"Poor economy influencing trade decisions"

According to David Aldridge:

Is Raef now more valuable than ever?

 

I do think the RLEC is more valuable then we even think in this economy. I just think even PA wouldn't mind saving the money uless we can get the player that will really make a difference this year and beyond. So, far most of the rumors wouldn't help us that much IMO.

 

Pocket change... Didn't Paul Allen lose like $20 billion in one year after the dot-com bubble burst? Granted, it was only half of his net wealth.

 

I'm thinking along the same lines. PA has probably lost more than the average owner (given his wealth). Now he is in a position that he can lose more, but with three big contracts coming up and still paying Francis' salary this season, I can see even a PA enjoying Raef's contract being paid by insurance and not looking to trade that benefit.

 

Why is no one talking about Chandler? Pryz, Raefs contract and pieces for Chandler? You may hate him but you have to admit he's an upgrade over Pryz and gives us a hell of a rotation in Oden, LMA and Chandler. Not exactly a point of need but might be to cheap to pass up. Would be ironic to trade Pryz for Chandler.........

 

The economy effects Paul just like the rest of us I'm sure. But he loves his Blazers!

 

I'm positive Chandler wouldn't enjoy being a backup

 

Hmmmm. Can Chandler play any power forward? He's actually taller than Przybilla, I believe, but he's always struck me as a little more nimble.

Man, that'd be tough to do. I don't really get emotionally attached to many players, and particularly not to role players. But Przybilla is kind of a special case--he's that tough guy who's been around from the ugly days who never ever quit, and you'd like to see his dedication rewarded.

 

I know this point will piss people off, but this is where the Comcast deal is so great. It's $13MM annually for a decade. I think the FOXSports deal was less than half of that. It gives PA more room to either pay the luxury tax or absorb another large salary.

From what I've heard (not from the Blazers, but from a buddy who works for another team) is that the price to acquire RLEC is REALLY high, much higher than most people (including me) had assumed.

 

Like, how high? Can we measure it in Dengs?

 

LOL! That's a great unit of measurement. I have no idea what the actual value is, only that KP is asking A LOT to acquire it.

 

$1 billion is NOT pocket change. To anyone. Ever.

 

Tell that to Congress.

 

Sounds like KP is a really smart negotiator. Start high and work down from there.

Maybe KP is seriously considering holding onto the contract becuase he still has decent FA targets this summer? Even with "only" a possible fifteen million in cap room, restricted free agents like Josh Childress and Ramon Sessions should be attainable through either outright contract offers that exceed their teams' ability to match, or sign and trades can probably be worked out.

I hope a really nice trade happens for the Blazers before the deadline, but there are still some pretty decent options come this off-season.

 

Even without free-agents - the Blazers, by being under the cap can facilitate some trades with cheap assets for big-time salaries even if they do not have the entire cap free for these salaries.

 

Right, I forgot to mention lopsided trades and not having to match salary ... I tend to think that's where KP's real genius gets exercised anyway -- draft day deals, where he's had time to formulate a plan and has additional assets to play with (purchased picks, etc.)

 

Was the sarcasm not obvious?

 

Hmm, if Phoenix is really motivated almost entirely by money, I'm dazzled by the prospects. Get Stoudemire for little more than huge cash savings to Phoenix (Portland can offer a LOT of expiring money in RLEC, Frye, Diogu) and then swing Stoudemire to another team in a talent-for-talent swap for a small forward or point guard. With Stoudemire to offer, suddenly players like Devin Harris becoming realistic.