Agent 00-Trouble?

by Krang on Jul 13, 2009 10:29 PM PDT Comment 27 comments

Ara Vartanian Millsaps' agent. Working for his clients best interest, or hinting at trouble. I leave it to you.

I read these quotes a few days apart, and in combination they are bothering me. Here they are. The first from Jason Quicks article "Millsap is "missing piece" for Trail Blazers:

"Vartanian insists that Millsap will be whatever Blazers coach Nate McMillan wants him to be. He said Millsap and McMillan have already engaged in lengthy conversations about his role. The two have exchanged cell phone numbers and will become more closely acquainted next week when Millsap takes part in Team USA practices in Las Vegas.

"They discussed at length at how to use Paul,'' Vartanian said. "I think they already have a good relationship.''

Millsap plays the same position as a rising star on the Blazers, LaMarcus Aldridge, and has assured the team that he is on board with coming off the bench. Last season, he averaged 30.1 minutes a game- July-11th"

So on July 11th according to Vartanian Millsap will be whatever Blazers coach Nate McMillan wants him to be, and he is on board with coming off the bench.

Sounds Great huh? Team Guy, do whatever it takes. Willing to be a bench player...Hakuna Matata!

But wait....2 days later in Oregon Lives Millsap Roundup:

But Millsap's agent, Ara Vartanian, says Millsap will be much more than a backup if ends up in Portland:

"From what they tell us, Paul is potentially a starter on this team," Vartanian said. "They're looking to go small-ball, because they have such a young, athletic team."

July 13th

Uh oh! What happened to he's on board with being a back up? And The Blazers are looking to go small ball? Huh? Tell that to LMA and Oden. Seems to me if major "small ball" was the Blazers plan we wouldn't of pursued Hedo Turkoglu, part of his appeal was his size, we would of had a very lengthy frontline.

I know it's early, I know by tomorrow this post might be a moot point. But anyone nervous about the duality of this message and the change in just two days? Plus should this agent be talking for anyone within The Blazers organization? I don't think so. Vaguely proclaiming that Millsap might be a starter. Sorry agent man, but let's leave that to McMillan. Don't go throwing statements like that out. A statement like that could upset a Aldridge or an Outlaw, especially Aldridge who I'm sure has 100% lock on starting PF.

Alright I'll relax. We may never get to the point where Millsap and all this even matters. But I just thought the change and the quotes by Millsaps agent very interesting and something that has mostly gone unnoticed.

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Never trust what an agent says.

Seriously. Haven’t we learned this by now?

by Arby on Jul 13, 2009 10:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

One of Millsap said he could shoot the 3 and play the SF position

Neither is remotely true.

by ninjasocks on Jul 14, 2009 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

He was misquoted

He said Millsap wouldn’t shoot for free.

The Princess of Blazersedge

by Zaig on Jul 14, 2009 9:16 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I read it on the internet so it must be true.

by southern oregon on Jul 13, 2009 10:39 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

Potentially a starter

They probably told them that it’s not completely impossible that he could start at some point in the future depending on circumstances and how good he gets.

Basically you could say the same for anyone.

Keep in mind that everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazers Edge.

by pualo on Jul 13, 2009 10:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

He's an agent

What do you expect him to say?

"Good evening Blazer fans, wherever you may be!"-Bill Schonely

by skywaker9 on Jul 13, 2009 10:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Please no more quoting agents.

They’re professional snakes.

http://following-thetrail.blogspot.com

by BigCelPhone on Jul 13, 2009 11:00 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well my point...

…wasn’t to support or attack the validity or truth of statements made by agents. Read my intro, I know he’s an agent. My point was that it seems like a huge shift in just two days from He’s be happy coming off the bench, To Artanian speaking for The Blazers and proclaiming that he’s being TOLD Paul would potentially be a starter.

Since I think it likely Utah matches, it probably won’t matter. But I don’t like an agent giving quotes to the media about supposed plans of Blazer coaching. Yes, he works for his clients best interest, but he really has no place saying anything publicly about The Blazers potential roster plans. Especially in the pre-season and especially before we enter contract talks with LMA.

It’s NOT that I think what he is saying in either quotes is potentially true, just seems like divergent statements and at the very least stupid.

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

by Krang on Jul 13, 2009 11:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Paul is potentially a starter on this team

yeah, if LMA gets hurt

bayless leaves over my dead body

by thomasikehara on Jul 13, 2009 11:17 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

pumping up Millsap to Utah

They want Utah to match the offer, so they are still trying to ‘sell’ his talents. We already agreed to the purchase, so the comments aren’t aimed at us.

by ItsMrHarris2u on Jul 13, 2009 11:24 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

The only lie bigger than telling KP he would be happy backing up LMA,

is now telling Utah that he will be a starter in Portland if they don’t match and keep him.

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Jul 14, 2009 12:13 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Why would be be looking to play small-ball

When both KP and Nate have repeatedly stated that they see size as a key factor in success in the nba

by MadBlaze on Jul 14, 2009 12:16 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I do think Sap can get starter minutes here once Joel opts out.

Subject to opponent variances he could also start at SF in a big configuration (ala Ron Artest) or at PF with LMA playing center in small configurations. He can rebound and defend and shoots well so he can earn minutes comparable to a starter.

by lee3022 on Jul 14, 2009 1:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

he could also start at SF in a big configuration...or at PF with LMA playing center in small configurations

I don’t see Millsap “starting” alongside LMA unless Oden/Przy was injured and the team was playing an opponent with a short front line (Golden State, etc)

But I could see Millsap/LMA playing a “shift” at the 3-4 during the game, especially against the opponent’s reserve forwards…like you said “so he can earn minutes comparable to a starter.”

Unfortunately it doesn’t appear likely that Nate will get to “experiment” with either configuration, at least not with Millsap. But if Utah matches I don’t think the goal changes, KP needs to find one more “quality big” either by trade or another FA offer sheet (Odom, Lee)

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

by two4larue on Jul 14, 2009 7:26 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Anyone else

thought this post was going to be about Gilbert Arenas?

That said, the Small Ball referrence could be a second team with LMA at the 5 instead of Joel if Joel is traded. But swapping Joel for Milsap on the 2nd team would be a defensive back peddle.

I love Milsap, but I don’t see room enough for him, why can’t the Blazers do anything smart this offseason? Bass was available, and would have been the perfect back up 4, yet they go after Milsap who doesn’t fit at all.

This offseason can still be wonderful ofcourse, all i ask for is a better upgrade off the bench than Outlaw, eventhough he has won games for us, I feel he has lost just as many with his poor shot selection, bad defense, and inconsistant rebounding. I still want Hinrich instead of Blake, but if we go into next season with Blake and Bayless I would be ok with it as long as we upgraded from Outlaw.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Jul 14, 2009 7:23 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Bass was available, and would have been the perfect back up 4

As we’ve been discussing since long before the FA period began, it was going to be very difficult to “lure” Bass to Portland when it was clear that LMA was the Blazer’s starting PF. Clearly, Bass was looking to improve his PT situtation, and he “landed” in a place where that should be very possible.

I’m not sure that KP could’ve thrown “enough” money at Bass to make him even look twice in Portland’s direction, and if the Blazers had offered Brandon the maximum amount of years and $$$, I’m not sure that he would’ve been “worth it”

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

by two4larue on Jul 14, 2009 8:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

anyone else feel this summer is another

in the long line of things the Blazers have OVER HYPED, since KP has taken over as GM?

Think about it, all we heard about Greg was that he was doing amazing things in last years training camp, things no one had seen before. While he was good in his rookie year, there was nothing really unbelieveable.

Then there was “Mr. Is going to win us 2 or 3 games T. Green”. Who never got off the bench.

And now we have the “summer of 09” which was when this team has said, “look at all these good young players we have, and we have cap space to sign a major player!”

These are just 3 examples of this team really over doing the hype machine, but there are more I am sure.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Jul 14, 2009 7:26 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Blame the fans.

The team lets out little bits of information, after repeated questioning from the media, who are fueled by the hunger of the fans. Then the fans blow it way out of proportion because they really want to believe in big things, and the media write about it because that’s what fans want to read.

Keep in mind that everything I know about basketball I learned on Blazers Edge.

by pualo on Jul 14, 2009 10:19 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

sorry

but I would blame the media and the Blazers before I blame the fans. No one asked KP to say that Oden was doing amazing things in training camp last year. They just asked how does it look, he could have said the truth, instead he hyped the heck out of him. Same goes for the other stories.

Ben II Blazersedge.com || New to Blazers' Edge?

by usmcr3049 on Jul 15, 2009 1:31 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Krang...who cares about Ara Vartanian...

The Jazz will match Millsaps’ offer and then trade Boozer before February…Millsap will not be a Blazer this coming year…We just need more patience and look to do an uneven trade before February..KP has to get us a Starting PG. We have Cunningham and Pendergragh to back up LMA already….

by AndricLee21 on Jul 14, 2009 8:31 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We have Cunningham and Pendergragh to back up LMA already….

I sure hope that Nate and KP aren’t counting on 2 rookies to backup LMA, when April rolls around. Who’s to say that the rooks will offer any more quality PF play than Frye, or Randolph, or Ruffin?

KP’s #1 goal (repeated multiple times in various interviews following the Rocket’s series) is to add toughness and experience to the roster. If Utah matches the offer and Millsap isn’t a Blazer (likely) then the search should continue until the backup PF position is filled with a “better” banger than Pend, Dante, Frye, Outlaw, et al

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

by two4larue on Jul 14, 2009 9:10 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Beware of the Rook....

I thought our Four rookies played well last year….The NBA Title is two years away from the Blazers not this year….WE NEED a Starting PG….not $30 mil plus for a back up power forward….

by AndricLee21 on Jul 14, 2009 10:54 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agents negotiate contracts. Period.

They don’t determine minutes or produce legally-binding documents with regards to rotations and substitutio

"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 Jul 14, 2009 9:32 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

It Was Largely Unnoticed

….because it deserves to go unnoticed.

It was from his agent. What more can you say?

by Balian on Jul 14, 2009 10:04 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

We should resign Diogu.

srsly.

by Arby on Jul 14, 2009 10:33 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Start LMA and Millsap, what's the problem?

Millsap is a better player than Batum, Outlaw or Marty – to appease you Batum guys I’ll throw in the caveat “at this point in their careers.” I think he can play the 3 just fine.

Also agents are weasels. /shock

Blazer Fan

by leeroyjenkins on Jul 14, 2009 10:50 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs