Agent: Joel Freeland, Malaga Closing In On New Contract

The agent for international Portland Trail Blazers big man Joel Freeland is quoted by Spanish publication La Opinion De Malaga saying that Spanish club Unicaja Malaga is close to inking a contract extension with his client that will decrease the likelihood that he jumps to the NBA in the near future.

Here's a quote from the google translated article.
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"The new contract we are working on that Joel will not want to leave the Unicaja, or the NBA," admitted the representative. "Your site is now Unicaja. They feel important and happy. He will continue if the team remains competitive."
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The talks are said to be in the "advanced" stages. The new deal is expected to include an extension, increased bonus incentives and an increased NBA buyout for the British big man.

Freeland, who will turn 25 on Tuesday, has been a standout for Unicaja Malaga this season, winning ACB player of the month honors before suffering an ankle injury.

Blazers Acting GM Chad Buchanan said in a January interview that the Blazers would "look hard at bringing [him] over from Europe next summer."

Hat tip: HoopsHype.com

Update: Totally missed raph in the FanPosts here.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter

4 months ago Ben Golliver 44 comments 0 recs |

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Comments

lovely. We need to get the San Antonio Spur's scouting staff and one of their

assistant coaches…promoted to head coach.

by Natsthecat on Feb 5, 2012 11:13 AM PST reply actions

or I know...Mike Budenholzer can become the Blazer GM. And fill in as necessary in

any coaching role…like AWAY games. “Nate, how about if you stay in Portland and I fill in for ya on this road trip?”

by Natsthecat on Feb 5, 2012 11:15 AM PST up reply actions

What does this have to do with Joe Freeland?

by BBK on Feb 5, 2012 11:19 AM PST up reply actions

The Spurs seem to be able to actually bring over the foreign players they've picked and

stashed. They also have a wonderful coach. Who does things like develop young players…allow them to play minutes. Sits the starters on road games which are most likely going to be lost..so the deep bench can actually learn in live game situations.
That’s the connection.

by Natsthecat on Feb 5, 2012 11:38 AM PST up reply actions

You make a bunch of very good points!

by kuhnsmith on Feb 5, 2012 2:54 PM PST up reply actions

Joel Freeland was my last hope of KP's eurostash experiment.

This is really stupid of Freeland. He would probably make around 3 million a year (Tiago Splitter like deal) when signing with Portland AND have the potential to sign a really big contract a few years later, plus considering all the expiring contracts in our front court this year, he would definitely get the playing time if he could play NBA ball at all.

I guess maybe he just wants to be a big fish in a small pond though…

SMH.

The smarter you are, the more likely you are to be tripping balls at any given moment.
/keep Batum/ /trade for Bogut/

by gtbassett on Feb 5, 2012 11:37 AM PST reply actions

Perhaps he has had the fear of the Babbitt put into him.

by Natsthecat on Feb 5, 2012 11:39 AM PST up reply actions

Man just get him over here

Stop paying Odone and lets see what this guy has.

by Cjones10 on Feb 5, 2012 11:48 AM PST reply actions

haha, i get it!

you call him O’Done because Babbit is white so he looks Irish.
Rec and a half!

dinasour type of guys choir boys

by mittsabishy on Feb 5, 2012 12:00 PM PST up reply actions

Comments like these really bug me.

I don’t think it’s the same as calling Crawford “Crawful” or Felton “Jumbaco” or “Cupcake”.

Like sir Charles said, “I’ve earned these names”. But Oden himself hasn’t earned this nickname, his body has betrayed him. So yeah if I were some Laker fan on the yahoo comments section, I would say the nickname of “Odone” is fair game and expected but come on dude support your team.

by Devyn on Feb 5, 2012 12:15 PM PST up reply actions 12 recs

Somebody called Felton

Jumbaco?

That’s great.

by Sabonis4Ever on Feb 5, 2012 4:31 PM PST up reply actions

I thought it was just someone's screen name...

by Natsthecat on Feb 5, 2012 5:36 PM PST up reply actions

All of the above.

by Timmay! on Feb 5, 2012 5:57 PM PST up reply actions

I do it routinely.

But it’s an affectionate nickname. I like Felton, and I like the Jumbaco.

by Roy Wonder on Feb 5, 2012 10:26 PM PST up reply actions

I suppose...

….we can only speculate as to whether this would of played out differently if the Blazers had a real GM.

You pause, you wait, you procrastinate, with Batum, Oden, Wallace and a 100 other things to worry about…something like Joel Freeland might just fall through the cracks. If The Blazers really were interested? If they were really serious about his talent and/or bringing him over? It should of never gotten to this point.

Oh well….just continued nothing from another recent Blazer draft pick.

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

by Krang on Feb 5, 2012 11:51 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

Freeland '12 :-(

I really hope(d) he considers joining the Blazers this summer. Camby is about to retire (if not with the Blazers then soon elsewhere), Oden is the question mark of question marks, and we really need another competent 5 and 4 player. He’d fit right in with the team in terms of needs, skills and age.

Malaga obviously is trying to lock him up before his contract nears its end and his buyout becomes easier to handle, but Buchanan, Larry Miller and PA should at least try to make their case for him.

by Norsktroll on Feb 5, 2012 11:52 AM PST reply actions 1 recs

do you think they will be able to convince him to come on over?

by Natsthecat on Feb 5, 2012 5:39 PM PST up reply actions

No surprise here.

by raoulduke on Feb 5, 2012 12:04 PM PST reply actions

I don't understand this.

Why would you not want to play in the biggest stage in the world? Maybe he believes Europe talent should stay in Europe? That’s the only thing I can imagine.

by Batumshakalaka on Feb 5, 2012 12:21 PM PST reply actions

This is ridiculous

He better not sign. Otherwise we maybe be screwed for next year

Formally known as: My_name_a_rudy

by Blaze_that_trail on Feb 5, 2012 12:27 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Talk about sabonis 2.0

Waste your talent in euro league and never the big kid league

Formally known as: My_name_a_rudy

by Blaze_that_trail on Feb 5, 2012 12:39 PM PST via mobile up reply actions

Sabonis wasn't allowed to come

and Freeland is nowhere near, not even in the same universe, as talented as Sabonis. Sabonis has a legit argument as the best player ever when he was healthy.

!!!o o!!!
OMG I just jizzed in my France
OMGrandpa

by sug on Feb 5, 2012 1:50 PM PST up reply actions

Maybe the NBA doesn't have the same appeal it once did.

A massive labor dispute compounded with the concentration of talent in a few major markets (ruining competitive balance), and the increasing talent level of the European leagues may leave many players wondering why they should bother crossing the Atlantic. In Freeland’s case, he’s getting the big money and the big role in Spain that he’s not guaranteed here.

I’d love for him to join the team, but if I was him, I’d stick it out in Europe. As others have said, I’m just pissed that he declared and we wasted a pick on him.

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Feb 5, 2012 12:42 PM PST up reply actions

He can still make way more money here...

Than he ever could in Europe.

I understand the big fish in a small pond line of thinking, but if we’re talking purely economics, most likely Freeland would be getting a Tiago Splitter type deal to start off, which is just around the per year money that his contract extension with Malaga is being discussed. PLUS, he has the opportunity to make even more if he proves himself worthy during that “Tiago Scale” contract. Big men get paid in the NBA, and if Freelands skills can translate at a reasonable level, he could be looking at tripling his salary easily.

The smarter you are, the more likely you are to be tripping balls at any given moment.
/keep Batum/ /trade for Bogut/

by gtbassett on Feb 5, 2012 12:48 PM PST up reply actions

There's also the quality of life issue.

Sure, he could get more dollars in the USA, but he’d also be subjected to the grueling NBA schedule, an ocean away from his friends and family, and enjoy much less fame (I doubt he’d be an NBA MVP).

If he wants a bigger mansion, the NBA is his best bet. If he wants to continue scarfing down tapas in a league where he’s a monster (and he’s still making millions to play basketball), Spain is the place for him. Personally, I’d go for the tapas.

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Feb 5, 2012 1:13 PM PST up reply actions

Not to be understated

We know Rudy’s homesickness was a real factor in his happiness while a Blazer.

"Luke is our go-to Chalupa man," Matthews said. "Designated."

by Vorlauf on Feb 5, 2012 1:59 PM PST up reply actions

True

But players don’t get to this level of play without a huge competitive streak. To be the best, you have to want to be the best more than anyone else. You simply don’t get better unless you play talent that’s better than you.

Then again, maybe 7 footers don’t need that to excel, maybe a hair of talent get’s them ahead of the pack by itself. It’s not like LMA is the most fierce competitor, though he’s finally coming around (and his stat line shows it).

by Batumshakalaka on Feb 5, 2012 4:22 PM PST up reply actions

Not every player can be the best.

They’d have to be fools not to recognize this. Freeland looks to be a totally serviceable NBA center; maybe even a pretty good one.

Is he going to unseat Dwight Howard? Of course not. Is he going to be a 2nd tier big? Possibly. Is there a chance he just ends up being another decent center that gets shipped from team to team, giving a slight lift to whatever city he plays for, but never reaching the All Star level? Maybe. Are either of the second two options better than being an MVP in Spain, making piles of dough? Heck no.

I’d be thrilled if his competitive steak drove him to join the Blazers, but I won’t be surprised if he opts to stay the course.

Doers & Makers > Movers & Shakers

by Adam Randall on Feb 5, 2012 10:19 PM PST up reply actions

Agreed...

plus, our American-centric view of the world simply won’t let most of us accept that there’s a few things that Europe has that’s better than what we have. There are reasons why there are a growing number of American ex-pats living in various countries around the world.

by kuhnsmith on Feb 5, 2012 3:00 PM PST up reply actions

Absolutely

I’ve been an expat for 25 years now and am still dumbfounded when I visit the U.S. how ignorant of and indifferent to the rest of the globe Americans tend to be. After traveling quite a bit and meeting various folks it was made clear to me (especially by Europeans) that perhaps the main characteristic foreigners see Americans having is a hunger for money. Maybe Freeland just knows he already has it made. His life looks pretty good from here. The constant sun, topless beaches, parties starting at midnight, it all just might be more attractive to a young guy than playing in puddle city.

by thaisteve on Feb 6, 2012 1:09 AM PST up reply actions

^ this

As an expat of 10 years, I completely agree with thaisteve. Whenever I visit the USA, it takes me about five minutes to remember why i got out of that ratrace in the first place and start yearning for the laid-back lifestyle south of the border. And yes, the "puddle city" (lol) bit has a lot to do with it, too. There actually are some things that are more important than maximizing the balance in your bank account(s), at least to some people, and if Freeland is one of them, then more power to him.

"Send lawyers, guns and money; the [nsfbe] has hit the fan." - Warren Zevon

by mexicoman on Feb 6, 2012 9:10 AM PST up reply actions

That contract would lock him only until the end of next season.

by amlmart1 on Feb 5, 2012 1:14 PM PST reply actions

I wouldn't leave Malaga for Portland, either.

by cchellis on Feb 5, 2012 1:47 PM PST reply actions

Yeah, I can't blame him.

"I Am Mine"

by AK1984 on Feb 6, 2012 3:05 AM PST up reply actions

I'm not surprised. I think he is scared of the NBA.

He has always used the excuse “I’m not coming over until there is guaranteed playing time”, which to me translates as “I have no confidence I could earn playing time in the NBA”. This summer is the best possible time for him to come over since the Blazers will be desperate to find bigs. If he chooses not to come over now, we should just write him off as never coming over and probably be happy about it.

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

by BlazerFanSince1970 on Feb 5, 2012 1:47 PM PST reply actions

This.

If he was interested in coming over, he’d be paying close attention to how the minutes are being distributed here. He’d see that Greg is a non-factor, and that our two 5s are very old and one of them is expiring this year. He’d say that LMA has and still does play at the 5 quite a bit. He’d see that he’s clearly better than Craig Smith. There is lots of room for him to come here, get a lot of minutes and shine.

If he signs this deal, that demonstrates that he doesn’t really want to be here.

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

by conspirator5 on Feb 5, 2012 1:58 PM PST up reply actions

He'd

Also see a coach who is incredible stubborn and may not play him or use him properly without much explanation or reasoning. We’ve burned a few bridges. I can’t see the blazers reputation for player dev. Being that respected. Thank god we have the fan base or I bet many others would want out.

by Cabbol on Feb 5, 2012 3:09 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah,

I wonder what Sergio and Rudy and maybe even Batum have to say to their brethren about Nate’s use of Euros?

by kuhnsmith on Feb 5, 2012 4:14 PM PST up reply actions

If Freeland doesn't think he's considerably better then Sergio & Rudy...

…I don’t think I want him.

Sergio is out of the league and Rudy is a pretty big disappointment and neither of those things is Nate’s fault. They’re just not that good.

If the big fella’s listening to those guys maybe Spain is the best place for him.

#7... GO BLAZERS!!!

by Ilikeemall on Feb 5, 2012 5:24 PM PST up reply actions

Nic...

.. has always been pretty nice towards Portland’s staff (particulary last season since he liked the idea of developing a midrange game and the training it involved, and its translation in games).

On the other hand, spanish fans and even some of their newspaper have often followed rudy in his criticisms (rudy being a “star” in spain did not help ) but i don’t think the situation is the same between a backcourt player and a frontcourt player. Furthermore, freeland is british so he would not have the language barrier coming here.

I don’t know what his salary could be in this new contract, but if his agent manages to get something like 1M5€ (+/-1M8$) tax free – or close – salary, he would not be that cheap for the blazers (from the buy out to pay to the salary which would have to be high enough for him to leave malaga).

I am rather disappointed since i really think freeland could have bring a lot along with lma, but life goes on. If agents think they can pressure every organization to get the dream contract they wish for their client, i guess they might have a rude awakening.

by raph on Feb 6, 2012 2:27 AM PST up reply actions