<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Today, Vlady Radmanovic and his agent, Dave Bauman, will be in town and meeting the Sonics brass. The Sonics currently have a 6 year 39 million dollar deal on the table. The two sides will try to reach a common ground to sign a long term deal. If not Radmanovic will be forced to sign the 1 year tender agreement at 3.2 million dollars. Bauman has said if that is what they are forced to do it is a sign that Radmanoivc?s Sonics career will be over at the end of the year. He says it would show a lack of faith in his client from the Sonics.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Also on Tuesday the not so mystery suitor of Damien Wilkins may be revealed. The Sonics are hoping to keep Wilkins by using a portion of their mid-level exception. According to sources Wilkins turned down a $16 million offer from the Portland Trailblazers. I talked with his agent Mark Bartlestein today and he said, ?There are a few teams involved, I don?t want to comment on specifics, because there are still a lot of ways this can go.?</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Flip Murray is a bit of a wild card. The Sonics are planning on signing Murray while his camp is desperately attempting to set his market value by receiving an offer sheet. However, no teams are willing to have their money tied up for 7 days on an offer sheet.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don?t anticipate much on the Reggie Evans front. Everything sounds like that will linger all the way into September. There is a good chance that Evans is left with the one year tender.</div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The Sonics will continue discussions with Vitaly Potapenko about returning to Seattle. The advantage of Potapenko is the Sonics don?t have to use any of their mid-level exception.</div> Locked On Sports.
The blurb about Vlade is kind of interesting...he and his agent are willing to negotiate a long term deal with the Supes? I thought he was adamant about being a starter...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">The blurb about Vlade is kind of interesting...he and his agent are willing to negotiate a long term deal with the Supes? I thought he was adamant about being a starter...</div> Maybe Seattle said they would consider making him a starter?
It's all an ego thing - Vlad has still averaged around 30 minutes the last two seasons, and will again if he's back.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">Maybe Seattle said they would consider making him a starter?</div> That's all good to say in negotiations I guess, but even Vlad - hell even his agent - need to be thinking 'where?' No way does he rebound and defend well enough to be a starting 4, especially with another mediocre rebounder/defender playing the 3. Maybe with Shawn Marion, but not with Rashard. And even though I'd personally be intrigued moving him ahead of Rashard eventually, I doubt anyone else is. Anyway, I just hope it's huffin' and puffin' by his agent and like Dez says he just ends up getting his starters minutes coming off the bench.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Roland Hood:</div><div class="quote_post">That's all good to say in negotiations I guess, but even Vlad - hell even his agent - need to be thinking 'where?' No way does he rebound and defend well enough to be a starting 4, especially with another mediocre rebounder/defender playing the 3. Maybe with Shawn Marion, but not with Rashard. And even though I'd personally be intrigued moving him ahead of Rashard eventually, I doubt anyone else is. Anyway, I just hope it's huffin' and puffin' by his agent and like Dez says he just ends up getting his starters minutes coming off the bench.</div> Kinda funny you dont think its plausible for him to start at the 4 because of Rashard being at the 3 even though he will still be playing the majority of his minutes with lewis on the court. BTW im intrigued by that as well as Rashard Lewis is waaaaaaaaaay down on my list. I was thinkin maybe lewis for Magloire straight up. Wouldnt have to throw anything in like we would with vlade I dont think and we could jsut sign vlade and make him r starting 3.
True, but it's in bursts and (I'm trying to recall) against the other team's 2nd unit, probably. Regardless, I wouldn't feel comfortable with my starting forwards averaging 10 rpg between them Anyway, Rashard really needs to show another level of improvement this year. Hopefully his knee and *cough* big toe are sound and he can play at an All-Star level this year, we're going to need it. He needs to be at 22-8, be able to take more than 2 dribbles, and continue improving his post game and defense. If he's at last year's level I don't think he makes it since we won't have the early success that he was rewarded for.
Rashard's improvement last year wasn't anything to sneeze at. For the first half of the season he was probably our best offensive player and he proved he deserved to start. It's obvious he needs to rebound more, but I think that will be easier to do than making the transition from underachiever to All-Star. I'd been one of his biggest critics before last season, and he convinced me that he's ready to help lead the team. Radman has more potential, but is it really worth it to jettison a star just because of that? I don't think so.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Rashard's improvement last year wasn't anything to sneeze at. For the first half of the season he was probably our best offensive player and he proved he deserved to start. It's obvious he needs to rebound more, but I think that will be easier to do than making the transition from underachiever to All-Star. I'd been one of his biggest critics before last season, and he convinced me that he's ready to help lead the team. Radman has more potential, but is it really worth it to jettison a star just because of that? I don't think so.</div> Did he convince u he was ready to lead the team when he disappeared in the playoffs and then sat out with a toe injury?
Try moving freely with an injured toe. It might sound like something insignificant, but given basketball is a game played entirely on one's feet and involving a lot of running, quick movements and changing of direction, the last thing you can afford to injure is any part of the foot.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">Did he convince u he was ready to lead the team when he disappeared in the playoffs and then sat out with a toe injury?</div> I remember thinking the same thing, and then Charles Barkley went on a rant about how he had his big toe injured once, and told the trainer there was no way he was missing a game over a toe. Then tried to put on his shoe and found the new meaning of pain..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Sir Desmond:</div><div class="quote_post">Try moving freely with an injured toe. It might sound like something insignificant, but given basketball is a game played entirely on one's feet and involving a lot of running, quick movements and changing of direction, the last thing you can afford to injure is any part of the foot.</div> Exactly. I've had to play with a hurt toe before and that was only because we only had 7 players suit up. It's impossible to keep up with everybody else on the court, and to even run and jump. Sounds like you should suck it up and play but even if you were out there you'd basically be a handicap.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">Did he convince u he was ready to lead the team when he disappeared in the playoffs and then sat out with a toe injury?</div> I didn't say he would lead the team, I said he'd help lead the team. Yeah, he sucked in the playoffs, but so did everybody else except Ray and AD when he got injured. I don't see how that means Radman is better.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">I didn't say he would lead the team, I said he'd help lead the team. Yeah, he sucked in the playoffs, but so did everybody else except Ray and AD when he got injured. I don't see how that means Radman is better.</div> ok..u said help lead the team. But yeh your right hes waay better then Radman still i wasnt trying to argue with that. I was just insulting Lewis. Btw ive played plenty of basketball and ive hurt my toe before and I just honestly believe that most tough players would play through it. I GUARANTEE u wouldnt ever see Gary Payton or Reggie evans missing playoffs games for a toe injury. Hes soft. its as simple as that. Always has been alwasy will be.
To be honest I don't think that Vlad would start for half of the teams in this league. He is a talented player but he doesn't have the intangibles in his game to separate him from the other good small forwards in this league. When he improves his lost post game and his rebounding I'll become more convinced that he is worthy of the praise he gets on this site. For the record, Sweet Lew should have at least suited up for the elimination game against the Spurs (Game 6). I understand that it is difficult playing with an injured toe, but at least show your team and your fan base that you are willing to give it a shot. He had already skipped Game 4 and 5 and we could have used a Willis Reed type of a performance in Game 6. (Remember all he did was hit two open jumpers). If you aren't right everyone will see it and they will appreciate your good intentions. It's not like playing on a sprain toe will have career ending implications if it is aggravated. He may have come a long way but he is still far away from assuming the role of being a "franchise" type player--and he is still soft.
?Vladimir?s first choice is to be here, which is why he flew in from Belgrade and will miss the first week of training for the national team,? Bauman said. ?We are hopeful we are going to get a deal, but it is too early to say what it is going to be.? Just an interesting quote from Vlades agent. Always seemed like his agent said to me that he wanted to leave?
I reckon Bauman was originally trying to scare management into coughing up big money, but now he's seen that the interest just isn't there for Vlad at the price he wants, he's changed his tune a little bit.
