Dwight Jaynes: A new take on Roy's contract negotiations

I'll tell you what. How about when Roy walks, and he isn't here carrying this team anymore, you come back and revisit this subject. Because when he leaves, and the team drops to 20 wins a year again, and Nate bails, then we will see who gives a shit about how he handled contract negotiations.

 

You're pretty sure it's when and not if?

 

I assume you are responding to my post. You didn't say.

Name more than one top 10 player that has "walked" in the last few years.

More importantly, you didn't even respond to the point of my post. Your comment is the equivalent of "scoreboard".

My post was about Roy having a reputation of being different. Special. That rep is taking a hit. If all you want is a mercenary ala Kobe Bryant - you may get your wish.

I never said I wanted the negotiations to be this way, or that I support the management without reservation, or that I wanted Roy to leave, or that I thought Roy shouldn't be paid a whole lot of money for what he has done and will hopefully do.

By the way, your claim that Roy leaving would crater the team into 20 wins is completely ridiculous. So much so, that I now question why I even responded.

 

If so, we recovered after Walton and we recovered after Drexler. The team is bigger than one player. If he forces his way off this team--something I don't believe is even in the realm of possibility--then he's not the person I thought he was.

 

I dont blame Roy for wanting to get what he's worth, and its easy for me to say because its not my money, but I was hoping Roy would be like Tom Brady. Except a little bit smaller of a contract in order to help the organization surround him with players so they can win.

 

What other recourse does Roy have to get a 5th year if not put pressure on the organization? Wait day after day asking for it until the team suddenly budges? Sit by and watch as an overrated SF get a 5 year offer and wined and dined, only to get an even better deal from Toronto. Watch Bargnani get a 5 year contract extension while he is only offered 4 years?

I normally like Jaynes' takes, but this one is questionable considering things are clearly at an impasse 2 weeks after a deal could have at least been verbally agreed to by both parties, and officially agreed to 1 week ago.

 

The team is only offering 4 years; Roy wants 5 with a player option initially, maybe 5 guaranteed now.

 

I'm sure he's really worried about that at this point. /sar

It's just like Portland fans to turn on the guy who is the only reason the Blazers are relevant at this point.

 

You're talking about Pritchard right? The guy that made the draft-day trade that landed Roy, Lamarcus, etc... Yet a few have decided to turn on him lately... weird.

 

I haven't turned on Pritichard other than to say he did whiff on Hedo (which I am happy for, BTW) and that his golden image is tarnished in a thus-frustrating summer. I really liked his draft, and the very early returns say the two 2nd-round PFs at least are not stiffs. This Roy situation has Vulcan written all over it, though. I have to believe that Pritchard would sign Roy to a max extension yesterday, and part of me thinks that he's actually surprised at how things are taking shape in terms of the Roy talks.

 

I don't know that the Blazers would be against a 5 year contract, it's the player option that is cause for pause. Look at the circus that surrounds LBJ, DWade, and Kobe. They have player options which means they can opt out and sign wherever they want to (if someone knows the exact rule, educate us).

The Cavs and Heat will go into the year with all the pressure of the media hanging over their heads. Now, I think Roy will get whatever he wants, but the Blazers have their tail in a crack. If they just give it to him the first minute of the signing period, what will LMA expect? LMA is a different cat when it comes to personality. If he perceives he is being screwed over he will simply walk at his first chance.

As far as Bargnani (sp?) is concerned, I don't think he holds a player option. So, the PO is the crux of the deal, IMO.

 

Every report I've read say only 4 years are being offered. If you can find something that says Portland is willing to offer a 5 year deal without a PO, it would be the first I've seen/heard of it.

 

He did everything he could to get Hedo, the ultimate decision was out of his hands. Hedo looked like the ass, not Prichard.

You had no problem with his draft.

You're saying the Roy situation is due to the Vulcans.

I fail to see what he's done wrong. Could you enlighten me? If this is reason enough to say his golden image is tarnished, then someone's expectations were a little too high. Nobody is going to have everything go their way all the time. The fact is I don't really know what he's done so horribly wrong this summer.

 

+1 good post - this is what I've been trying to say for a week!

I'm not dogging on Roy or KP, but I don't unconditionally trust them either.

 

He hasn't done anything wrong. Tarnish on gold isn't an insult or "turning" on someone, is it? I could have said the stink of summer is on of the pile of s**t, couldn't I? That would probably be considered an insult by most people. Saying a golden image has some tarnish? I fail to see the insult there.

 

You fail to see the insult there? Okay.... So what were you doing, patting him on the back? Tarnish by definition is a layer of corrosion, that dulls the luster of something like silver. It's pretty straight-forward. Maybe you're confused.

BTW, gold doesn't tarnish.

 

I think that when you say there is some tarnish on his golden-boy reputation - it means that it is clear that he is capable of making mistakes.

I do not consider it as that big of a deal, it's not like saying he is garbage.

Personally, I think that KP showed us he can make mistakes before - he is now trying to fix his 2006 draft mistake by trading Sergio and trying to sign Millsap - so at least we know he is learning from his mistakes...

 

Tarnish means to diminish, literally. Diminish in this context would be considered an insult to those who still see Roy as shiny gold, like me.

 

Oh no?

But he could.

Not that he should. But he could.

Part of the job description of being a "max player", a "franchise player" is to be a team leader, team builder, community leader, charity leader, public speaker, face of the team, face of the city/region.

Much of this is unwritten. Some of it is actually in the dang contracts. It is difficult to enforce, and many of the would-be "franchise players" perform poorly in these capacities. Kinda like how some players get their big payday and mail it in. Of course, teams do their part to diminish these concepts by trading their "franchise players". Only a few achieve greatness in these areas as well as on the court.

Roy is/was well on his way to cementing his place as one of the premier franchise players in the NBA. On and off the court. And, I guess that my disappointment was that he was off to such a good start, that he has a chance at being one of the all-time greats.

He WILL NOT BE if he puts himself above the team, if he doesn't work with the Blazers so that they can figure out how to pay people, and at the same time keep people, if he spouts horseshit like "I can't recruit if I don't know if I will be here".

Looking at the big picture, a star athlete strives for a very long time against a riptide to achieve that monster contract. It may be the only one they ever achieve. By the time they are in those negotiations the thought to get as much guaranteed money as you possibly can out of that one deal - all other factors ignored - must be overwhelming.

I would likely want that too. Who knows, maybe he is more worried about his knees than we know. He lives with the pain, and maybe it is a daily reminder to him. I don't think Roy is bad for wanting what a normal person would want in that situation.

But, if you strive for true greatness, you don't do the normal thing.

And the funny thing is, sometimes (no guarantees) it works out MUCH better in the longer run.

If Roy maintains a true golden image, fosters team building, which allows a better roster, which leads more winning, which makes Roy more popular, he could make much more money, then if he just played hard, kept to himself, and ordered his agent to play hardball at contract time. Winning is the biggest money producer of all.

And in the even longer term, what if politics, big business or NBA management is in his future? Team building and leadership. That will play better down the line then, "I don't know if I should represent the interests of the voters. I am a lame duck and I am down in the polls. I think it is 50/50 I will even be governor next year."

Sorry smarty pants, er, EdO, I do think this stuff matters.

But nevermind. So Roy isn't the second coming. He still kicks ass on the court. Right?