BRoy interview coming up live (MERGED)

Agreed.

What if BR is asking for some of the gate? What if he wants a player opt out after 2 years or a no-trade clause? C'mon, people, use your pea brains.

 

Thanks. I've downloaded it, so I can listen later.

 

What loyalty are you referring to?

 

That's a hell of a way to keep All-Star talent happy.

Roy's agent: "30 year-old Hedo gets 5 years, but Brandon, you're only going to get 4 years in case you get hurt."

Oden's agent: "Greg, are you listening to this? Let's force our way out of Portland fast. You have real injury issues, and look what they're trying to pull over on Roy."

As I read it, Roy has every right to be insulted. Brilliant job, Blazers.

 

The gate? Sure, give it to him no matter how much that is against the CBA. He's the one drawing the fans in.
Player opt out? Hell why not..
No-trade clause? I plan on keeping the guy..

The guy is our franchise. I'd give anything to keep him here.

 

Wanting to stay for five yeasr, when in reality staying for three years would probably make more sense since the cap should be higher the next time he's up for free agency. That loyalty.

 

CBA is your friend.

 

I'm saying if the organization treats Brandon like a static investment rather than a talented individual who is highly sought after in this industry, then they are gambling with the chance he could decide to go somewhere else where they will fully appreciate his talent. In other words, his loyalty to the Blazers will likely be frayed if they try to dick around.

 

IIRC, it was Paul who wanted the 4 year deal.

 

Pop Quiz: How many years did Paul ask for in his extension.

A: 4

 

PRITCH KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR THE BLAZERS

 

Negotiating is all about making both sides happy. If and when Roy signs, he'll be happy. I believe in Portland making Roy happy, I'm just unconvinced that unless they make him happy RIGHT NOW, he's gone-zo.

Unrestricted free agents have more pull than players who are locked up for two more seasons. It has nothing to do with their relative values as players. Roy and his agent likely understand that about leverage.

 

I have no clue what the issues are - but I would be really disappointed if Roy is not extended quick. With that being said - since I have no clue what the real differences between them are - I am not ready to start choosing a bridge to jump from.

 

I'm pretty sure that's how he wanted it in case New Orleans wasn't going to be that good in four years with their penny-pinching owner, as well as getting a larger deal near the end of it. Brandon just wants the max years, which you'd think the team would rejoice in.

 

I sincerely doubt he has "loyalty." It's not a family, it's a business. Roy is probably willing to stay in Portland because Portland can pay him the most. If this were baseball and Roy could rake in a pay-day by hitting the market as a UFA, I sincerely doubt that he'd be working on an extension now.

The key is to satisfy him financially, not to profess undying love for him.

 

I'm not sure where you are getting that he's "locked up" for two more seasons. He's under contract for this next year (2009-10), but then he becomes a restricted free agent the summer of 2010.

 

You're ignoring the value of security. Five years has value because it's a great hedge against something like an injury in his first game next season. Otherwise athletes would choose a steady stream of one-year deals, so they can immediately renegotiate a better deal the following year (at least through their primes).