3 point line...
we were 7th in the league at 37.7%...
sure we lose JJones’ 44%, but Outlaw’s % started poorly and went up as the season progressed, and Roy has made a commitment to iimporving his as well. Also, Rudy can nail them.
We’ll be fine. Jones was a one dimensional offensive player. He made heady plays now and again, but couldn’t keep his man in front of him on defense, and couldn’t drive. I like him, but the cap relief and roster spot could be more valuable than his 44%.
We don't NEED the draft. -Mortimer 6/18
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 26, 2008 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions
I agree with you
We will be fine without him. Rudy will be our sharpshooter off the bench.
I like Jones
But it eases the log jam at the 3 and makes more minutes for martell and travis, assuming they are both still here. He was a transitional player for the Blazers, was never going to be part of the championship window. Better to break it off now than later.
We’ll see who steps up.
The blazers didn't "let" Udoka go
They gave him a very attractive offer which he and his agent turned down for a much worse one.
hey, Dave...
you’ve got it down as JJones being a restricted free agent… is that correct?
I thought he was an unrestricted free agent…
We don't NEED the draft. -Mortimer 6/18
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 26, 2008 11:36 AM PDT reply actions
I think when we look back at this last season
We will all remember a special time. Jones was a big part of that. I wish I could have seen him with Oden. I only hope this is part of KP’s plan.
President of the Petteri Koponen fan club.
Short term loss
In the short term, we may lose more games without him next year.
In the long term, it means more PT for Martell, more looks, more development. It may mean a roster spot for Koponen, which could have a big payoff in 2-3 years. As far as our championship window, this probably is not a significant loss.
But I really liked the guy, and he was a huge part of our success this year. All the best to him.
Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo
Clarification...
is that to mean that you think we will lose more than 41 games? Or that you think we’ll lose games we might have won had he stayed?
We don't NEED the draft. -Mortimer 6/18
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 26, 2008 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm on record for 53-54 wins this year
Of course, I don’t know our roster yet.
I think Jones gave us at least 7-8 wins this year we wouldn’t have had.
I think this coming year, we might have had 2-3 more wins with him than we’ll have without him. But we’ll win a lot more than 41 this year.
Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo
so what you're saying is that you're sane
just making sure.
I mean, as the leader of the world, surely you couldn’t actually believe that we won’t win more than 41 games next year.
We don't NEED the draft. -Mortimer 6/18
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 26, 2008 1:09 PM PDT up reply actions
Well, world leaders and sanity
have very little in common.
I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich
good point.
We don't NEED the draft. -Mortimer 6/18
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 26, 2008 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions
I'm different
I don’t WANT to rule the world. I’m just going to do it by popular acclamation, because the world NEEDS me and will finally come to recognize it.
In my great magnanimity, I will agree to serve.
What, in all that, is incompatible with sanity?
Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo
sad to see james jones go
nice man. great example for his teammates. will be a coach in the nba in the future if/when he wants to be. great community guy. really genuine. can’t say enough good about him.
but that’s the business.
"Honor Terry Porter." Email me with your TP stories and memories.
Addition by Subtraction
Should make Rudy fit in quite nicely! Not to mention less pressure on Nate.
2-4 the who
rudy is not playing at SF this year
he’s a pg and sf in this league. He needs to bulk up.
Ford: Bill, you're claiming victory already? Have you had a "Mission Accomplished" banner printed yet?
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2008/columns/story?page=DraftDebate-080624
Rumor has it, 5 years $25 million
One note on James Jones. As reported earlier, he has opted out of his contract. Or, to put it correctly, he has not opted in. Kevin said it’s “sad.” The Blazers want James back, and he has said he loves Portland and found something special last season. That being said, the rumor is, Jones has an offer worth 25-million dollars, for five years, elsewhere. If that’s true, and not a bluff, then consider him gone.
http://mikebarrettsblog.blogspot.com/2008/06/clock-is-ticking.html
BINGO, BANGO, BONGO
Way too much to pay for him
Nice job jj.
President of the Petteri Koponen fan club.
by Sabonis4Ever on Jun 26, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
If that's true...
not only is he gone, but he just scored.
He isn’t worth 5/$25M… that’s way too much.
We don't NEED the draft. -Mortimer 6/18
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 26, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions
Jones has hit a lot of shots for 3
But if he can hit a shot for 25 million, that will be pretty impressive.
For those thinking Jones isn't worth that much.
Worth is relative. I’d agree that he is probably not worth that amount to Portland. But that’s because Portland has 2 (MW & TO) guys, possibly 3 (McRoberts) or 4 (Rudy) that can fill most, if not all of the roles JJ did. We also have 5 draft picks in which to find a replacement.
For a team looking for a good 3 pt specialist who is long, has a decent amount of experience and is still fairly young – as in he’s in the early phase of what should be his prime years, $5 mill a year is pretty reasonable. And if the fifth year is a team option, then I’d say there is nothing over priced about this deal.
you make a great point...
but 5/$25M for a guy who is pretty much limited to outside shooting (and you can’t bank on the fact that he’s a good FT shooter because he doesn’t draw near enough fouls) seems excessive.
I’m not denying that he’s a great pickup for any team in need of an outside shooter, but $25 Large? Overpaid.
Regardless, I’m thrilled for JJones. He’s been legendary in his one year here and I’m glad he got somebody to CTC for that much.
We don't NEED the draft. -Mortimer 6/18
by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jun 26, 2008 2:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Kapono set the minimum I guess
Kapono got like a MAX MLE deal, and I think James Jones is better and more versatile than Kaponer.
So, if a contending team needed 3 point shooting and smarts, that’s not a horrible deal to end all horrible deals. All depends on the needs. I hope it’s true for Jamie, cuz I like the guy!
Mortimer
5 years is way too long for his creaky knees
But you are right he is fills that “role player” niche with great aplomb. That was probably a nonsensical malapropism, but who cares, it’s DRAFT NIGHT!
Let’s just hope he didn’t go to the Lakers. Philly has cap room right, I could live with that.
Boston coach Doc Rivers said he was surprised by the firing of Saunders.
"I don't understand it," Rivers said. "It makes coaching not fun."
Sayonara JJ
I will miss the JJ’s next year. JJ1 and JJ33, forget our needs at point guard, we need more fun acronyms to fill the void that will be felt next year. Gameday threads will never be the same without it. Get on it KP. If you don’t trade JJ1 make sure you get Jerome James, or Jared Jeffries from the Knicks! JJ Hickson isn’t good enough.
And wow are you serious? 25 mil? Isiah Thomas isn’t even a GM anymore who is signing him to that much money?
Boston coach Doc Rivers said he was surprised by the firing of Saunders.
"I don't understand it," Rivers said. "It makes coaching not fun."
We'll have KP in the front office
and PK in Idaho.
Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo
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