Talk about a Pritchslap

by Big Swoopa on Oct 21, 2009 4:26 PM PDT

Is it just me or is this move by the Blazers a big slap in the face to Udoka and Collins. Can anyone tell me why they would have both of these players play through out the preseason just to go with a player who's situation hasn't changed since his injury this summer. Was there a chance either player could have had the 15th spot? I think not. The way things have played out I don't think they even had a chance. This makes me wonder if they were just used to fill a gap and keep our current players from injuring themselves in the preseason. As individuals i think they would have had a better chance practicing with a team that actually had the plans to consider signing one of them. Why waste there time. Not very classy Portland. Maybe there's something I missed or this is the norm in the NBA but all this talk from the management about the culture in Portland and the type of players they're looking for I don't think this sets a good example at all.

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Lots of teams start camp/preseason with >15 guys

Then some of those guys get cut. It’s part of the game. It’s no slight on Udoka or Collins. Whether or not KP knew he’d pick up Mills is beside the point.

Still on the Rex bandwagon.

by dan_the_man on Oct 21, 2009 4:38 PM PDT via mobile reply actions

The theory is that KP's offer to Mills was pro forma, that it would be rejected and he would play overseas and the Blazers retain the rights...

When he TOOK the offer, that was the wrench in the works. Now there has to be TWO cuts…

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Oct 21, 2009 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions

I agree, but...

Like I said, it’s beside the point. Guys take those ungauranteed contracts knowing there’s a good chance they’ll get cut. It isn’t personal, unproffesional or bad form in any way.

Still on the Rex bandwagon.

by dan_the_man on Oct 22, 2009 1:02 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

Stoopid iPhone spellchequer

Still on the Rex bandwagon.

by dan_the_man on Oct 22, 2009 1:03 AM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I'll be interested if they both have teams soon.

If they get picked up, then maybe having the opportunity to have game time in Portland helped their chances. On the other hand, it’s the nature of the beast that players will get cut even if they show they can play.

by Gelvalst on Oct 21, 2009 4:39 PM PDT reply actions

I thought I saw that

Collins was headed back to Utah and Udoka already had 2 or 3 teams interested.

by rpresto2 on Oct 21, 2009 4:42 PM PDT up reply actions

You are forgetting

Mills didn’t sign the required tender until late last week. My guess is that the Blazers thought (and hoped) Mills would pass on signing it, sign overseas, and they would keep his rights.

Thus, I firmly believe they were operating in good faith and truly were planning on signing either Udoka or Collins to the final spot.

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Oct 21, 2009 4:44 PM PDT reply actions 8 recs

I agree fully with this

I believe that Mills signing the tender threw an unexpected wrench into the works.

"It's Our Time":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99POVJfglY

by Storyteller on Oct 21, 2009 5:53 PM PDT up reply actions

but they've been talking to him, for weeks

I think they were trying to talk him out of making this choice, to get him to play overseas

stubborn little bloke had ’em by the shorties, with the owner in his corner

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 21, 2009 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions

+2

"Either way we have two phenomenal units. I'm excited to play with either one." - Martell Webster

by lee3022 on Oct 21, 2009 7:54 PM PDT up reply actions

Correct

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Oct 21, 2009 8:49 PM PDT up reply actions

So Pritchslap got Knick Knack Patty Slapped back?

My favorite teams are the Blazers and any team that is playing the Lakers.

by OCBlazerFan1 on Oct 22, 2009 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions

yikes.

My team went to the playoffs in my first year.

by pxilpooshr on Oct 22, 2009 2:16 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't buy that for a second.

That makes no sense. Why would the Blazers make an offer to a player they have little interest in signing? They are not in the business of being nice. I’m sure they liked having the option of Collins or Udoka in case Mills didn’t sign, but they wanted him.

Among other things, they wanted him for reasons like this— as he blows by D Williams:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5zfDNT4A8Y#t=1m27s

by ocho-ocho on Oct 23, 2009 10:40 AM PDT up reply actions

I think the Blazers had to make an offer or he would be a free agent

by tominhawaii on Oct 24, 2009 4:46 AM PDT up reply actions

There's a reason these two folks were available....

… I really like Ime and his game, but he was let go by San Antonio and not picked up by the Blazers…. do you think you know better about his assets than people who have worked with him and assessed him in person?

Collins missed last year due to injury and has had an un-spectacular career.

Both are of high character, from all accounts, but gone are the days where the Blazers would fill the roster with high character and overlook on-court performance. Now, they need to find a way to blend and balance both.

I wish Collins and Udoka great success wherever they go….. except for the nights the Blazers are in town!

I think it’s an improbably good move by KP and company to alleviate the roster crunch by signing Mills and letting Ime and Collins go to teams where they can actually play. It would be a slap in the face to keep them here, nowing that they’d be buried at the end of the bench or on the injured list.

"whoever scores the most points is probably gonna win the game"

by kobestopper on Oct 21, 2009 4:45 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Collins going to Phoenix...

…who have now been re-nicknamed “The Bad Brothers” because now their roster “features”: Taylor (Blake) Griffin, Robin (Brooke) Lopez, and noe Jarron (Jason) Collins. Somewhere Harvery Grant and Brent Price are rolling over in their graves…(ha-ha!)

....formerly GonzoFan. Now, this has been a message from "The People's Alliance to Continue to Encourage Greg Oden on his Path to Dominance"

by bforsythe on Oct 21, 2009 4:46 PM PDT reply actions

Well, the Phoenix Suns are seemingly one of the few teams out there that could use Jarron Collins.

It wasn’t like Carlos Powell was going to make the team, especially with Taylor Griffin and Alando Tucker already there as third-string forwards. Yet, despite adding Collins, the Suns should stick with a four-man frontline rotation of Amar’e Stoudemire, Channing Frye, Louis Amundson, and Earl Clark to start the year.

Stupid people have stupid ideas.

by AK1984 on Oct 21, 2009 4:59 PM PDT up reply actions

If you based Carlos Powell's chances of making the team on the suns blazers game

He would definitely have a shot at making the team.

by SabasforThree on Oct 21, 2009 7:01 PM PDT up reply actions

I'm basing it on the Phoenix Suns financial situation and roster crunch at the forward spot.

Stupid people have stupid ideas.

by AK1984 on Oct 21, 2009 8:55 PM PDT up reply actions

Simple:

Patty Mills saves money. 2nd round rookie vs veteran’s minimum? Thems the breaks.

Quick’s article also says that this decision might’ve been made above the heads of both McMillian and Pritchard. Which means it was made for financial reasons.

Whatever. Veterans like Udoka and Collins probably know the score better than anyone else. They basically got the opportunity to get shown off around the league during preseason while we rested our starters. Worked for Collins, obviously, and it’ll probably work for Udoka. I really hope it does work out for Udoka…

by lawgdawg12 on Oct 21, 2009 4:49 PM PDT reply actions

Not about money. The difference is $368K.

I think Paul would rather bet on long term potential (even if low probability) than a 15th man that he never sees play.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Oct 21, 2009 4:53 PM PDT up reply actions 1 recs

Agreed

Whoever made this decision did so because of not wanting to give up Mills’ rights. Not because of $368,000 savings.

"It's Our Time":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O99POVJfglY

by Storyteller on Oct 21, 2009 6:11 PM PDT up reply actions

Canzano said Paul Allen has a jones for Mills

the owner interjected his will in Blazer’s management before, bidding against himself for Darius Miles and giving Z’Bo max money. Mills is much lower risk, but it’s a very bad sign when Mr. Allen is over-ruling KP and Nate re: roster decisions

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 21, 2009 6:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Paul spent another $65M on us today. I say let him speculate with the 15th man if he wants.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Oct 21, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 5 recs

Rec

Brandon Roy, 'nuff said.

by johnv59 on Oct 21, 2009 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions

maybe there was a rush to get LMA done this afternoon

(or, to at least leak the “verbal agreement” to A-Woj…)

to make PA look good re: the Mills’ debacle. What’s next? Will Allen replace Nate as coach if Patty doesn’t get court time as soon as he’s healthy?

and I thought Paul trusted KP’s golden gut? Sounds like some cracks are starting to appear in the front office’s foundation

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 21, 2009 7:27 PM PDT up reply actions

Speculating on the speculation of speculators?

the story behind the 15th spot will probably remain a riddle wrapped in a mystery covered in secret sauce. we may never know… (cue organ music)

"its tough to play with one eye, unless you're a pirate." Delonte West
"una canasta a Pau en la cara" Rudy

by Honka Playboy on Oct 21, 2009 8:45 PM PDT up reply actions

it's what we do

to the tune of 5,000 replys per day

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 21, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions

Haha--good point!

Obama won the Nobel Peace prize??? What?

by RenoBlazerFan on Oct 22, 2009 7:59 AM PDT up reply actions

No

Here’s why: they didn’t think Mills would force their hand. They thought he would go play in Europe, but by signing, he forced them to keep him or lose his rights altogether. So if Udoka and Collins were slapped, it was a Millslap. (Didn’t we try to sign him?)

BUT: I don’t think that’s fair to Mills. (Or if it is, Batum did a very similar thing and we’re glad he did.) Udoka and Collins are fringe players. Lots of players with NBA experience have been waived (like Blakey’s NCAA backcourt-mate). Tough times. But they’ve at least had a chance to prove their worth/health, and it sounds like they’re going to stick with some team.

by meru on Oct 21, 2009 5:16 PM PDT reply actions

by TheTinfoil on Oct 21, 2009 6:46 PM PDT reply actions

I love that Blazer fans are so passionate about the 15th roster spot

Let me say that again: the 15th roster spot

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Oct 21, 2009 6:46 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

rec

my thoughts exactly

by kickbrass on Oct 21, 2009 6:57 PM PDT up reply actions

If you or I lose a job it's troublesome

Now it’s only a guess but I think Ime earned quite a few millions over his 5 straight years in the NBA; 8 years for Collins and several millions more. I’m sure they can weather the storm unless they’ve led secret lives squandering their millions on booze and the rest on whores. Who wrote that great line?

by oregonslee on Oct 21, 2009 6:47 PM PDT reply actions

George Best...

was a famous English soccer player back in the day. He was a notorious womanizer and drinker. He lost all of his money and was asked what happened to it.

“I spent most of it on booze and girls. The rest I wasted.”

by FeelTheLove on Oct 21, 2009 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions

Wow, that guy played

against my Rowdies and Rodney Marsh. The NASL was a quality league – for a while.

by oregonslee on Oct 21, 2009 9:14 PM PDT up reply actions

Destroyed his health, too

I can tell you how to make an Excel spreadsheet that proves Portland wins 62 games this year.

by jscot on Oct 22, 2009 2:43 AM PDT up reply actions

will mills even get any playing time this season?

by portlandgiirl91 on Oct 21, 2009 7:06 PM PDT reply actions

no

but neither would Collins or Udoka, so who cares? Might as well go with the guy who might have a bit of future upside

How did you guys win that?
"We scored enough points. We scored 107, they scored 105.
-Nate McMillan Postgame, 3/4/2009

by douglast on Oct 21, 2009 9:18 PM PDT up reply actions

a wee bit

of future upside

What? Is Mills not done growing?

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 21, 2009 9:26 PM PDT up reply actions

gotcha

by portlandgiirl91 on Oct 21, 2009 11:07 PM PDT up reply actions

Another explanation

The Blazers gave those guys a look, but didn’t think either one was good enough to be worth keeping around.

Disclaimer: everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazersedge.

by pualo on Oct 21, 2009 7:59 PM PDT reply actions

will mills be healed in time for tommorrows game

or do we have to wait a year to see him play

by riccc_l on Oct 21, 2009 8:02 PM PDT reply actions

ok we need a trade drawer of affordable potential pf-centers we could trade for under 5.5 mil

by riccc_l on Oct 21, 2009 8:04 PM PDT reply actions

Ronny Turiaf

Kurt Thomas

Foster and Collison are over the 6mil bar, unless KP wait until Dec 15 and adds Howard (but I doubt Juwan’s going anywhere)

Carl Landry, but Morley’s too smart to take Travis, even for the expiring contract

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 21, 2009 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions

Ronny Turiaf is the guy for us

He and Przybilla would make a nice active frontline. Not much scoring but a defensive nightmare for any opponent. Well, we managed to injure two rookies in practice then sign them to contracts after we paid for their surgery. That’s got some humor in it somewhere. I hope PA has good insurance.

by oregonslee on Oct 21, 2009 9:18 PM PDT reply actions

we managed to injure two rookies in practice then sign them to contracts after we paid for their surgery. That’s got some humor in it somewhere

Meanwhile, the guy with the medical red flag in the draft (DeJuan Blair) is healthy and putting up RoTY numbers for the Spurs

and mirthless laughter is overheard, coming from RC Buford’s office

When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!

by two4larue on Oct 21, 2009 9:30 PM PDT reply actions

A couple of points...

1. Blake is in a contract year, and both he and Bayless would have value in a trade. So, an additional benefit of this selection is depth if we make a trade near the trading deadline.

2. I assume this means that Howard could play emergency spot minutes at center if one of the other two centers gets injured.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exOxUAntx8I&feature=channel_page

by The Cactus Leaguer on Oct 21, 2009 10:23 PM PDT reply actions

Udoka and Collins....

…might of just got caught in the grinder wheels of emotional and business side of basketball.

I don’t think McMillan or KP were ever disingenious about the reality for Udoka and Collins as Pre-Season players fighting for the 15th spot. The reality is the reality changed while pre-season played out. I’d be willing to bet, if we could of retained Mills rights while he played overseas, then Udoka or Collins would be that 15th guy.

Unfortunately it seems to be a combination of Mills signing the rookie contract and not being able to, or wanting to play overseas, perhaps combined with Paul Allen not wanting to lose Mills. Presto, Mills is your newest Blazer….

It’s too bad for Udoka and Collins, but they are both established enough commodities that opportunities have opened and will open for them. While in hindsight, they both knowing what they know today, probably would of prefered to spend pre-season trying out for a different team, I don’t feel this was a deliberate or malicious act on the part of The Blazers, KP, McMillan or even potentially Paul Allen.

Ultimately nothing is promised to anyone. Collins and Udoka both agreed to come into camp for a team that was being publicly heralded as one of the deepest in the league. They knew the risks, it comes with the territory. Udoka might of hoped this was all past him, but he competed with the very real chance all along that he could be injured and/or simply be beat by Collins. 15th roster spot guys know this.

"Mother Nature started this fight, I think it's about time we ended it!"

by Krang on Oct 22, 2009 1:31 PM PDT reply actions