Quick: Aldridge Negotiations Continue Amicably
Jason Quick checks in with KP regarding Aldridge's extension talks and notes that the league's unknown Basketball-Related Income number remains a "holdup."
Tonight's discussion question: Given the economy, would it be the worst thing in the world to allow Aldridge to enter restricted free agency at the end of this season? More tomorrow.
over 2 years ago
Ben Golliver
69 comments
0 recs |
Email
PrintComments
It might not be....
the worst thing, but I would feel much better about him knowing that we want him here as much he wants to be here. He wouldn’t feel like he would need to earn his next contract and maybe relax and play team ball. Comfort is very underated.
OT: Can anyone tell me the name of that new sports writer for the Blazers? I just got back from Laurelhurst
part tonight and played a couple pick up games with him. I saw a post on here before but can’t find it. I didn’t ask him his name but I know it had to be him.
Brian T. Smith
http://www.columbian.com/section/blazerbanter
Seperated at birth with…Ron Howard?
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
That should never happen
He might feel we dont value him enough. He should be signed as soon as possible and also should be given the maximum that we can afford. If he enters FA, you never know, we might lose him to a larger bidder. Truly money talks, BS walks. Personally, If I am LMA, and the Blazers let me go to FA—-see ya—- because what a diss, Im gone to the highest bidder. We need to lock him in now and show him that he is a major part of our future. Why himhaw around over next years salary numbers. I mean, after all hes done for this team, come on, he truly deserves it. DONT DISS HIM and pull a Boozer on LMA—- we need him.
The Dude: Hey, careful, man, there's a beverage here!
by cavejunctionblazer on Sep 10, 2009 9:34 PM PDT reply actions
Don't screw it up - sign LMA
Treat him with respect and get it done – these young men have a championship to win.
by Rick C in Tigard on Sep 10, 2009 9:38 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
Greg Ostertag?
The Blazers continue to hold auditions for free agent big men, as power forward Melvin Ely and center Greg Ostertag took part in scrimmages this week at the team’s practice facility in Tualatin. Pritchard said center Jarron Collins and former University of Iowa center Kurt Looby will soon be in. He said he is working on bringing in two other NBA free agents next week
I remember talking about Looby in summer league, I think he was on the “d-league” all-stars that beat the blazers in the last game. Quick was on with Canzano this afternoon and said that Mike Born is big on Looby, who is a “raw” rebounder similar to Freeland
KP is “spanning the globe” to find roster replacements for Shav and Ruffin…FWIW, Juwan Howard hasn’t be in any pickup games, yet.
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Are we talking about
Juwan Howard… like, Chris Webber – Juwan Howard? Isnt he like… Greg Ostertag’s age?? guess we should have made a sign and trade for Bass happen, cause this seems desperate. I’d say, be patient if these are our options.
Big D from Blog-A-Bull - "Pritchard is such a genius that teams just give him players for free."
Greg Oden - The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946
by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Sep 10, 2009 10:04 PM PDT up reply actions
I wouldn't say it is grasping at straws
The Blazer Brass is looking for a 14th man that has a lot of experience and will look really good wearing a suit at the end of the bench. No harm there.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on Sep 10, 2009 10:07 PM PDT up reply actions
Ostertag? Oden would have someone his own age to play with.
Ostertag retired 4 years ago!
As long as we are mining Utah’s old timer’s team, let’s just go for size. Are we absolutely certain Mark Eaton isn’t available? Or heck, Karl Malone is probably getting tired of driving those 18-wheelers by now? I’ll bet he could play 10 minutes, and he’s still looking for a ring.
Dale Schlueter is 6’10 and still living in Portland. If we really want to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Blazers why not sign one of our originals?
Ok, now I’m thinking Sabonis. He couldn’t possibly be less mobile than when he last played here, and I’m sure he could still outplay Ostertag.
by BlazerFanSince1970 on Sep 10, 2009 10:34 PM PDT up reply actions
I would take the Mailman, in a heartbeat
I think he could teach Oden a thing or two about low post moves, and how to throw elbows with attitude
Some reporter said he went to Lithuania looking for Sabas to interview and was told by the locals “he’s out in the woods, getting drunk”
(pass)
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
at least there aren't any stairs in the woods
I feel better knowing that…
"No disrespect to Jeff Blake"
by Eat Politicians on Sep 10, 2009 11:25 PM PDT up reply actions
My fear would be
That Karl “Jailbait” Malone would teach Oden some unsavory off-court behavior. Pass.
by DonkeyShins on Sep 11, 2009 10:52 AM PDT up reply actions
For real.
All this talk about wanting a veteran PG before we signed Miller…no reason John Stockton couldn’t have been had.
nice TV interview with Stockton last night, on Comcast channel 49
he’s helping out coaching the Gonzaga Prep (high school) kids up in Spokane, his son is walking on to the Zags, this fall
John said that Malone’s hands were so good, you couldn’t throw him a bad pass
Portland was so close to drafting him in ‘84, but Frank Layden caught wind of Stockton right before the draft and slected him a few choices before Portland. (I once heard that jaws and pencils dropped in the Blazer’s war room when this happened.) How different would Blazer (and Jazz) history have been if the “pasty gangstah” would’ve found his way to PDX for 19 years?
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
I think letting him become a "restricted" free agent is cool for the orginization for the duration of the contract that he'll be signed too (that we'd have matched)
but I honestly don’t think he’d willingly stick around once that contract was up….
We’d get him on the cheap (unless someone tried to do to us what we did to utah)
but is that really the way to treat Lamarcus?
I mean? it’s Lamarcus.
someone link up to his stupid comcast comercial… and tell me you don’t want to see him get maxed…. he’ll deserve it more than sheed ever did.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."
-Dave
n i loved sheed.
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."
-Dave
Lamarcus won't get a max deal right now
If he gets one next season it will mean he had a great year this year. Or a team with cap room is going to want to give us the business. I feel very relieved that Memphis has Zbo on their roster to keep them from offering him a contract next year.
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on Sep 10, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
By him I mean LMA
www.freeoden.com Coming soon
by 123_G.O._RipCity on Sep 10, 2009 10:12 PM PDT up reply actions
doesn't z's contract end after this season? or..next?
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."
-Dave
Next
he’s still owed 33 million over the next 2 years
"It's not who jumps the highest -- it's who wants it the most" Buck Williams
"and if EVERYONE confronted with a tough, disgusting situation pulled out, I don't think I would have been born." Mortimer
by Fund A Mental on Sep 11, 2009 7:42 AM PDT up reply actions
He should sign a 3 year deal...
I don’t like the idea of overpaying for him… or letting him go to RFA..
Why would he be crazy enough to take a three year deal and risk injury during that three years?
I don’t think he’s stupid. Seriously.
cuz he can make more money ala Lebron, Bosh, Wade
its not stupid its smart… Seriously. He’s not getting the max on this contract… why wait for 5 years to get it when you can in 3.
by In Walks Rudy on Sep 10, 2009 10:27 PM PDT up reply actions
Life insurance.
A five years contract gets him enough money for covering his whole life and he still will be young to negotiate one or two big contracts after that.
I would like to keep him
but I don’t know what he is asking for…I realize they can’t max out everybody contract and as much as I like LMA I know that he isn’t worth a max contract. PF’s are abundant in the league. Just saying…
"No disrespect to Jeff Blake"
by Eat Politicians on Sep 10, 2009 10:15 PM PDT reply actions
couldn't they though? ... I mean everyone that we drafted and retained and have the birdy rights too.... couldn't we max em all out? (hypotheticly I mean)
The Faith don't panic, the faith freaks out, burns out farms, and torchs small villages in the name of The Faith.
"New Man Law: If you don't show up for the draft you don't get to come later if you're picked. If you believe in yourself, show up and sit there. If nobody else believes in you, take it and cry like a man...in front of the cameras."
-Dave
Z-bo dude
he is a baller
"No disrespect to Jeff Blake"
by Eat Politicians on Sep 10, 2009 11:26 PM PDT up reply actions
@ around 4-5 mil a year
we could pay AI to backup LMA… he has better a BBIQ than Trout…………………….
JK!!!!! I wouldn’t want Iverstoned playing with the Blazers.
Big D from Blog-A-Bull - "Pritchard is such a genius that teams just give him players for free."
Greg Oden - The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946
by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Sep 10, 2009 11:55 PM PDT up reply actions
alright, you win
couldn’t find any…David Lee, but frankly I’ll pass…
Alright, fine, max him out, max them all out, Let’s double the Royalty tax, give cunningham a max contract right now.
"No disrespect to Jeff Blake"
by Eat Politicians on Sep 11, 2009 12:19 AM PDT up reply actions
Quick was saying the other night
that he thinks LMA is worth 80% of the max, for 5 years. Jason said Telum and the Blazers have agreed on a similar percentage, but the salary-cap numbers next July are the holdup. Everyone feels league revenue will be going down, but no one is sure how much of a drop it will be
it could be in KP’s best interest to wait. Quick said that LMA really wants to stay in PDX, so one way or another he’ll remain a Blazer
When reached 39 years of following Portland basketball you have, be as passionate of the Trail Blazers you will not!
Muy complicado
This may be one of the more compicated extension signings in some time. They all are if the player is valued, yet not perfect, but this has an extra edge.
LaMarcus is somewhat proven, but certainly not a given like Roy. He just didn’t quite give us the full proof positive in the rookie contract contract year. He’s pretty darn solid as is, he finished strong last year, and he still has some serious upside. I still have a feeling he’ll end up being the number two on this team, at least offensively, even if Oden shows some substantial growth.
I just have a feeling that over the next couple years he’s really going to start showing us some as-yet-unseen nastierness (unpredictable inside smooth, Brandon ruboff will to win, growing leadership grit). I could easily be wrong, but it still feels a little like he’s balancing his talent with a chip on his shoulder, and the combo could have a future. Or not. Maybe what we gots is what we gots. As they say, pay for potential at your own peril.
All that aside, the extra edge is the economical elephant in the room. Two years ago (heck last year), you just pay the man. Now…uh…well. We just handed out a maxer, got more talent waiting for a paycheck soon, and, by the way, this is by far, the most uncertain economic year possible. We don’t have a clue what the BRI, salary cap, luxury tax, etc will be next year. Not really even close.
Put all that together with the wish to maintain the proverbial chemical lovefest this team has had going and it’s quite the puzzler. No wonder this whole thing’s been so quiet. Don’t envy anyone involved.
by Dunemonkey on Sep 10, 2009 10:30 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs
+1
Very well put.
Big D from Blog-A-Bull - "Pritchard is such a genius that teams just give him players for free."
Greg Oden - The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946
by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Sep 10, 2009 11:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Craziness
Me and you joined … to the date, one year apart from each other…. to the date.
Big D from Blog-A-Bull - "Pritchard is such a genius that teams just give him players for free."
Greg Oden - The only other rookie with more than 500 points, 400 rebounds, and 65 blocks in under 1400 minutes played. Since 1946
by FiveOhThree-RipCity!! on Sep 10, 2009 11:59 PM PDT up reply actions
how bad can signing aldridge to a big pay day be? Bynum is probably going to have around the same pay
and he is nothing compared to Aldridge. I don’t think it’s money but just the right price. No need to rush and over pay or under pay. This town was made for Roy and Aldridge. Blazers are going to get this done. There seems to be a need for people to look at this situation dramtically, just so when Aldridge does get signed we can all say we never had any doubts.
I would pay LMA, then again I think the org. has every intention of doing so
LMA is already good with the potential to be a perennial Allstar
Blazer Fan
yes it would be terrible to let him go to restricted free agency..
wouldnt the blazers end up paying him more if they had to match someone elses offer? kind of like we did to jazz in the millsap trade? somebody could front load a contract or something… i dont think there is any way that it goes that far.. he will be signed
"I don't like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there"
Charles Bukowski
Worst thing in the world?
no.
Worse thing for the Blazers? No, that would ahve been letting Roy lag.
Second worse thing… I think you’re pretty darn close. Play with fire and you’re likely to get singed.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
question for our contract/cap gurus
why wouldn’t percentages work? if they don’t have a figure, but know the team is willing to pay 90% of the max. can they use that?
re: ostertag, lights out from downtown in portland. the 1 triple in his career, @ pdx 3/16/01
wanderlust
Not a guru, don't know if you can
But even if you can, has that ever been done? Probably not since the cap has always been going up. That’s what makes this so difficult.
It’s like trying to figure out the value of a home in an obviously declining market when there are no real comparable homes sold in the area in the last year. We know a couple years ago dudes like Aldridge were getting paid without a second thought (just like San Diego Bungalos), but who wants to be the last guy to pay top dollar at the top of the market, when the smart money says things will be way cheaper in coming years. Sure, it’s a nice house, but do you really want to be backwards in it?
We know that a few other homes (David Lee, Iverson, Crazy Pills) have felt the weight of the market shift, and yeah, those homes aren’t the same deal (one possibly overvalued by system/ neighborhood, one old and out of fashion, one hazardously flamable). But still, there are signs that besides the bonafide superstars, property could be really affordable next year, number of teams below the cap notwithstanding.
It really is too bad you can’t write contracts as a percentage of the cap, including year by year adjustments based on the cap. Otherwise, a lot of teams (a much bigger percentage) of teams will end up over the cap/tax based on locked, guaranteed contracts.
by Dunemonkey on Sep 11, 2009 7:53 AM PDT up reply actions 1 recs
Post Script
Do we want to be the last team to team to pay at the top of the market, or do we leave that double distinction to Toronto with Bargnani and the Dirty Turk (that could be a sitcom).
Ah, heck, we might end up owing more on this Cape Cod than it’s worth, but it’s a real nice neighborhood and we could be comfortable here for years. Besides it’s still got some asthetic promise if we can spruce it up a little more. Let’s just do it, honey!
To keep the home reference going and address those suggesting we let him go to FA next year.
Let’s say we see this lovely 3br/2ba bungalow in Montavila. You’ve checked the net, and it’s not a former meth lab. The previous owner was a carpenter, and has installed gorgeous custom cabinetry. Better yet, it’s on a double corner lot and zoned for up to 4 units. Is this LMA now? An up and coming neighborhood with room to expand. Would it be better to hold out? The Portland market looks to be running 6mo’s to a year behind the nation. Talk of the first time home buyers tax credit being bumped to $15k. The problem? The only time to buy is when you’re ready, and they is always another home out there. However, quality triple threat power forwards are a limited commodity. Sticking with the housing reference. Let’s say the championship is equivalent to building a triplex on the second lot, with full occupancy, and quality residents. So, even if replacing Aldridge is an option, which isn’t a certainty, the championship window is contingent on the current players growing together like a nice little triplex community. This is falling a part quick, but long story short, believe me we’ve made an offer, and will get this done before Oct. 31st. It’s better to buy as the market declines because you won’t know it’s rebounded until prices climb.
wanderlust
A couple good points there
I don’t really know if I agree that “it’s better to buy as the market declines because you won’t know it’s rebounded until prices climb”, becuase we may not know when they’ll rebound, but we can be pretty sure it won’t be next year based on the crazy cap predictions (as low as 50ish mil.!!).
However, I do agree that “the only time to buy is when you’re ready” and that replacing Aldridge “isn’t a certainty.” That’s where the whole analogy get’s really messy. It just comes down to how unique of a property you think our boy is. Based on age, height, length, skill set, etc., there just may not be many comparables out there for him regardless of where in the market cycle we are. You probably just end up having to pay him what he’s worth to YOU, because you just can’t run out and get another one just like him, even if in general the market is going to end up cheaper. LMA will probably end up commanding the bucks anyway based on the unique property factor.
nice house analogy.
"The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting"
"I don't like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there"
Charles Bukowski
I think that they can agree in principle to a cap %
but outside of the maximum contract, I don’t think that you can put that deal down in writing and have it be enforceable.
Two Options
A) Sign him to max contract now
B) Let him enter RFA
He’ll either get signed to a max contract we’ll match (equivalent to A)
OR we’ll get him at cheaper than that (Better than A)
So is RFA going to be equal or greater than signing him now?
True for Brandon
But IMO Aldridge is not a max contract guy (many would agree), hence the gray area. With the economy/BRI/cap uncertain and in flux, as well as the uncertainty of just how badly teams and their owners will be financially hurting, it’s really, really hard to know what the market will bear for Aldridge next year after the chips fall with superstar free agents. Heck, if he has a great year next year, he might be competing with Bosh for Bosh dollars. If his year is the same as last year, and teams start getting really stingy due to economic pain, he might be had at a discount for us. It’s just really hard to say at this point.
The possibility is that Mark Cuban would throw max money to bring LMA home to Dallas...
The likelihood is that LMA wouldn’t be seeing much above $10M/per thrown his way by anyone and would be best to take a deal now.
"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
blasphemy!
"The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting"
"I don't like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there"
Charles Bukowski
i think i could trade him for Z-Bo.....
"The difference between a democracy and a dictatorship is that in a democracy you vote first and take orders later; in a dictatorship you don't have to waste your time voting"
"I don't like jail, they got the wrong kind of bars in there"
Charles Bukowski
Bad idea, Ben
Sign him to between 80 & 85% of max, all other terms same as Brandon’s.
"if Nate has Roy or Miller in the game at all times, that stagnation will turn into conflagration" -- two4larue
LMA is the leading scorer on our championship team...
At least how it plays out in my mind. I think we give him the max contract, or something very very close to it. I mean look at what frikin Bargnani got… frikin Bargnani!
"There goes Brandon Roy... the best there ever was in this game"
I agree with jscot 80-85%
then give him incentives that he could bring it up to 90-95 with his performance.
He did it! Yes he did!
Incentives?
Stock Options? Logo gear? Free pop?
by DonkeyShins on Sep 11, 2009 11:05 AM PDT up reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recommended FanPosts
Recent FanPosts
FanShots
Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.
Recommended FanShots
Recent FanShots
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- Days of NBA Lives: Wherein Roy Hibbert tap-dances to Maine
- Grizzlies Valentine’s Day cards are the key to love
- Kevin Love would like the NBA to take the MLB’s approach on All-Star games
- Kobe Bryant fires a few hilarious salvos at Jeremy Lin
- Brandon Jennings states the obvious regarding his 2014 free agency, everyone goes nuts
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
