Off to sleep too... On Mrs. HCP! Beeyatch. Taking the anger out. She says don't hurry home for at least a month!
Freeland's not mentioned in end of the game action. Was he in? Foul trouble, I hope? Olshey's thinking, I missed the NBA championship game to fly here to see THIS clown? Olshey already was unexcited about him. Someone tell Freeland that this is no friendly game.
Reply Retweet Favorite 5m Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine RT @iwhittell: Freeland could agree deal w/Blazers before Olympics "My dream is to be in NBA & think at 25 it's probably perfect age to go" Marc Stein @ESPNSteinLine RT @iwhittell: Trail Blazers sending four execs, including GM Neil Olshey, to meet w/Freeland in Houston & watch him play v Lithuania on SAT Casey Holdahl @CHold And to high-5 Sabas MT @iwhittell: Blazers sending 4 execs, including Olshey, to meet w/Freeland in Houston & watch him play Lithuania
Good article in the Telegraph. Sounds like he's definitely interested in coming over: "But I'm open to offers. as I said all along, my dream is to be there and I think at 25 years old it's probably the perfect age to go if I'm ever to make the jump. I love playing in Malaga, I love being there, had a great time playing there but, at the end of the day, the NBA is where I'd like to be." BNM
One nice thing about bringing Freeland over is it alleviates the need to draft a big and frees the Blazers to truly draft BPA with both of their picks. Of course, you still take a big of he's BPA when you pick, but this would make it much easier to take a PG and a wing (SG or SF) if they're the best players still on the board. If they also resign Hickson, this gives the Blazers a bag man rotation of Aldridge (6/11", 27 years old), Freeland (6'11", 25 years old) and Hickson (6'9", 24 years old). That gives them a good combination of length and athleticism. All are reasonably young, still improving and reasonably injury free. BNM
Those statements seem to be a lot more pro NBA than some past statements by him; I have to admit I thought earlier he didn't really want to come over here. Now the Blazers have to decide if they really want him; and if they want to (and are able to) pay him what he wants to be paid.
I think you have to look at what the Spurs ended up paying Tiago Splitter, and Freeland will want somewhere near that.
The fact that Freeland wants to come now is great news in terms of flexibility. I think Joel gives us that inexpensive but quality asset needed to move up a few spots. Moving up from 11 to get Lillard or from 6 to get Robinson? The more cheap assets we have the better.
It makes me wonder, to be honest. For a while, Freeland only seemed partially interested in the NBA. Now, he seems ready and excited for the possibility. Makes me wonder if he didn't want to go to Portland, and Portland has told him they'll try to move him to another team in the right deal for Portland. Probably just making too much of it, but you kinda have to wonder.
it works either way, if we keep him or get to use him as a trade chip, would be nice to get some decent value for that pick of 6 years ago
This is what makes the most sense to me as well. I think a few other posters have said similar things.
""They were really interested in me all through this last season. They came to see me six times. I went to dinner with them and had meetings. They have been to Malaga numerous occasions over the three years and they're really excited about me coming this year. I'm excited too." I'm not sure, but it sure seems like he's excited about coming to Portland this year. BNM
