Awww lil baby GM's gon' cry

by leeroyjenkins on Jan 29, 2009 11:31 AM PST

Note the bold italics:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=TradeWatchBigs-090129

Raef LaFrentz, Blazers
LaFrentz has what NBA GMs are calling a "super-expiring contract." Not only does his $12.7 million salary come off the books this summer, but insurance is paying 80 percent of it. Add in that the Blazers have other young players like Sergio Rodriguez, Channing Frye and Travis Outlaw whom they could throw in a deal, and a team looking to clear some cap space and develop young talent would have to take a hard look at a deal with Portland.

The biggest question surrounding a Blazers deal at the moment: Does any GM in the league really want to do Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard any favors after his team threatened to sue all the owners in the league over the Darius Miles fiasco? More than one GM has told me no.

Chance of trade: 50 percent

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They're all just afraid

of getting Pritch-sla…. shouldn’t use that word.

To put it another way: What’s the best way to not get ripped off in a trade?

Don’t trade with Portland.

by EngineerScotty on Jan 29, 2009 11:35 AM PST reply actions

Caron Butler, Kirk Hinrich, Gerald Wallace, etc.

If we’re not getting a player of that magnitude we don’t trade. And if it’s that big of a deal, I doubt the GMs let their feelings get in the way.

Besides, we don’t want Danny Ainge’s or Chris Wallace’s players.

by Cablinasian on Jan 29, 2009 11:35 AM PST reply actions

Well, we did want Mike Conley at one point...

But yeah, a GM can’t risk to put off his owner if that guy wants to save some money. If owner and GM are pulling in the same direction and that is “don’t help the Blazers at any cost” then KP has no chance.

by Norsktroll on Jan 29, 2009 12:00 PM PST up reply actions

The Incompetents will Never Change.

Any GM that refuses to do a deal that would improve his team because of an emotional reaction to the Blazers letter, isn’t a competent GM. He’s an immature GM. His job is to make his team better. Not to sit their and pout. Granted, given some of the routine GM failures in the league, it may be that those types would allow their judgement to be overcome by their emotions. Still, it’s more likely a GM refuse a trade because he’s afraid he’ll look bad, than because of Darius.

by Eben Calder on Jan 29, 2009 11:44 AM PST reply actions 2 recs

Exactly!

Any GM who wouldn’t make a move to improve their team in order to spite KP and the Blazers, should be fired by his owner. For that matter, any GM who considers doing the “Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard any favors” should be fired by his owner. I mean what GM, outside of Kevin McHale does any other GM favors just because he’s nice? The job of a GM should be to make THEIR team better…Period. If that means dealing with KP, then do it. Otherwise they are idiots.

by JasonT on Jan 29, 2009 12:20 PM PST up reply actions

Stupid.

If that’s the wording Ford used when asking the question (GM “X”, do you want to do any favors for Kevin Pritchard?) then the answer should be absolutely not.

I don’t expect teams to trade as a favor to the other team (unless you’re Chris Wallace and dealing with the F@kers…. HEY-OH!). That’s pure nonsense.

More than one GM told me no.

I expect that several if not many if not all GM’s weren’t thrilled with “The Email”… but at the end of the day, if you need to make a trade then you need to make a trade.

Quit being lazy, Ford! Report something REAL!

"When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car"

by you'vegottomakeyourfreethrows on Jan 29, 2009 11:48 AM PST reply actions

What do you all think of a RLEC for Richard Jefferson swap?

BINGO, BANGO, BONGO

by blzrfan on Jan 29, 2009 11:57 AM PST reply actions

Hmmm.

He’s 28, and is making 13.2 million this year, 14.2 mil next year, and has a player option for ‘10-’11 at 15 million. That’s a lot of money, but PA has never cared in the past.

He fits the timeline great. From what T Darkstar has said, he plays solid defense, and has committed to Skiles’ system. With him and Batum, I’d say that our SF is solid for the present and future.

So yeah, he’s definitely better than John Salmons. I’d like to have him as a Blazer.

by Cablinasian on Jan 29, 2009 12:12 PM PST up reply actions

plus

we need more former Arizona players.

by Cablinasian on Jan 29, 2009 12:13 PM PST up reply actions

Jefferson is 28? He plays like he's 35...

"Now with a non-provocative footer!"

by timbo on Jan 29, 2009 3:54 PM PST up reply actions

do you mean that in a good or bad way?

by Cablinasian on Jan 29, 2009 4:52 PM PST up reply actions

I mean I wouldn't touch him because he looks really slow and brittle to me...

The cilantro in your tapioca pudding since 2007.™

by timbo on Jan 30, 2009 8:11 PM PST up reply actions

What would it take to pry away RJ???

by bad karma on Jan 29, 2009 12:17 PM PST up reply actions

Well

with Redd out, Milwaukee is going nowhere and is over the cap. The speculation is that they would probably dump Jefferson for little more than an expiring contract, as their owner does not want to pay luxury tax dollars for a team that’s not even making the playoffs.

by Cablinasian on Jan 29, 2009 12:19 PM PST up reply actions

Think with more complexity than Ford does -

Of course GMs are going to be talking a hard line about the Blazers, they’ll think that can pressure the Blazers into lowing their trade expectations so they can get more out of the Blazers. This isn’t about spite, this is about pressure. And I really don’t think it is going to work; the Blazers don’t really need anything right now. We can afford to be picky – other GMs are in much more desperate straights than we are.

Chris Dudley for three!

by wilbjammin on Jan 29, 2009 12:00 PM PST reply actions

Absolutely!

We have developing young talent that are VERY attractive to other teams. KP knows this, other GM’s know it, everyone knows it. KP has no pressure to make a deal just because other GM’s don’t like him.

Worst caste scenario: we let RLEC expire, we get under the cap and do whatever we want later on.

Aside from the Darius fiasco, most GM’s would LOVE to be in KP’s position right now.

by mannyfresh1 on Jan 29, 2009 12:13 PM PST up reply actions

Wait are they doing a favor to us?

Because last I heard it is other teams trying to get under the cap not us. If they don’t want to trade with us that’s fine, I don’t think we have a huge problem with not paying 80% of Raef’s contract, especially since D. Miles has now put us over the cap.

From the back of Travis Outlaw's Franz card: Travis leads the team in monstrous thunder dunks, wins awards for post game interviews, and often gets extra points for degree of difficulty.

by TheOdenator on Jan 29, 2009 12:31 PM PST reply actions

If you ever wondered how NBA GM's could be so stupid

This is your proof. Can you imagine kneecapping your own team out of sheer jeaously?

Proof it doesn’t take brains or maturity to be a mediocre NBA GM

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Jan 29, 2009 2:11 PM PST reply actions

I think the Blaz' will trade for Josh Smith

≤ˆˆ≥

by tominhawaii on Jan 29, 2009 6:54 PM PST reply actions

Who in the blue blazes is "the Blaz'?"

If you agree with me: Good, I like being agreeable.
If you [think you] don't agree with me: You really do agree with me. You just haven't realized that I use sarcasm alot, so whatever you didn't agree with, take the opposite of it, and that's what I really mean.

by prezofdeath on Jan 31, 2009 3:00 AM PST up reply actions