Nate refuses contract extension talks?

by Replacement Level Poster on Jul 8, 2008 8:44 AM PDT Comment 30 comments

Jason Quick is reporting that Nate has turned down contract extension talks this summer.

McMillan said he turned down an offer this summer to negotiate a contract extension with the Blazers. McMillan, who has two years remaining on a five-year, $30 million deal, said he wants to finish his five years before thinking about an extension. "I want to earn it," McMillan said. "We haven't done anything here yet, and when my five years is done, I want to make sure they want me and make sure I want to be here."

This was an add on to a post about Bayless playing at the point. For the full article click here.

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Oops, I just linked to this in my fanpost above

But, as I hinted there, Nate may not be entirely happy about his relationship with KP. I’m just taking a wild guess, however.

"Shoot, I don't even have anything to put in my own sig"

These are the modest words of pualo, posted on June 20, 2008.
Yes, pualo, an extraordinarily discerning BEdger with a knack for subtle expression.

by CatMan2 on Jul 8, 2008 8:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Is Nate crazy?!?

Both Teams Played Hard
Both Teams Played Hard
Both Teams Played Hard

by Kelsoballa on Jul 8, 2008 8:49 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

That was my reaction as well

why would you try to prove something else if they think you already proved enough to get you more years? It’s either he’s crazy or:

1) Doesn’t like it here
2) Doesn’t want to keep working
3) Thinks he can get more money after winning more
4) Thinks he can get a better job after winning more
5) (Like someone said above) is playing hard to get to gain influence.
6) Just loves uncertainty and flexibility
7) Wants to concentrated on performance and not worry about anything else (this would be awesome)

Or some combo. Anyone one of those is a serious risk compared to a contract extension. That kind of makes him crazy, depending on what an extension would look like (and he has no clue what it would look like because he refused to talk about it)

I'm a really really ridiculously good looking orange mocha frappaccino drinking manhammer sandwich

by hobobob on Jul 8, 2008 10:22 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

5) (Like someone said above) is playing hard to get to gain influence.

The more I think about this, the more twisted the logic

If a coach doesn’t think he has enough say in personnel matters, he doesn’t refuse the extension. He signs the LT deal so he has more leverage.

Like others have said, Nate is betting on himself (and his roster) that he will get a bigger payday in a couple of years. The only downside (for him) is if his teams can’t win the “big game” and a coach with a better resume becomes available at just the right (wrong) time.

Pretty good odds that won’t happen. There are good regular season coaches, then there are superior playoff series coaches. In two years we should know if Nate is in category #2

by two4larue on Jul 8, 2008 3:23 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

that is pretty strange

let the speculation begin.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 8, 2008 8:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

For him, it's ingenius

He can make more money later if the team is doing well, and if they’re not doing well, he’ll have the freedom to leave. I think it’s just a basic business move.

If we’re making solid strides in the next two years, I really can’t see him packing it up and leaving. I think he’s just waiting so he has 1) more flexibility and 2) the potential to earn more cash.

How do I set my laser printer to stun?

by prezofdeath on Jul 8, 2008 8:54 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Exactly what I thought.

He’s playing it smart. Plain and simple.

by einman77 on Jul 8, 2008 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Personally

I think Nate sees where we could be in a couple of years, and if we are there when his contract is up he’ll be making more than if he signed on the dotted line today.

It is a gamble though, if this team doesn’t follow through on the promise that is pretty evident he is leaving a lot of money on the table.

by Replacement Level Poster on Jul 8, 2008 9:01 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well put

that is the only reason that really makes sense about this decision. And barring any major injury to a major player we are pretty much guaranteed to be a contender for the next ten years. I’d say we’re a lock to go to the playoffs at least.

Both Teams Played Hard
Both Teams Played Hard
Both Teams Played Hard

by Kelsoballa on Jul 8, 2008 10:32 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If this team falls short, Nate will be gone at the end of 2...

........................ I’d play it safe and re-up for 3 @ $8m, or whatever he’d be getting. Some big number.

"You don't live by the jumpshot, you die by the jumpshot." ---Charles Barkley, 2/7/08

by timbo on Jul 8, 2008 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nate's comment on the matter

was that he hadn’t earned anything yet. Therefore he waould rather play out the final 2 years on his current contract, then sign a contract which he has earned or move on (if we should somehow stumble). This make a lot of sense especailly if he signs a 4-5 year extension and then the Blazers decide they want to can him in 2 years with 4-5 years now remaining that would need to be bought out. In other words, he avoiding a possibly sticky situation for everyone, which is a very matureand professional gesture. it also show s he has self-confidence to win a new contract in two years that would be bettter than what he might earn today.

by NWfan on Jul 8, 2008 9:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Of course he has self-confidence that he can win a new contract in two years

Look at the freakin team we have, Even I could coach these guys to the playoffs the next two years.

Both Teams Played Hard
Both Teams Played Hard
Both Teams Played Hard

by Kelsoballa on Jul 8, 2008 10:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I believe you could coach these guys to the playoffs . But you couldn´t win the title. Me on the other hand...

The Midnight Rambler

by amlmart1 on Jul 8, 2008 11:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

That, my friends

is a vote of confidence in this team.

In two more years, he thinks he’ll be negotiating as coach of a WCF championship team, at least—and probably have offers on the table from places likes, say, NJ, after they sign LeBron. And he’ll re-sign with us and make a lot of lot of lot of money.

Other people don't have as much practice at being wrong as I do -- HT, timbo

by jscot on Jul 8, 2008 9:05 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

My thoughts exactly

I don’t think Nate wants to go anywhere. if we are anywhere close to the WCF in two years I could see us locking Nate up longterm and giving him a nice payday and he thinks that as well.

by ppilot on Jul 8, 2008 9:57 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

At the very least Mr. Sonic

will not be going to Seattle. That was probably the biggest threat to a future desintation for Nate should he leave Portland. Now it’s nearly certain that he’ll stay as long as we keep progressing as a team.

by NWfan on Jul 8, 2008 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

this is good for the blazers

a 3-year extension on top of the two years remaining means we would be stuck with him for the next 5 years. Correct me if i am wrong, but he hasn’t proven anything yet (post-season wise).

I think he is a good coach, but lets not grant him a lucrative extension based on the amazing job KP has done giving him talent.

by PippenAintEasy on Jul 8, 2008 9:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I know of only one other coach in the league that I'd want as coach...

Popovich. He’s not going anywhere. And I’d say Byron Scott is on a short list as well.

Nate is heads and shoulders above most of the rest. His Seattle team overachieved, we’ve overachieved (so far), his Blazers were the best last year coming back from a timeout… the dude is money.

Who else is there? Doc freakin’ Rivers? Phil nutmaster Jackson? Flip Saunders? Larry Orange? There just aren’t a lot of good coaches. Although it looks like Isaiah Thomas might be available soon…

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jul 8, 2008 11:09 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jerry Sloan

he’s not leaving Utah anytime soon though.

Nate’s done a fine job so far. Let’s see if he can take us to the next level. I believe he can.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 8, 2008 11:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yes.

He’s real good, too.

There might be one or two more as well… but I’d have to say that Nate is in my Fave5 as far as coaches in the NBA.

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jul 8, 2008 12:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'll pass on him

he’s always unhappy and really seems to not take any joy from his work.

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

by ratbastird on Jul 8, 2008 12:19 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

a lot of homerism there

nothing wrong with that.. But Nate has overachieved just once for the blazers, and that was a slight over-achievement. 41-41 last year when they probably should have been 39-41. KP is the one who has overachieved. Turning the 4th pick/telfair/cash into LA and B-roy. And all that he did this past draft.

Nate is Great! but i’m not going to say he is the second best coach in the nba to Pop.

by PippenAintEasy on Jul 8, 2008 1:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

39-41=80 games..

so ughh how does that make sense?

Oden...Aldridge...Roy.....THE REAL BIG THREE

by CroRupt on Jul 8, 2008 1:55 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

ok

from now on anyone who has a typo I am calling you out on behalf of CroRupt. He obviously cant handle typos.

Its pretty obvious that I meant 39-43

by PippenAintEasy on Jul 8, 2008 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Name names of better coaches.

I’m open to having forgotten some. But Pop, Sloan, Scott, McMillan, and Larry Red (who has too much ego for his own good)... that’s pretty much the cream of the crop. And don’t give me that Pill Jackson juju… having the GOAT and then Shaq/Coughbie and being in two huge markets with massive drawing power taints his legacy. Who’d I miss that’s better? Statistically, the Blazers were one of the best teams immediately following a timeout… I’m not making that up, it’s a real number that I don’t have a source for, but it’s pretty common knowledge on the BEdge…. that stat HAS to fall on the coach.

You had them at 39-43 last year when everyone else was hopeful they’d get 30-35?

Don’t be trippin’, Pippen.

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jul 8, 2008 2:15 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Phil

Granted, he’s had amazing talent but he’s still won nine (9!) titles. Give him some credit at least.

Boomshakalaka

by jksnake99 on Jul 8, 2008 2:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Pill

If he seemed as driven as he did with that Bulls team, or even during the L@kers run, I might feel forced to give him said credit. But he seems to do it more out of routine than out of passion at this point. He barely seemed into the games during the Finals, and he has lost his last two.

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jul 8, 2008 3:28 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs