NJ can offer the most to Deron, so that's where I'd be he ends up. Portland should talk to him in that first minute, try to gauge if there's a sincere interest on his part (and get LMA in on the process). If you're not convinced right away that we have any sort of chance, then move on to other FA's immediately.
I think by settling with Dragic, you settle with mediocrity. The mind set should be and it isn't at this point. What can we do to put ourselves in championship contention and how are we going to do it? Deron get's us there. When you are in this mindset, you don't settle for second or third tier options. As you said the 'dynamics' may not be in place for that to happen. So what can this mickey mouse owner do to rectify those damn dynamics? And he probably can and maybe he should.
Of course we have a shot. Realistic, maybe not so much. But we have a shot. Being a fan is all about hope. I have hope!
I don't take issue with the answer. I take issue with how he said it. Realistically we probably won't be able to sign Deron, but we can make a pitch. Who knows, maybe by some miracle he decides that he wants to play with Aldridge instead of Brooke Lopez. I just felt that response to the question was very demeaning towards Blazers fans. Where was Bucher when Knicks fans thought they were getting LeBron AND Wade? Everyone in the world knew LeBron wasn't signing with that shit hole except Knicks fans, who think they're entitled to any superstar player that's hitting free agency. The current flavor of the month if Steve Nash, who they think will take the MLE to play with that freak show of a team.
The perception is that Portland isn't seen as a destination for big-name FA's. It's unlikely we land Deron, but if you don't make a play, you can't win, and you certainly can't change the current perception.
I would just like to know why Williams would want to waste his best years playing on one of the shittiest teams in the league. I could see him going to Dallas, or another team with a decent roster, but why would he want to stay with that shit team?
There have been hundreds of posts here from many people talking optimistically about Williams coming here. And where is the #1 suspect, Magnifier, lately? "His word" is coming from one made-up article by Dwight Jaynes. Same source for that other national authority, Simmons. Don't assume that media guys have any source other than each other.
Yeah, because the Knicks could never get an All-NBA/Team USA player to sign with them. LOL at comparing the Knicks with this two-bit Portland team in a one-pony town.
we make up a minority of Blazer fans. And people have talked about it in the sense of "it would be neat if we could get him BUT I know we aren't" Thats not the same as "there's a good chance that Williams will sign here!!11!"
I just thought Bucher's reaction was funny, as well as appropriate. It was the radio version of the spit take. [video=youtube;ZgBW3dNvE6Q]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZgBW3dNvE6Q[/video]
My point was, none of the national media bashes knicks fans for automatically thinking everyone will take less money and sign with their shitty team JUST BECAUSE they're NY.
Well considering Deron is the top free agent of the summer, NJ/NY is trying to keep him to build their new look franchise in a the top marketing city in the US and afraid they may lose Deron to a team one PG away from a championship (like Dallas) . . . I could see Ric being caught off guard with the idea that Deron going to a small market lottery team . . . really is unthinkable for NBA people outside of Ptd.
I would be shocked if Brooklyn doesn't start the season with Deron and Howard on their team. It's one of the reasons I think the NBA will somehow make sure that Brooklyn sneaks into the top 3. Use that pick with Lopez and whatever else to get Howard from Orlando
