Larry Miller: Oden is still in Blazers' long term plans

Didn't you say somewhere a while back that if Oden was injured again, you would be willing write him out of the future plans of this team?

 

Why would they be trapped? As I said to nik, the team gets to decide how they view him...if they extend to him the QO, they are not contractually obligated to see him as a major part of the team. They can extend him the qualifying offer and then go about their business exactly the same way they would have if they hadn't extended him the qualifying offer. Oden would take up no money that could be used for other free agents, since the team is over the cap either way. All he would take up is a roster spot and, unless you're going to make the argument that the team will have 15 valuable players, that's pretty insignificant in terms of cost.

So I fail to see how the team is trapped, when it comes to team-building, if they keep him. They can keep him and then pretend they didn't and go about their business. If it ever comes to pass that Oden is healthy, another good center is never a bad thing. If he isn't healthy, the team is no worse off than if they hadn't kept him.

 

I said that if he suffered another major injury, I would no longer want the team to build with him in mind. My position doesn't contradict that in the slightest. I'm advocating keeping him, but as an afterthought, and building the team as if he weren't around. Isn't that entirely consistent with "not building the team with him in mind?"

 

I like this perspective a lot

 

But I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about the fans who are still clinging to the hope that Oden will rebound from this injury and help this team. I have personally lost hope for him, and while I agree that it doesn't hurt to make the QO, and hell, it might be worth it to keep him if it's cheap enough.... but this guy is no longer a centerpiece of our future. He's the face card you hold onto in five card draw when you're trading in four cards.

 

A. I love your poker analogy and pretty much agree with it, conceptually (i.e. he's a wishcast, but yaneverknow)

and

B. Who is currently claiming Oden is a centerpiece for the future? I honestly have seen no one claim that in light of his latest setback.

 

This part was more interesting to me. Is this implying that Roy played last year without any meniscus in either knee?

 

Considering he tore his meniscus against the Lakers at the end of the season I would have to say no.

I think it's Larry Miller trying to sell than Roy will return to form.

 

Larry Miller - which is the point of the entire thread!

 

If Greg had gotten himself injured in freak accidents on the court, like stepping on someone's foot, of being rolled into, that's one thing, but his cartlidge is being damage by what??? In practice, by getting up off the couch?

Even though his bones have great density and all that....there is obviously something wrong with his cartelidge, or how it attaches to the bone. There's no way this is "just happening". He has some kind of condition our doctors just cannot figure out.

 

The only reason his knee might be "stronger' is because he strengthened the surrounding muscles through weight training. And there is NO way any Microfractured area of the knee will be "better or stronger" that the original. This is a myth.

 

how are you (or fans) going to determine this cause and effect relationship actually existing? Just out the backside speculation? I could have sworn the team made a trade for a center last season despite having Greg behind the bench.

STOMP

 

This move was all about signaling.

1) To Greg: Work your ass off in rehab and you'll be compensated for it.

2) To Greg: We're not giving up on you; you're part of our team.

3) To the fans: He's only 22 and can still be a significant piece of our future

4) To the League: We're not trading him for scraps

5) To the League: Don't try to poison the well against us to Greg and his representation and expect we'll let him go to you.

Smart move by a guy I don't think has been a very good Team President.

 

Play the GM Maxie, would you have offered Brandon a 5 yr contract knowing what they knew about his knees? I would not have, 3 years for me, that would have been fair enough given what he has done for the franchise, IMO 5 yrs was just too much and too risky.

 

Good post. Repped.

 

If I would have known about his knees, I would have offered him a five year deal, with minutes/games played triggering player options in the fourth and fifth year. I would also have purchased a massive ($100MM+) insurance policy in his name as part of the contract in case he couldn't play anymore, that would allow him to retire and have the same lifestyle as if he had played 15 years. Furthermore, I would have let him know there would always be a place for him as a Blazer, on the bench, in the front office, what have you.

It's a tough balance, because the guy is the face of the franchise and you want to compensate him for that role as well as for his play. You want him to be happy and secure, but you also want to protect the team. All that being said, I don't think things are as bad as advertised. Brandon will figure out a way to change his game or get comfortable with the pain.

 

I'd be cool with the 4th and 5th yr stuff you mentioned, I though the Blazers tried but could not get the contract insured? Where I am more pessimistic that you in his ability to handle and play with the pain, as I think it will get gradually worse as he plays on the knees, hope I am wrong

 

Haven't seen that. Only seen him say that Oden is in their long-term plans, which only means they aren't dumping him. It says nothing about how much they are planning around him. Oden is in my long-term "fan plans" for the team...even though I think the team should make moves as though he's not on the roster. I think he should be kept until he represents a significant opportunity cost, just on the off-hand chance he ever does get healthy.