What's the rule on players drafted in the first round who's teams don't want to sign them? Could they force the issue and sue until they were signed or something? Just wondering.
Considering we still own the rights to Marcelo Nicola (who I believe we acquired in the Drexler trade!), that seems unlikely. And in fact, I think a team only loses its rights if the player sits out a year and doesn't play for any pro team anywhere. Koponen was a first round pick. The only time I remember a team actually renouncing a first round pick was that white center from (I think) UCONN whose name escapes me that the Jordan Bulls drafted with (of course) the very last pick of the first round. They just let him go. He then latched on with the Lakers and actually got a nice fat contract, which quickly became a millstone as Jerry Krause's foresight in letting him go became obvious. Batum forced the Blazers' hand a little this year I think by insisting on coming over (when I'm pretty sure they wanted him to go back to Europe), but I don't think that's likely with Koponen because the team could just call his bluff. Although isn't the deal with him and Freeland that they're likely to sign long term deals with big buyouts unless they're brought over, like, this year?
THAT'S the guy. Yes, Atlanta, but it turned out he was too young to be drafted, so Portland got to draft him all over again the next year. And then wait a decade for his services.
So, we were the first team to legally draft him. I don't see the problem. As for the actual subject of this thread, if we have a spot on the roster I think we should bring him over.
