Grantland's "Summer Winners and Losers"

I don't think anyone argues that Portland can compete with LA, NY or Miami. The endorsement dollars are just too good, and in the case of FL and TX, there's no state income tax.

My point is that players don't shun Portland because Portland's a shitty place for a black person, so they choose Milwaukee, Salt Lake City or Oklahoma City. If we had the cap space, I think we can certainly compete with all but a handful of teams, and if we ever get really good again, top flight players would be happy to play here. PA doesn't lavish benefits on the players like he used to, but he still has a good reputation.

 

No, they don't.

 

Why not? Weren't they free to leave at the end of their contracts? Weren't they free to not sign a deal with the Blazers so they could move elsewhere? Couldn't have either pushed for a sign and trade?

 

Exactly... But shhhh don't tell anyone because it will blow the argument out of the water

 

You can say that but it isn't logical. Brandon Roy was the #3 SG in the league when he resigned with us.
LA was probably the #4-5 PF when he re signed.

Your argument is flawed. Didn't Clyde re-up with us too?

 

It’s pretty difficult and unlikely for any team to sign an elite free agent. Only happens a few times per decade in the league. How many years post Jordan did Chicago strike out on every major free agents? That is supposed to be a desirable NBA city. I think the best one they’ve got is probably an overpaid Boozer. Players mostly want to go where there is the most money and secondly to the best team, then the appeal of the city is 3rd. If a big city was so attractive why haven’t the Clippers signed anyone in their history?

The Lakers signed Shaq, Orlando got Grant Hill and McGrady, Phoenix signed Steve Nash, Miami signed LeBron and Bosh, the Knicks signed Amare and Chandler, the Rockets signed Dwight. Those are the only teams that outright signed likely all-stars as free agents in the last 20 years, it’s very rare. So that is 6 teams out of 30. Looking at history suggests 80% of the league can’t acquire the stud free agents.

 

Post Jordan the Bulls had tons of free agent money almost every offseason; some of their bigger acquisitions were Brent Barry $27 million, Ron Mercer $27 million, Eddie Robinson $32 million, Ben Wallace $60 million, and of course Carlos Boozer $75 million. Those signing have been terrible.

The more I look at teams acquiring free agents the more I convince myself the best way to build a team is through trades. The MVP studs just don’t switch teams in free agency; that’s a pipe dream even for an ideal city like the Lakers or Bulls or Mavs have. So to acquire free agents you have to overpay guys like Iggy or Josh Smith near max level deals to entice them to come to town. How likely is GS or DET to get benefits above the cost of the contract?

 

C'mon Mags, you're smarter than that.

The whole RFA thing is a scam. You offer the RFA money, if the offer is even remotely reasonable the current team matches, and you get to tell your fans you "tried". Pure PR stunt.

As for re-signing our own FA's......you may have missed all the threads about LMA not being interested in re-signing, even though the Blazers have been paying him quite handsomely.

 

Sisyphus would be proud of you.

 

I guess we will find out wont we? I don't buy into Aldridge wanting out

 

OK, I'm willing to compromise.

We drop the RFA argument, and I will concede the part about re-signing our own FA.

 

I was going for Sisyphus....thanks

 

It's really totally different.

Once players get here, they seem to like it....at least most of them. It's getting people here that have 29 other options that is the tough part

 

Well, not exactly free agents, but how many players have forced their way to Portland by demanding a trade?

Pippin did it, Kemp (yuck), Steve Smith, Derek Anderson, Rod Stickland (also signed as a free agent, the second time), Damon. Detlef came here twice as a free agent. Brian Grant came here as a free agent. So did Nick Van Exel, Greg Anthony, Juan Dixon, Steve Blake and Joel. Obviously, not all of these are Tier 1 or Tier 2 free agents, but there are VERY few of those who actually change teams. But, there are PLENTY of examples of players coming to Portland because they wanted to be here.

BNM

 

Be cool to have more than 1 example from this century. But like I have already said I have been wrong the entire thread

 

Dorrell wright had an awesome year a couple years ago and is a talented player.

Came here for a great deal and chose us over Okc.

Not a tier 1 or 2 but has proven he can be an ok starter, really good bench player

 

I know everyone says Andre Miller was out 3rd choice (after Hedo and Millsap), but he was a top 10 PG and chose to come here.

BNM

 

After no one else offered him. Yep. I get it. I was wrong

 

Well we tried Milsap; which he signed and Utah matched (strike one). Then we attempted to sign Hedo (strike two). Then we gave an offer to Miller and he accepted (Ironically becoming the best choice from the 3 options).