Mystery still clouds Oden's Blazer status

Nikolokolus, if this is only about money than don't ya think Ptown should get something for the money they've spent? 20 mill + for half of one season is hardly a fair return..

We are actually paying this guy over a mill to sit courtside at NBA games and watch! How much would any of you pay for his seats all year?

Meanwhile Patty Mills who can actually run down the court has been turned into a cheerleader in the cheap seats! The Irony!

 

And fans have every right to be upset. They've invested a lot of their "love" for Oden. So being upset at fans thinking Oden needs to do what they think "Is the moral and right thing" has everything to do with character. This is absolutely a business and he is free to do what his "Heart desires" in terms of city, team or girls he plans to show his cock to. But to think our fan base should be understanding of the possibility of him leaving is total bullshit. I hope our fan base Boo's him and burns his Jerseys if he bolts this fan base and team that supported him 100%.

 

Yeah, I stand corrected (actually, I'm sitting, but the fact is Draco is right). I just looked it up on the CBA FAQ. Unless something's changed in the new CBA, the Blazers would have to get Greg's approval for a trade...something he's not likely to give since it would cost him his Bird rights.

 

Paul Allen spent that money, not the fans ... and if you only bought tickets to see one player then I blame you for being short-sighted. Personally, I root for the laundry, not the name on the back of the jersey.

 

Great you root for the laundry? Well that laundry hasn't won shit because we are playing center by committee because Greg has been under ice for 4 years. We could have had KD with LA right now, imagine that laundry?

 

So blame KP and Allen for making the wrong choice.

 

If rumors are true about the interest in DeMarcus Cousins don't you think that's a sign that they don't see G.O. as the long-term solution at Center?

 

Certainly ... or at least a couple of the heads on this front office "Cerberus" think this way.

 

I don't buy this; there are plenty of times we've had players on the roster greatly outperforming their contract. When LaMarcus was our second best player but only on a small rookie contract was that fair to him? The last 4 years Batum has been earning only a million or so but been a great rotational role player worth far more. Should the Blazers vastly overpay Batum now because he was underpaid the last 4 years? I don't believe so.

All NBA rosters have players that outperform the cost of their contract and players who underperform the cost of their contract. It's not Oden's fault we selected him #1 and thus gave him an overpaid contract. It's a sunk cost, both he and the team need to move on. If we can find a mutually benefical deal going forward I would love it. But his previous value comparative to his previous contract is irrelevant.

 

Yes the rookie contract has more to do with management's inability to make the right choice. But I suspect anyone with the #1 pick would have picked Oden. Almost makes me think we actually were the "most unlucky" and Seattle was the most lucky. If they got #1 and us #2, that would be reversed.

Regardless, it's not about the money to me. It's about the fans and team standing by him. I don't think there is a soul in here that argues this. And with that; I expect Oden to give us something in return. This maybe a business, but even business has a moral aptitude. And like I said earlier... If Oden was a bust in any large market franchise: Boston had a very good chance to get the #1 pick; his failure would be 100 fold and News almost everyday. He should be grateful that only a few beat writers have taken their jabs at him as appose to the entire fan base.

There is a reason why even now, Portland fans still buy his Jersey and sport it proud at games. They love all their players and want Oden to know this.

Now if Oden comes back this season and gives it a go. Maybe get a 10/10 average; then he will demand a 12 mil per contract. This would be similar to Hibbert's. And I'm sure Portland and countless other teams would be fine giving it to him. This is what seriously pisses me off if he's not planning on playing this season. It's almost like he would rather take it easy and know that he will still get offers of 8 mil per just on a "what if". <--- SAD IF TRUE

 

I just don't like this negative way of thinking. If Oden wants to come back he should, but I don't want him motivated because he wants to avoid negative backlash. Positive motivation is far more effective then negative motivation. If he is motivated to return to Portland because he thinks it would be a feel good story to finally get healthy he should. If he thinks he could be very happy and succesful in the next few years in Portland he should consider staying.

I don't want him coming back because he's scared a bunch of fans will burn his jersey if he goes somewhere else.

 

Right. There's this thing called the CBA. That used to mean Continental Basketball Association. Now, it refers to Collective Bargaining Agreement. It spells out the guidelines for player contracts. It does not allow the type of "performance clause" you describe. You can etch it stone all you want, but if it's not in the contract, it don't mean shit, and thanks to the CBA it CAN'T be in the contract of any NBA player.

Thiink about it. If this was actually allowed EVERY NBA contract would have such a pay for play clause. Nope, all NBA contracts are guaranteed. If I player can't play because he's injured he still gets paid. If he plays but sucks, he still gets paid. Is it perfect? No, but both the owners and players voted to approve the CBA. So, it is what it is, and both sides agreed to it. I'm afraid you anger won't void Greg's contract, or the NBA CBA.

BNM

 

No way fans are doing or even threatening this, so why would he even think it? All he has is nothing but love in the Rose Garden, and around Portland (what I hear). We have given him nothing but love. And this is why I would be totally pissed if he gets this love and still refuses to give it a chance for us fans.

 

LEBRONNNNN, WHY DID YOU LEAVE USSS??????

 

Oden gets far from "nothing but love" There are fans that want him gone no matter what and fans that mock him consistently and fans that question his work ethic, and question his character because he has been hurt. Just read through this thread, I woudl hardly call it "nothing but love"

 

So you think he gets more love on any other fan-base? We have "what" like 100+ fans in this forum? I suspect that's less than 1,000,000th a percent of the Blazer fans in Portland and throughout the world. I live in Cali and I've always tried and support him. My negativity is only if he bolts without even showing us what maybe.

If he comes out and flops, then we deal with it. If he comes out and is average and another team is willing to give more than our Brass thinks they want to pay; then I will be more upset with management than Oden. I go both ways. I will blame Management in the same fashion as well.

 

Yes and No. Contracts do not have to be guaranteed, players just fought for the option to have contract be guaranteed, whereas owners wanted all contracts to not be fully guaranteed. Just as owners give coaches long term fully guaranteed contracts, when there is zero reason they have to guarantee more then the current season, mangament similarly gives fully guaranteed deals to players.

That being said you are correct that Ghost Peppers performance clauses are not conforming to the CBA. Incenstives can only be a certain percentage of the total value of a contract.

 

Ahhhh but here's the difference. The same difference with Howard and Shaq. They made it pretty obvious that they were going to leave and it's management's fault for not dealing them when they had the chance. If Oden openly said "Hey fans, sorry but I won't come back. I want to start fresh somewhere else." Then it gives management time to do something about it.

Now if Oden did tell management that he wants out and Brass is trying to keep it from us; then I will be even more pissed at Brass than I ever would with Oden.

And remember this thread is on the "hypothetical of him leaving". This is assumption and we are debating on that assumption.

 

No shit. He constantly gets blasted by assholes on his own blog, his FB page and everywhere else his name is mentioned online. He is basically treated like the punchline of a bad joke. Yeah, he gets paid a lot to put up with that abuse, but it's not his fault he's injured and can't play. Did people in New Jersey have the same attitude toward Drazen Petrovic because he died and couldn't play?

Get over it people. The guy's injured and can't play. He didn't do it just to piss you off. So, stop acting like he did.

BNM

 

No I don't think he would have gotten much more love from any fanbase that drafted him. I just totally disagree with your "nothing but love" statement. A vocal segment of fans have bashed Oden since his rookie year, I mean I understand their frusteration, dissapointment and why they are doing it.