Blazers Open Practice Facility For Blake Family's Private Workout, Roy Amnesty Talk
by Ben Golliver on Dec 1, 2011 2:25 PM PST
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PrintLadies and gentlemen, your 2012 NBA Champion Portland Trail Blazers.
Wait, what's that? It's just Los Angeles Lakers guard Steve Blake and his father. Oh.
That was the scene at the Blazers' Tualatin practice facility on Thursday morning, the first day that the gym has been open for players to use for the 2011-2012 NBA season after the lockout. 15-20 media members gathered to watch one NBA player shoot pull-up jumpers and run wind sprints. Good times.
Here's Blake on Brandon Roy and the Blazers potentially using the Amnesty Clause.
"When it comes to Brandon, I just know who ever has him is going to be very lucky. Whether he's still here or he goes somewhere else, I would love to play with him again. To me, he's still one of the better players in the NBA. Other than that, I don't know all the situations."
Former Blazers forward Martell Webster, now of the Minnesota Timberwolves, chimed in on Twitter last night...
Hey really dnt say stuff about other teams. But #B-Roy-earned every bit of what hes owed. He is the reason ripcity is! The NBA knows! Smh 4R
Here's a shot of one of the walls in the media room at the practice facility. The wall art has not yet been amnestied.
Jason Quick of The Oregonian has posted a look at the Roy situation with more quotes from Blazers president Larry Miller and Brandon Roy's agent...
Up in Seattle, Roy is confused and hurt. After all he has done for this franchise -the game-winning shots, the playing hurt, the countless public-appearances, serving as the guiding light out of the Jail Blazers era - he didn't see it ending like this, his future drifting in the wind. The least he deserves, he figures, is a straight answer from the Blazers, not these reports from "unnamed sources."
"I get it. Brandon gets it," said Greg Lawrence, Roy's agent. "It's not complicated. They are going to make a decision that is best for them. If they want him to be there, he will show up and work hard like he always has and do whatever it takes to help the team win. If they don't want Brandon to be there, he will move on. He just wants to know."
...
Roy will probably be a victim of the amnesty clause. The Blazers are likely to waive him.
Tom Ziller of SBNation.com has a lengthy take on Roy.
That's why this situation is such a mess for the Blazers: fans have lost faith in the franchise's leadership to do the right thing by fans, and the franchise's leadership is about to make a necessary, painful decision that would anger any fan base. So Portland will have the pleasure of dealing with fans who would be angry with the Roy decision even if someone as saintly as Nicolas Batum ran the team, in addition to dealing with reasonable fans who understand the rationale for waiving Roy but so completely mistrust Allen that they are angered by the circumstances that result in waiving Roy.
Basically, Paul Allen's ability to be wholly unlikable has sunk the Blazers' chances of coming out of this disaster relatively unscathed. All that can save the team's popularity now is the team's popularity, which is to say this regrettable episode can only be subsumed in the future thanks to the immense loyalty of the city and its residents, the charm of LaMarcus Aldridge, Wes Matthews and Batum, and the allure of beating those f--king Lakers in the playoffs.
Note: I added one final bullet point to the list of financial benefits of waiving Roy. Kevin Pelton helpfully reminded me that the Blazers will receive millions of additional dollars from luxury tax-payers by virtue of being a non-taxpayer at the end of the year. That amount of money is not certain but is reliably substantial thanks to major salary teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Dallas Mavericks.
Click through for a couple more pictures.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
An unused box of jerseys that presumably could have been used for pick-up games.
Lockout beard nightmare fuel.
-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter
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I always wanted Blake back.
"Anybody might guess beforehand that there would be blunders of the ignorant. What nobody could have guessed, what nobody could have dreamed of in a nightmare, what no morbid mortal imagination could ever have dared to imagine, was the mistakes of the well-informed." - G. K. Chesterton, The Common Man
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Why is he back // around the practice facility?
Does he still have a home here?
by CaptainSexyJacob on Dec 1, 2011 2:29 PM PST up reply actions
he does have a home here. his wife is from Portland I believe as well.
He’s always balling at club sport too, and saw him not too long ago with his family at a pumpkin patch, then at Bridgeport mall. I’d take him back!
A displaced Sonics fan that has somehow emerged as a Blazers fan (and loves it).
by anitachampionship on Dec 1, 2011 2:35 PM PST up reply actions
I don't think his wife is from the area
But he does still have a home here. I believe his sister still lives in Portland. At one point, I think his Dad lived in Oregon too.
I think his Dad runs Langdon Farms golf course near charboneau
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain_4.html#ixzz1IE4sPu16
by Tyler Durrden on Dec 1, 2011 3:13 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
I believe your right
He did a huge grounds project a few years back when he bought it. Made the place a much nicer course.
West Linn
Blakey’s home is in West Linn. And BTW, he did not have the “lockout beard” at the Rip City Challenge. He probably started growing it out when the NBAPA lawyered up.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
Blake has been here all summer.
My boss hangs out with his wife on a regular basis.
Can we invite Jack to the PF?
"Anybody might guess beforehand that there would be blunders of the ignorant. What nobody could have guessed, what nobody could have dreamed of in a nightmare, what no morbid mortal imagination could ever have dared to imagine, was the mistakes of the well-informed." - G. K. Chesterton, The Common Man
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Jarrett Jack?
I say ugh to that…he’s not bad but he just makes such boneheaded plays sometimes. It’s like clockwork. I’m ready for the Nolan Smith train to leave the station.
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
And here comes jack with the fast break up the sideline!!
Oops he stepped out of bounds, blazers turnover.
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain_4.html#ixzz1IE4sPu16
by Tyler Durrden on Dec 1, 2011 3:14 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
haha, and here comes blake with a fast break up the sideline!!
pulls it back out and re-sets up top.
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Dec 1, 2011 3:29 PM PST up reply actions
"Jack drives to the baseline! He jumps in the air for no apparent reason and forces a bailout pass to no one in particular and it's intercepted!"
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
Steve Blake's done his share of those too
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain_4.html#ixzz1IE4sPu16
by Tyler Durrden on Dec 1, 2011 5:31 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
well, to be fair, Andre couldn't jump...
;-)
"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave
the re-set first point guard?
maybe if they hurry up and amnesty roy, blake will just leave…
by heybabydrinkyourmilk on Dec 1, 2011 3:28 PM PST up reply actions
What does it say about our guys
When the only guy working out at our practice facility is a Laker? Sheesh. I would have expected at least the rookies camping out in front like it was black friday.
Which of course is not true.
The truth is that Blake is the NBA player geographically closest to the PF who is not also an amnesty candidate.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
it says the rookies don’t yet have the disposable income that the established players have to just pick up and fly across country to practice without coaching staff and team reps. from what i’ve gathered on twitter today, nic’s leaving france today and wes is leaving wisconsin. i wouldn’t worry too much about people showing up or not until the lockout is fully lifted and the players and coaches can actually coordinate together.
by win_heartless on Dec 1, 2011 2:53 PM PST up reply actions
It also has to do with who lives here
BRoy is probably the closest but possibly being amnestied probably isn’t feeling too excited about getting into the gym. We$ said on twitter he is packing to come over. I’m sure by the end of the week this will all change.
Yeah, there are more ex-Blazers living in Portland than current guys
Channing Frye said he was working out at Club Sport earlier today. Maybe he’ll be at the PF tomorrow.
Prolly not tho.
If I were Channing I’d be packing for the Suns PF.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
Yeah, I'm sure it will change by the end of the week too.
I’ll try that on my wife next time I’m 3 hours late for a date, lol.
My point was simply that who shows up first is a good indicator of love of the game and desire to get better.
Somehow these rooks (and vets) are able to fly all over the country for charity games, but they can’t be at the PF on the day it opens, when they had 4 days to get here?
I don't think playing at the PF is an indicator of anything
I don’t see how playing here is any different than playing at their own gym, it’s not like they can talk with Nate yet
(The part of my brain that come up with clever signatures is locked out)
by thomasikehara on Dec 1, 2011 3:12 PM PST up reply actions
I agree
whats the difference between 24 and the practice facility? A bunch of media?
A symbolic gesture of team loyalty.
Guess who lives in SoCal but was at the opening day of the Nuggets opening their facility? Dre Miller.
I guess Steve Blake hates the laker by not practicing in the lakers team facility
What a selfish jerk, practicing in a gym near his home
66-0 baby
by thomasikehara on Dec 3, 2011 1:40 PM PST up reply actions
It’s problematic to project about a person’s feelings on a something when they’re so far removed from us personally. We have the expectations about how these athletes who have some of the greatest jobs in the world – that, let’s be frank, we all envy, I mean we all wanna be the 15th guy on the bench who basically gets paid to sit courtside with the team – but we really don’t know the ins and outs of their lives that says they SHOULD be doing something.
The league opening the gyms up to the players, to me, is an act of good faith to the public because it beckons the basketball to be had, while, at the same time doesn’t mean much when no real planning can go on between players and staff. To me, it’s more a calling out to players to say, hey, get your affairs in order over the next days/week so you can be ready to come back to work by the 9th.
Also, I’m sure the Blazers aren’t an anomaly. If Steve Nash didn’t show up in Phoenix today, could anyone reasonably question his love for the game? I’m too lazy to see who outside of Portland has or hasn’t shown up, but I’m willing to bet the absence is greater than the presence.
by win_heartless on Dec 1, 2011 3:24 PM PST up reply actions
I would have to agree that it is a sad indictment of our younger players that only an old goat like Blake would show up.
I can understand why a vet like Aldridge or Wallace might not be there on the first day, but if you are a young player who suddenly has an opportunity for some playing time with our thin bench, I would think that you would want to make a good impression by being here. Guys like Babbitt, Armon Johnson, Chris Johnson, Elliott Williams and Nolan Smith who are going to be fighting it out for playing time and roster spots definitely should have been here. Not a great way to impress Nate or the fan base IMO.
I don't agree with Ziller's take at all
He doesn’t speak for me. I haven’t lost faith in the Blazers particularly, and especially not Paul Allen as an owner. They’ve mishandled some things in the past in my view, but I’m not losing faith in the Blazers because of it. That’s trying to stir a pot.
I am not giving up on Greg or Brandon.
#52
#7
I think the more bandwagonish fans
probably take his point of view. Those fans are fans of the players not of the team, so if the team does something they don’t like with those players they love so much…they take it out on the owner.
Excellent way of putting it AR-15!
“bandwagonish fans = Those fans are fans of the players not of the team, so if the team does something they don’t like with those players they love so much…they take it out on the owner.”
As if these players actually care if “you” even have a job. Sorry, but I just don’t understand the idolization of “stars”.
You should make that your sig.
Ugly women are like men.......you're going to have to work!
I liked Ziller before the lockout
Everything he’s written since (besides the top 100 players of 2015 that he did with some other guys) seems like he’s just been talking completely out of his rear end and not very well thought out.
Phase 1: Collect underpants
Phase 2: ???
Phase 3: Profit!
I don't agree that Paul Allen's likability has much to do with it for most fans
But it is a PR disaster. Blazer management is damned if they do, damned if they don’t.
Blake isn't good as an NBA point guard.
Sure seems like a good guy though. Too bad those two traits don’t really match up very often.
It’s not like they don’t already know this but this does reinforce the message to our other players. If you get hurt you will no longer be wanted here. We all know how sensitive LaMarcus Aldridge is and how loyalty is something he really cares about. He has to be thinking somewhere in the back of his mind about that. I would find it hard to get too attached to the city I played in when I know I’m only important to them based on my health. It is really sad how money is put above everything else in the NBA.
It would be cool if we could swap out Roy’s two contracts. Pay him out his max deal now. Then we pay his rookie contract for the next 4 seasons. Roy probably plays at a level that is deserving of the rookie conract right now, and he played at his max deal level his first 3-4 seasons.
Wait...
If you get hurt you will no longer be wanted here.
What about keeping Oden? Or trading away Andre? I think this is clearly a unique situation brought on by a series of unfortunate, but probably inevitable, events.
Not saying I necesarily agree
but Pendagraph, Roy, the whole forced retirement debacle a few years back (can’t remember players name)
how many does it take to become a pattern?
I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Sean in Vancouver on Dec 1, 2011 10:34 PM PST up reply actions
NBA IS BACK
and so is JQuizzle dropping those knowledge bombs /s
The tensions are so high because the stakes are so low!
JQuizzle
best nickname ever
I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Sean in Vancouver on Dec 1, 2011 10:32 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
How would we know if BROY will get amnestied?
Is his home up for sale yet?
Do fans really expect professional players to live in the place they play during the off season? How many former Blazers have settled down here? I think they’re smart if they do, but just because someone grew up somewhere else and has family and friends there and chooses to live there during the off season, well, that doesn’t make them disloyal. Do some fans actually feel some type of resentment because professional players choose not to live here? Reminds me of the people in the small town I grew up in: they couldn’t see any reason why anyone would leave.
I think he still lives in Seattle. I don't know if he owns a PDX residence so that may not be an indicator.
Not to mention it can’t happen before the CBA is ratified something I believe is set to happen next week.
I don't give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
Mark Twain
Read more: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/m/mark_twain_4.html#ixzz1IE4sPu16
by Tyler Durrden on Dec 1, 2011 5:36 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Pretty sure he lives in Renton, across the lake from Seattle (so close enough to qualify as Seattle)
I doubt he’d sell even if he changed teams. I don’t know if he rented a place in Portland or what, but I presume he had something local.
I feel gossipy posting this: http://celebrityhomeforsale.blogspot.com/2011/11/brandon-roy-house-brandon-roys-house-in.html
Poor Guy??? Really???
It’s not like he will lose any money from his contract if he’s amnestied.
Ugly women are like men.......you're going to have to work!
dude, where Cribz when you need them
I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Sean in Vancouver on Dec 1, 2011 10:36 PM PST up reply actions
Atleast wait a dang year
The amnesty thing does not need to happen this year, and the Blazers will be in a much better position to figure out Roy’s situation if they have him on the floor for a year.
Plus, we won’t be able to do anything with the money if Roy gets waived (already be right at the cap). So as a fan I really couldn’t care less about Paul Allen’s pocketbook, especially after this lockout. If Roy is close to as good as he was he is absolutely worth the spot on our rotation and luxury tax hit, and if he isn’t (since we can’t do anything with the money at least this year) he’s absolutely better than having nobody.
It’s a gamble. If you let him go and he is awesome, you are paying him a ton of money to be excellent for another team, if you keep him and he is an actually bad player, whoops amnesty him next year, and you lose nothing except for actual dollars from the bank account, but can still save yourself from the major luxury tax hit with the changes in the CBA.
Hic Sunt Dracones
Whether we do it now or after this season, the harsh reality is that Roy will have to be amnestied or we will be crippling ourselves
and the Blazers will be in a much better position to figure out Roy’s situation if they have him on the floor for a year
There’s nothing he could show this year short of a miraculous recovery (the virgin birth of menisci) that would keep him at a max salary on this roster into the future. There are advantages to amnestying him now vs after this season. They include roster flexibility (full MLE vs mini MLE), lesser tax penalties (if PA wants to pay it no big deal to me, I just don’t consider it smart), and maybe most importantly, this roster moving on and creating their own Roy-less identity, which like I said either happens this seaso, or we put it on hold and are forced to figure it out next season. I say sooner rather than later and get the better player with the full MLE.
The only three positives I see to keeping Roy are:
1. A symbolic gesture of goodwill towards a franchise great who is unequivocally, undebatably, and most unfortunately unrecoverably no longer the player he once was
2. Someone will potentially bid more for him if he is solid
3. He allows us to win a championship this season
The old Brandon Roy is not coming back, and even an improved from what we saw last year version of the new Brandon is not worth handcuffing ourselves for over the next 2, 3, 4 years
"If I had a dime for every basket I made today, you'd still suck!" - from the book 'John Dies @ the End'
by sammymohawk on Dec 1, 2011 4:25 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Thank you!
I did not know that it would be the difference between a mini and full MLE.
While I think Roy is worth more to us than that difference, I did not know there would be any value added to the team by doing it this year. That is good to know though!
Hic Sunt Dracones
by TheOdenator on Dec 1, 2011 9:14 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
The old Brandon Roy is not coming back, and even an improved from what we saw last year version of the new Brandon is not worth handcuffing ourselves for over the next 2, 3, 4 years
Exactly. What I think would be most fair for the Blazers as an organization would be if they could renegotiate Brandons contract if he could no longer perform at the previous level on which his current contract is based (which is likely).
Ugly women are like men.......you're going to have to work!
Rip City United
Were those jerseys at the Blazer’s practice facility? Aren’t those the jerseys that LA used for the charity game in Portland? How did a box of jerseys from an “unsanctioned” game that the NBA would not support end up at an NBA facility?
Those were not the charity game jerseys.
They used the BBNS (BasketBall Never Stops) Euro-style jerseys that Nike was helping supply to many of the different exhibition games that have gotten played.
Hanlon's Razor: Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.
That last bullet point is huge!
Imagine all the other teams (under the cap) getting a piece of the overpayment of (the now aging) Kobe Bryant and the 100M payroll of the L*kers.
Weird question.
Weren’t the on-court workouts supposed to be off-limits to both coaching and press? There was even a “no peeking through the blinds” joke made about it.
I have yet to see this mentioned:
Maybe Roy would prefer to be amnesty’d. Look at it from his point of view: he still gets paid all the money, and he has a chance to reinvent himself in a new role on a new team, quite possibly a true contender. No baggage or expectations, no more of the disrespect he constantly complained about, no more trying to adjust his game to the other guys on the team, since he’s not the franchise anymore, etc.
I would not be surprised at all if he wanted out. I remember hearing after the fact that Martell Webster had quietly asked to be traded, and in hindsight, it made sense. Roy’s career might have a happier trajectory for everyone involved if he moves on.
hopefully they'll realize his current situation
and not run him the rest of the way into the ground
I JUST WANT MY BASKETBALL BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Sean in Vancouver on Dec 1, 2011 10:40 PM PST up reply actions
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