It's LEVERAGE. It's just not that complicated. It's not about being crazy. It's about spending money--or not--at a level that's required to get a player's services. Hedo was not going to be interested in anything fewer than five years, and if he didn't get them from the Blazers he would go somewhere else. Not a year from now. Not two years from now, under new collective bargaining rules. He was going to go somewhere else next week. Which he did. Brandon Roy can do nothing right now if he doesn't like the Blazers offer. He can't stop playing basketball. He can't go to another team. He can't hold a gun to the heads of the front office literally or figuratively. He can sign an extension or he can not sign an extension. That's it. And his failure to sign an extension now doesn't mean that he won't sign next week or next month. Maybe the Blazers offer will get better, or maybe he will get hurt, or maybe he will notice that this might be his one sure way to make tens of millions of dollars in his career and he will take it, even if it's less than he initially wanted. There will be plenty of opportunities to reach a deal even if they do not this summer. That could NOT be said for Turkoglu, and that is why the Blazers offered five years to Hedo. Ed O.
I don't think there's any way Aldridge gets a max offer next year. He's slightly above Millsap and Lee, and neither of them drew much interest around the NBA at all, both because of their value (what they "should" be paid) and because of the restricted nature of their free agency. Roy might get a max offer, but Portland would just match it right at the seven day deadline. Everyone knows that... and I find it hard to believe that any team would tie up $12m of cap space for a week when there are so many other juicy free agents that will be unrestricted. In any event, Roy signing a max offer with another team would provide for smaller raises and Portland would be saving some money by doing that, rather than signing him to an extension now... And, with both players, they will be worth more a year from now than they are now, assuming they play at least as well as they did last year AND make it through the season injury-free (neither of which are anything approaching sure things). Ed O.
Next year, there will be a lot more teams than this year with cap space. There will be a lot of good free agents that teams will miss out on, which often causes teams to overpay for secondary choices. I'd also say around the league, Aldridge is viewed as more than just slightly above Lee and Millsap, and worth more money than either.
So there will be a lot of free agents for more teams with cap space... that sounds similar to fewer teams with cap space to spend on fewer free agents. Further, with the salary cap nosediving, I think there will be fewer teams with cap space than many of us think. Based on what? I agree he's worth more money--but not over 50% more than Millsap, as an example. Ed O.
Shit, since this seems like the "Ask EdO" thread, I too have a question for our SEATTLE Blazer fan................ Ed, I have a burning sensation when I go the bathroom. I don't know if it's all the whores or the chocolate covered anal beads. Any advice?
I can't separate emotion or loyalty from this situation like you can. Teams (especially ones with GMs that incessantly talk about "culture") don't fuck around, and in general act incredibly cheap towards franchise players who exude good character. What's even more embarrassing is that our owner is supposedly one of the richest in all of pro-sports, and he and his handlers are quibbling over a few million here and there, while pouring money down the drain to own and maintain multiple yachts in the Caribbean.
You're the guy who gets mad the the millionaire up the hill who downsizes his company and then buys a ticket to Hawaii the same month. I can't criticize a business man for trying to cut costs where he can, especially if the risk of the product I consume has a small chance of diminishing. It's possible if PA saves money on Roy's and LMA's extension that he'll use that money down the road to bring in the piece that puts us over the top. That wouldn't be so bad, would it?
If the Roy and Aldridge end up elsewhere (without similar talents being brought back in return), I'll blame the Blazers. Until then, I'm content to see what happens. If the Blazers end up locking up Roy and Aldridge for less than the two players are asking, I'll credit the Blazers...saving money on Roy and Aldridge hopefully allows for more money to be spent elsewhere. I don't think Allen plans to spend unlimited amounts of money.
That's kind of how I feel. Right now they are negotiating hard. Starting off low and trying to get what they want. If it back fires and they fuck it up, there will be no exuse. But at this point I will assume that they will cave if things take a turn for the worse. They know they need to lock up 3 huge contracts in the next year and still have enough to pay 12 other guys without going way over the salary cap. Not easy
Wasn't it Kobe, that said that he would wait for his extension talks until his team was done negotiating with Ariza, and Odom. That is both wise and shows a heart to win. I hope Roy and LA have a similar desire. I would love to see the "team" succeed more than anything. It seems to all work together.
Kobe Byant has made a hell of a lot more money in his career than Roy or LMA, and he's still getting over $40 million guaranteed over the next two years. Hooray to Kobe Bryant for not opting out of a 7-year, $136 million contract. What a hero.
well I want Roy and Aldridge back on board longterm (like seemingly everyone in Blazer management is on record saying they will be) but I want even more then that. I want Greg, Rudy, Batum, Bayless, etc... to evolve their games and the club to have dynasty potential that they can afford to keep together. Their is zippo wrong and a whole lot right with getting these two at lower dollars to be able to afford the ceiling of what this club could become in a few years. Ed is spot on pointing at the choppy financial waters ahead. Any tact management chooses is a gamble, but trying to control costs from the outset of their young talents becoming FAs seems smart. PAllen has consistently shown he's willing to spend (which is appreciated) but there are limits to what he should reasonably expect to lose each year when these guys are all on their 2nd deals.
Frankly, all of the above became moot to me when Hedo Turkoglu was offered a 5 year/$50 million deal. That isn't "cost control" on an average player over 30. Allen was also willing to pay $8 million/per for a back-up PF. This is the sort of negotiating BS that impacts the locker room, and I'm guessing Oden/Batum/Rudy/Bayless are watching how Roy is being treated, and wonder how players of lesser importance (such as them) will be treated.
My opinion, and these tactics did impact the Baby Bulls' locker room by media accounts. BTW, any proof that the only way a person could be wondering about the Roy negotiations is because they are either (A) angry, or (B) lacking an understanding of business? Where is the proof of that statement?
Probably the same way Roy could survive on a 4 year, $60M deal, or the $20M he's probably already made. Roy nor Kobe are roughing it, so I hope you're not implying Roy needs the money.
By comparison, Roy is nowhere near Bryant's position financially, so holding up Bryant as being above it all because he's waiting to talk extension is not an accurate comparision IMO. I didn't imply anything about Roy in my post, or even mention him.
As I said in the other thread, you are dramatizing what I said. I never said if you are wondering about the Roy negotiations you are A or B. I simply made a separate statement that people like to be angry or don't understand business negotiations in reference to them not understanding why Portland would try to get a bargain when they are in a position of power. The reason I made the angry statement is because odds are that Roy will be resigned, yet people are up in arms because he hsan't got an extension when his current deal still has two full seasons left on it. If Roy ends up taking less money or the Blazers end up getting a more flexible deal, odds are that we the fans end up the winner.
