Oden signed for $1.5M

Whoa, quite a bit less than his qualifying offer

5 months ago kennetha 28 comments 0 recs |

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Wow. That was some setback.

Odds of Oden seeing the court this year dropping to near zero at this point.

by howlingfantods on Dec 30, 2011 8:43 AM PST reply actions

Pretty much, dang.

by ColeFitz88 on Dec 30, 2011 8:55 AM PST up reply actions

Oh, didnt see your post. Yes crazy.

by merseykersey on Dec 30, 2011 8:54 AM PST reply actions

wow

makes one wonder what exactly that setback is

PHILLY!

by CleBlazer on Dec 30, 2011 9:09 AM PST reply actions

im shocked

but i guess props to oden for taking a new deal? or did he not have a choice?

Rip City Baby...People have no idea what is coming.

Follow my twitter @PDXBlazersFTW. Lots of random Blazer Posts from links I find around the blogosphere.

by lanepete on Dec 30, 2011 9:42 AM PST reply actions

it seems the choices were thus:

1) take a new lessened deal and be a UFA in summer 2012
2) get NO deal and still be a RFA in summer 2012

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Dec 30, 2011 10:45 AM PST up reply actions

Hmm....

Gleaning from the fact that the FO doesn’t seem to be going to after Joel, I took that as a good sign that Oden was coming back, but now I don’t know what to think.

by solid_soup on Dec 30, 2011 9:44 AM PST reply actions

Proof that the Blazers had more ammunition than they were given credit for.

Thanks to the great fanshot we got from blacknoiseNW earlier, we have good reason to suspect that Oden’s setback is probably not severe. It’s enough to delay his rehab, and it’s enough to raise question marks about Oden’s prospects to be healthy for an extended period. On it’s face, it doesn’t seem more than that.

But think about this: It was enough that by the terms of the CBA, the Blazers had the right to call attention to it, and Oden had an obligation to turn down the QO in response. That would have made Oden an immediate UFA. Just think about Oden heading into free agency with this this headline hanging over his head:

“Oden required to refuse Blazers QO for medical reasons.”

The only public rumors involving wooing Oden were for the new MLE. 5m over 4 years, tops… and that was before the setback. How much could he expect to pull down after the setback? Maybe a team would happilly offer him 1.5M for 1 yr, just like we did. But what other team would sign him solely to provide a lesiurely rehab? Nobody. He literally had nowhere to go, the Blazers new it, and they negotiated the most inexpensive deal possible given the circumstances.

Somebody tell me why we need to hire a new GM? Well played, 3-headed GMonster, well played.

In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.

by conspirator5 on Dec 30, 2011 10:57 AM PST reply actions

Small correction:

The MLE is 5m a year for four years, tops. I made it sound like 5m total over four years, or 1.25m a year. Obviously wrong, you all know better, but full disclosure and all that.

In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.

by conspirator5 on Dec 30, 2011 10:59 AM PST up reply actions

and Oden had an obligation to turn down the QO in response. That would have made Oden an immediate UFA.

If Oden had to turn down the QO because he couldn’t play it would have left him a RFA next year.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 30, 2011 11:21 AM PST up reply actions

No I don't think that is correct.

If he turned down the QO, there would be NO agreement between him and the Blazers at all. No contract. Therefore he’s not playing for us. Therefore he’s an immediate UFA.

In theory, theory and practice are the same. In practice they're not.

by conspirator5 on Dec 30, 2011 11:32 AM PST up reply actions

bf 70 HAD IT RIGHT

The terms of the cba state that if greg is medically precluded from taking the QO, the blazers could offer him a new Qo next summer, leaving him as a restricted free agent. This is exactly what is happening with jeff green right now.

Greg took the 1.5because its a lot better than zero, AND he still gets to be unrestricted next summer.

The blazers gave him the 1.5 on order to retain his bird rights and perhaps to gain some goodwillin future negotiations

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Dec 30, 2011 11:41 AM PST via mobile up reply actions

The Blazers wouldn't lose his Bird Rights if GO sat out the year without a contract.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 30, 2011 12:54 PM PST up reply actions

It doesn't make sense to me that the Blazers made the 2nd offer,

but perhaps the Blazers made an under the table deal to re-sign Oden if he’s healthy again. But letting him become a UFA is a lot to risk on a handshake deal. Otherwise all they had to gain was saving $7M this year at the expense of letting him become a UFA next summer.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 30, 2011 12:59 PM PST up reply actions

goodwill perhaps?

making him sit a year unpaid and go through the QO/RFA process again would perhaps have been the best basketball/business move, but there are also people involved, and that would have been drawing a line in the sand – one which could come back to bit you in a future negotiation.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Dec 30, 2011 1:45 PM PST up reply actions

I don't know. These are professionals doing business involving a lot of money.

They all know how it works and I’m sure his agents do a good job explaining it to Oden. The guy has already received over $20M from the Blazers for 82 games. He can’t feel that bad about the Blazers.

If it was goodwill, then I suspect there was some kind of understanding about still giving the Blazers a chance a match before signing a UFA deal. i.e. “here’s the UFA offer we are ready to sign, if you want to match we’ll sign with PDX instead.”

But whatever happened the Blazers are sure taking a chance making him a UFA when they didn’t have to. I got to think there is some “quid pro quo” understanding, but that ain’t a contract.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 30, 2011 1:58 PM PST up reply actions

And it is against the rules

Joe Smith anyone?

by ORDucktape on Dec 30, 2011 2:36 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, any "understandings" can become a problem real easy.

In the Joe Smith case Minn circumvented the salary cap by signing him to a low-ball offer to get his Bird Rights. If the Blazers had an understanding with Oden that they would get a “fair chance” to match other offers he received, it would be much more gray since they wouldn’t be circumventing the salary cap or giving him more money than he might otherwise receive. This is such an unusual situation (taking less than the QO) I suspect the NBA looked into whatever happened before they approved the contract. So the big issue in the future would probably be did anyone lie, withhold, or misrepresent anything to the NBA?

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 30, 2011 2:56 PM PST up reply actions

It'd definitely a fine line.

I’m also reminded of the time when the Cleveland Cavaliers declined its team option on Carlos Boozer in a show of good faith. The Cavs were set to give Boozer a long-term contract, but he instead bolted for the Utah Jazz.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Dec 31, 2011 2:26 AM PST up reply actions

"but perhaps the Blazers made an under the table deal to re-sign Oden if he’s healthy again. "

Let’s hope not, because that’d blow up in Paul Allen’s face in discovered.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Dec 31, 2011 2:22 AM PST up reply actions

right. in that scenario he would have been a RFA again (assuming they offerred him the new QO next summer)

for whatever reason, the Blazers decided to give him this 1-year deal instead of forcing him to sit unpaid last year, and repeat the whole QO/RFA process.

"But if Ding Dongs and prime rib were the path to NBA pivot stardom we'd all be wearing the uniform." -Dave

by douglast on Dec 30, 2011 1:43 PM PST up reply actions

No. You are incorrect.

Otherwise what would be the point in being a restricted free agent at all if he can just turn down the QO and become an UFA?

by Arby on Dec 30, 2011 11:52 AM PST up reply actions

Either way, he would be an UFA

This is strange. The QO allowed Portland to match any offer he would receive in the recent free agency. It was extended before the deadline earlier this year, so he need only sign, play out the year and he would be a UFA in 2012. This contract also allows him to be a UFA in 2012, but saves Portland over 7mil and possibly luxury tax. He either did not receive an offer, despite rumors to the contrary, or he did not seek offers (doubtful).

Very strange. I doubt this will be the last we hear. Anybody remember Joe Smith and the Timberwolves?

by ORDucktape on Dec 30, 2011 11:51 AM PST reply actions

Yep, that's what I'm beginning to think. An under the table deal to re-sign next summer.

But letting him become a UFA is a lot to risk on a handshake.

Seems a lot safer to just not make the 2nd offer and let him sign an offer sheet or sit out the year.

"You're not too smart, are you? I like that in a man." - Matty Walker in Body Heat (1981)

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Dec 30, 2011 1:02 PM PST up reply actions

Becoming a UFA in 2012 was going to happen regardless

It is the best decision for all parties. If he doesn’t play, he’ll be hard pressed to find a good deal, and asked to play for the minimum with contenders. The Blazers will cut ties if he does not show signs of progress and will be able to offer a contract should he come back this season and perform well. Early contract talk with Portland is his best bet. Showing goodwill to Portland is a confusing sign, but maybe he and his agent believe Portland is his best bet to land the next contract???

by ORDucktape on Dec 30, 2011 2:32 PM PST reply actions