Well folks, we've got 3 1/2 hours to cash in our winning lottery ticket

If KP doesn't get something done, this will be a failure of epic proportions ...

-Pop

 

Not true. We will have draft day. And we all know what KP does on draft day...

 

Its not a failure, it means he feels the right deal wasn't there, and didn't want to mortgage the future for the present. He hasn't led us astray yet, so I would trust his decision.

Of course it would be disappointing though.

 

What does that have to do with the trade deadline? If he doesn't use his golden ticket to upgrade us in talent it is a failure. He can do his draft day magic even if a Raef trade occurs.

 

KP now has an extra $3M to play with at the draft. If nothing happens now, I will believe that the great deal wasn't there. It will make the draft that much more interesting.

 

I like how some people think they can tell KP what is and isn't a success.

 

Having a MIXUM moment, Pop?

 

It sounds like he's acting like the guy at the market, pretending to walk away from the deal before handing over the dough.

 

No we don't. Raef's contract comes off the books before draft day. At least I am pretty sure it does.


Huge failure if it's not moved today.

 

Oh yay! Draft Day! So you're saying there's a chance we'll get another guy with a ton of potential that will "net us some playoff wins in 2-3 years."

No thanks. I'm tired of constantly moving the goalposts out 2-3 years. We're holding a pot of gold in the name of RLEC, and we've got one chance to use it. If we blow this, we're basically passing on a sure thing for the opportunity to hope and pray that someone deals with us later when we've lost our leverage.

-Pop

 

What I'm saying is he doesn't have to make a deal today. History suggests KP performs miracles on draft day. Why would you bet against it happening again?

The other thought I've had in the last 24 hours or so is if other NBA GM's are starting to resist KP's offers and counter him with higher asking prices despite the current economic situation. If a deal doesn't get done it makes me wonder if teams are, at the least, a tiny bit reluctant to deal with Portland given KP's record of fleecing aka Pritchslapping other GM's.

 

So what, RLEC is one of the best trade assets on the market right now. Our pick in the draft probably won't even be that good, and no matter who we draft or trade, I don't see it being able to make an impact like a Gerald Wallace would right now. Get Gerald Wallace now, then upgrade PG during the draft.

The draft has absolutely nothing to do with this trade deadline

 

I keep thinking, with Raef's insurance covered contract, KP has sat around singing this on quite a few occasions.

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I'm not alone here. This is a HUGE opportunity. I mean, seriously, when are you going to have the perfect storm of:

1) Being within striking distance of a championship

2) Holding on to a HUGE expiring contract with an insurance kicker

3) Having the NBA send out a memo to all GM's telling them the luxury tax threshold and salary cap is going to go DOWN ... on the day before the trade deadline

4) Dealing in a horrible financial crisis that is forcing 90% of the league's owners to look for opportunities to save money

If he blows this, it will shock the hell out of me.

-Pop

 

I hope what you are saying happens. According to reports Wallace is who PDX wants most. I hope their GM folds...

 

Big failure IMO. Its about the same as letting a prize free agent walk for nothing. If they let Gerald Wallace slip because they wanted Batum, I am going to be really pissed. If Batum ever turned out as good as Wallace, you would consider yourself extremely fortunate.

 

Some people are still missing the fact that with our cap space, we can make a draft day deal where we take back salary and give another team instant relief, not expiring contracts. That, combined with 5 draft picks would be more valuable than RLEC.

 

You're right. The draft involves drafting college and international players. The trade deadline involves current players and future picks.

My point is just because we fail to move raef, it doesn't completely write off a big move before the start of next season. With the way the economy is running I wouldn't eliminate that thought entirely.

Besides, KP has his price like everyone else. If no deal fit his eye then so be it.

 

YOU WANT IT SPELLED OUT (and im more sure then ever after watching the grizz almost beat us) .....


THIS TEAM WILL NOT MAKE THE PLAYOFFS WITHOUT A MOVE. We are 3 games ahead of the 9th team who will make a furious push down the stretch. The fact we have almost lost to the grizz at home and have been down by double digits every game before the break....says we need a fucking deal. Barretts cute little post spelled this out today saying " i dont know if the future is now" setting fans up for anothe rlotto bound season.

IM TIRED OF "NEXT YEAR" and lotto picks. FUCK THAT. Its time to take the next step. Losing outalw, sergio, batum means absolute dick! If KP wasnt like most posters on this board (in love with mediorcre talent) a deal would be done by now.

Thats the cold truth.