Shaun Linvingston will likely be signed by the Blazers !!!UPDATE!!!!! Livingston will not be signed...

I was listening to wheels after work today, with Kenny filling in for wheels, and they were dang confident that Shaun Livingston would be signed tomorrow. Apparently, wheels hinted at it on the 22nd show, and Kenny likely has the inside info from wheels. He states his reasoning at somewhere between 80% and 90% through the podcast. Sounds like Livingston will be on our squad.

My reaction: hmmmmm.....

about 1 year ago myemic23 29 comments 0 recs |

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Guaranteed?

Or were they hinting he would be signed to the practice squad?

This could actually be a disruptive situation or maybe Sergio has just bought a ticket out of town.

by Dragonage on Sep 23, 2008 10:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I would imagine it would be guaranteed...

I wouldn’t make much sense to give him an invite to camp when he isn’t yet 100%. We won’t know what he is really capable of until he makes it all the way back, so bringing him in to compete in the camp doesn’t make a ton of sense IMO. They probably will give him a 1 year deal and see if he can become a factor at some point this season. If so, fantastic! If not, all you lose is a cool mil or 2 and a roster spot, that’s not anything significant in my opinion. The risk/reward factor is certainly high enough to make this gamble…

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Sep 23, 2008 10:50 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Trade Bait

Joel Freeland=Stud

by hightide on Sep 23, 2008 10:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

how could he be trade bait

if he is available right now to anyone for free. the only teams interested are us and the timberwolves (frankly if Kevin Mchale is interested that should send you running and screaming in the opposite direction…but in KP we trust), so what, we’re going to trade him to minnesota? unless you’re talking about basically paying him to rehab in a blazer jersey and then send him packing as a possible throw in 2 or 3 years down the road? he’s gonna have to do SOMETHING for us…

Afew years ago, a broadcaster once said Pryzbilla's name is "Polish for 'personal foul.'" Ouch.

by chrischa on Sep 23, 2008 10:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hold his rights

Let him rehab in a positive environment, and ship him out next summer along with the cap-space (just an idea). Because he has more value than Steve Hill, and also could make a cap dump by another team look more respectable (and less like a Pritchslap).

Joel Freeland=Stud

by hightide on Sep 23, 2008 11:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Because lets face it

Portland is a prime target next summer to take on a bad contract for talent, but fans don’t like salary dumps. So a high ceiling guy for the fans to peg their hopes on makes trade more digestible.

Joel Freeland=Stud

by hightide on Sep 23, 2008 11:34 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

If KP signs him, he definitely has SOMETHING in the works.

Beaver believer!

by mannyfresh1 on Sep 24, 2008 12:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bingo

enough said

I've got second hand diabetes from eating to many candy cigarettes.

by RoysBlazers on Sep 24, 2008 12:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

So ...

That’s likely why KP looked so tired at the Rudy Welcoming. He had been up all night pulling his hair about a possible Livingston for D. Wade-type deal out there.

http://www.myspace.com/y5k

by Y5k on Sep 24, 2008 6:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

McHale is just trying to imitate KP ;-)

What, KP is interested? Bring him in, we need that guy!

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind.

by Norsktroll on Sep 24, 2008 2:23 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah. mos def not trade bait...

but another card placed in the hand of the always forward thinking KP. This could spell doom for Sergio (almost certainly, barring a miracle performance this year) and could even be trouble for Steve Blake although I think with a good showing this year he could still be okay. I think this is a great move the more i think of it. Stockpile talent now and worry about the fallout later. We’re getting a great deal on a real solid player that I think given the next year to rehab with extreme caution Oden stylee will come back great and be a valuable asset to Portland come next year. It will also put pressure on Jerryd/Blake to really bust out this year in the same flavor that Rudy is putting pressure on Martell/Travis this year.

by avalonzero on Sep 24, 2008 2:33 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Is this a post-Darius PR stunt?

Showing the world that we don’t discriminate toward players based on prior injuries?

I guess that would actually make us look worse, since it means we discriminated on Darius for reasons other than injury… ooops….-a-daisy……….. hmmmmmmm.

by Bust a Bucket on Sep 24, 2008 1:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I THOUGHT it was a post-Darius PR stunt...

……………………………………. but that was clearly a wrong read. KP is SERIOUS if he signs him.

It is also the signing of Sergio’s death warrant as a Blazer. You think he was in a pouty mood after losing 1 guard to pick up 2 — now it’s a third, and a PG to boot…

We’ll see. I’ll believe this signing when I see it…

"TominHawaii's real name is Hubert and he's a rancher in Burns."

by timbo on Sep 24, 2008 8:51 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nothing to do with this year

It will be a one year contract with team options for years two and three. If he doesn’t come through by the end of the year, he won’t mess up our cap space. If he does, we got a steal.

Trade bait? Not necessarily. They wouldn’t be doing this if they didn’t think there was the possibility that he might fill a really good role for us.

The thing about trades is you never know who is going to come available, and who other teams might demand. We’re all really high on Bayless. But if Martell and Travis don’t step up, and Prince became available, you’d have to look at him, even if Detroit insisted they have to have Bayless as part of the deal. Would that happen? Who knows what will happen next week, let alone next year?

What if Livingston returns to what we all thought he was going to be, and improves his shooting as well? Then I guess maybe we could afford to trade Bayless.

Stockpiling assets, that’s what KP is doing. If Livingston pans out, then we have an asset that we can either trade or that frees us to trade someone else. If he doesn’t, and years after this are team options, this has only cost a little bit of Paul Allen’s money. Paul doesn’t seem bothered. Perhaps he hadn’t invested heavily in Lehman.

The most amazing thing about my amazing ego is I have amazingly little about which to be egotistical.
The pick and roll this year will emphasize "roll" followed by "dunk", followed by the wailings and lamentations of your women.

by jscot on Sep 24, 2008 1:52 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

KP loves bargains.

Roy, Bayless, and Lamarcus were all steals. Even if we don’t need Livingston I could see them signing him just because they think they are getting a good deal. Even if he only plays 10 minutes a game he will still be a fan favorite. People love to see comebacks and happy endings. From a marketing standpoint it makes more sense to sign a popular benchwarmer over an unknown not so popular benchwarmer. Luke Jackson isn’t going to help sell any tickets, but Shaun Livingston just might.

The fact that Livingston can also play the 3 probably helps a little. It might be nice to have that sort of flexibility with the point and forward positions still so up in the air. Can you imagine more potential from a 15th man than Livingston? Sure his injury was terrible, but people have come back from that sort of thing before. Bernard King Blew wrecked his knee in 1985 at a time when knee repair was certainly not what it is today. He came back two years later, and in 1991 was the third scoring leader (28 ppg) in the NBA behind MJ and Malone. I’m not saying Livingston will make the same sort of comeback, but the 15th roster spot isn’t really a matter of life and death anyway.

If somebody hits you with an object you should beat the hell out of them.-Charles Barkley

by Winchester on Sep 24, 2008 2:18 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

agreed, but for those who might underestimate the severity of his injury, here is a picture:

Warning, if you are at all queasy with injury type stuff, you might be best suited not opening this link. Thats actually why I am not just embedding it, his kneecap is so not facing the right direction and it makes me a little bit nauseous… Link! The video is too sickening for words, I won’t even bother linking that….

RUDY > MJ

by myemic23 on Sep 24, 2008 2:44 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If he gets signed, we probably will rehash this time and again, but here is my take so far:

What is sickening about the video is that he screams in pain, instantly knowing that something is terribly wrong. Yeah, it is probably the worst sports injury without contact I have seen, at least in basketball. And I still wonder a bit about how a pro athlete can land so wrong without stepping on somebody’s foot. Rudy e.g. always looks down for half a second when he flies to the rim or hangs on it in order to see where he lands, which is wise to protect your ankles especially if you are not the bulkiest guy.

What gives me hope about Livingston’s injury: Kneecap and ligament damage is much better understood than micro fracture since that is a fairly new procedure. Yes, it is very rare to pull all but one in your knee at the same time. But the surgery for each one is a known quantity, and how to rehab ligaments is also an established procedure. If everything was done correctly (it seems so far) and you get enough time to rebuild flexibility (ligaments stretch again) and muscles you can come back to form. And Livingston was not really relying on his athleticism, rather on his ability to make passes even inside the lane nobody else could make due to his size and incredible view for the game.

To give an example from another sport, e.g. several pro ski riders have come back from severe ligament damage multiple times, and they have huge impacts on the repaired legs and knees all the time and especially during more than 100 foot long jumps in the downhill and Super G. One prominent example is Hermann Maier, who had a motorcycle accident at 70 mph that resulted in damage even worse than what Livingston had. He is not as dominant as before, but is winning races again. (Amazingly, he also had this monster airborne crash at the Olympics, where miraculously nothing happened and he went on to win gold the same week http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTkRTgolpLo).

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind.

by Norsktroll on Sep 24, 2008 3:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

The Herminator (OT-ish)

Maier’s return to greatness may be the most incredible injury recovery in sports history (channeling my innner Walton :)

Hermann was very close to having his leg amputated, and came back to be a very very strong competitor in an incredibly competetive WC league.
That said, he was an extra super duper one-of-a-kind specimen even before his injury; amazing strength, athleticism and mental focus.
Livingston was (and may still be) a farily special NBA player, but Hermann was all-world, all-time caliber.
I’m no orthopedist, but tearing EVERY ligament in your knee? I wonder how much recovery and stability is possible after that kind of injury, even with hard work and top-notch medical intervention.

There are limits to what the human body can do. That said, I’d love for Livinston to become the next Maier, in Portland or esewhere.

by Saba on Sep 24, 2008 12:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

True, the man is exceptional

It was just to provide an example from another sport were athletes regularly come back from severe ligament damage after pausing for a season or two. Since there is a lot of negative “he is done” and “didn’t you see the injury” talk, not so much here but over on Oregonlive and other sites, and that makes me a bit angry because he is clearly not hobbling on crutches anymore. Can he ever come back to full strength and sustain 80+ games a season again without the knee swelling like crazy or further damage, I don’t know, probably his doctors don’t know. But I think it’s not out of this world and I for one would love to see him come back, preferably with the Blazers, and I think quite a lot of people would.

St. Bayno's 120 Haiku Prospects: Nicolas Batum in the paint—prairie grass, blown by wind. Jerryd Bayless—leaps over a kite string, and keeps going.

by Norsktroll on Sep 24, 2008 12:49 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Argh, it's a photo of Paris Hilton!

Very funny, myemic!

"Personally, I'd rather give an elephant a prostate exam on Chili Day." --Dave on rooting for the Lakers or Celtics

by MiledAnimal on Sep 24, 2008 10:55 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If Livingston gets signed, Raef is getting released

Book it!

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Sep 24, 2008 3:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I bet a one-year contract.

SLEC>RLEC

http://www.myspace.com/y5k

by Y5k on Sep 24, 2008 6:11 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I think there will be a team option

I think there are two schools of thought. If the Blazers pay him a year and he improves but hardly plays this year, the Blazers want to get something out of their investment and get at least one year (or trade) out of him. As for Mr. Livingston, he doesn’t want to sign a long contract that isn’t paying him that much. Especially if he recovers close to 100%. My guess at least a one or two year team option.

I think KP still wants that open roster spot for them other two fellows to fight over. KP always says “cap space” not “trade a expiring contract,” when he talks about next summer. And Raef has a broken shoulder.

Blazers Edge has an alarmist vision

by tominhawaii on Sep 24, 2008 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

This is a very possible scenario, I think.

"TominHawaii's real name is Hubert and he's a rancher in Burns."

by timbo on Sep 24, 2008 8:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One possibility

Imagine the Blazers sign Livingston today and spurn the Timberwolves who are obviously interested. Livingston plays sparingly but still shows he can play in the league with a little more rehab and game experience.

Mike Miller meanwhile is unhappy playing in Minnesota, maybe not unhappy, but not fitting in for whatever reason.

Martell Webster has seen his minutes diminished due to the outstanding play of Travis Outlaw, and Rudy Fernandez.

Could you then see the Blazers trading RLEC, Webster, and Livingston for Mike Miller and Brian Cardinal(makes the trade work)?

Man I love tongue tacos - Mortimer
Only thing better is Trout on a stick roasted over an open fire - annthefan
I have a pic like that of my dog - tominhawaii

by Outlaw is Rejector on Sep 24, 2008 1:39 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Mike Miller is a South Dakota native ...

who, as a youngster, grew up loving the Minnesota Timberwolves. As a result, Miller’s level of happiness for being in Minnesota isn’t even a question. Also, an offensively multifaceted player like Miller is the perfect guy to play beside a one-dimensional defensive stopper in Corey Brewer and Randy Foye, who’s a combo guard with impaired court vision.

by AK1984 on Sep 24, 2008 2:11 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Shaun Livingston ...

should be signed to nothing more than a two-year, minimum-level contract for a player of his tenure (2008-2009: $854,957 & 2009-2010: $959,111), with a team option for the second season.

However, I still think that the Portland Trail Blazers would be best served by trading Sergio Rodriguez to the Golden State Warriors for C.J. Watson — who’d be immediately released, since his salary is only partially guaranteed this season for $100,000 — and a 2010 second-round draft pick, while subsequently signing veteran floor general Kevin Ollie to be the third-string point guard to tutor Jerryd Bayless in a player/coach-esque role.

Yet, regardless of whether or not Livingston signs with the Blazers, he’s still considered by me to be a very, very poor man’s version on Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway, with a similar history of frail knees.

by AK1984 on Sep 24, 2008 2:25 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs