<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Ruben Patterson remains confident he will play in the NBA this season, even though he's waiting to sign a contract. Count Patterson, who finished last season with Milwaukee, among free agents who are trying to secure deals as teams finalize their rosters and money evaporates. "No question it makes it harder," said John Hammond, the Detroit Pistons' vice president of player personnel. "You can count heads around the league right now, and many teams have (the maximum) 15 players, or more, in some circumstances." This year's free agent class, with few superstars, was considered average at best. Many teams chose to wait for next year's class, with players such as Tim Duncan and Jermaine O'Neal possibly becoming available. That left some players -- such as Patterson, P.J. Brown, Anderson Varejao, Earl Boykins, Adonal Foyle, Troy Hudson, Chris Webber, James Posey and Mickael Pietrus -- waiting. Patterson said this is the longest he has waited before knowing what jersey he will wear when camp begins in October. The former Trail Blazers forward acknowledges he's getting a little nervous. "You could say that. I know it's the middle of August," Patterson said last week during a telephone interview from Cincinnati. "You got a lot of guys who haven't signed." Some of them will sign, but others won't. Even those who do sign a contract probably will not get the kind of deal they envisioned when the free agent period began July 1. Then, there was plenty of money available from teams. Now, with many rosters essentially set, many teams want to avoid paying the luxury tax, a dollar-for-dollar penalty for teams that exceed the team payroll salary limit. "If there's a free agent available and you pay him $1.5 million, it's going to cost you $3 million ($1.5 million in salary and $1.5 million tax) with the luxury tax," Hammond said. "It makes it pretty difficult." Patterson's options decreased further when teams decided to consider signing retired players Allan Houston, Reggie Miller, Charles Oakley and Anfernee Hardaway. </div> Source: OregonLive
dont know much about ruben, but based on his stats that i just checked, he seems like he could be a good role player for us. 14.5 points, 5.4 boards, and 3 dimes, not too bad. i like the idea of him joining us. plus, hes looking for a ring, so you know hes gonna go out there and do what he has to do to get one.
I'm really high on this guy. He can play good defense and score. He brings toughness and would be great starting with Wade and Shaq. If the Heat get him, they will have a soild bunch of players.
He wouldn't suit Miami's system. Miami likes to have three-point shooters surrounding Wade and Shaq, so when they get doubled they can throw it out for the 3. Ruben can't hit a 3 if his life depended on it.
<div class="quote_poster">Master Shake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I'm really high on this guy. He can play good defense and score. He brings toughness and would be great starting with Wade and Shaq. If the Heat get him, they will have a soild bunch of players.</div> You said you just started following the league in '04, right? Do you go far back enough with the NBA to remember all the discipline problems he had? He's a real chemistry killer. He had problems with Nate McMillan in Portland and had one really bad blowup which the Blazers actually suspended him for. Then he actually came out and said if he didn't get 25+ mpg, he wanted to be traded. That's not even talking about his off-the-court problems, like the time he was charged with assault after beating a man outside of a night club, or like the time he beat his wife and was brought up on felony domestic abuse charges. Then there was the case where he allegedly raped his kid's nanny. The courts ordered him to register as a sex offender, but Patterson never did, so they issued a warrant out for his arrest and fined him six figures. He's just trouble, like Bonzi Wells or someone like that.
^^^ WOW. thats a lotta s**t. now i dont think i want him. the only way i want him now is if riley puts him on a very short lease, telling him that if he pulls stuff like that while hes here, hes gone.
<div class="quote_poster">Voodoo Child Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You said you just started following the league in '04, right? Do you go far back enough with the NBA to remember all the discipline problems he had? He's a real chemistry killer. He had problems with Nate McMillan in Portland and had one really bad blowup which the Blazers actually suspended him for. Then he actually came out and said if he didn't get 25+ mpg, he wanted to be traded. That's not even talking about his off-the-court problems, like the time he was charged with assault after beating a man outside of a night club, or like the time he beat his wife and was brought up on felony domestic abuse charges. Then there was the case where he allegedly raped his kid's nanny. The courts ordered him to register as a sex offender, but Patterson never did, so they issued a warrant out for his arrest and fined him six figures. He's just trouble, like Bonzi Wells or someone like that.</div> I've heard of that stuff, but I think he still is a ok player to have. I never said he is the missing link or anything. He has problems ok, so does Randolph and Artest. They still can play. I don't think what he did was wrong, but last year he play so good basketball, and it wouldn't be a horrible idea to get him.
