This is the final year of his contract; I think he will be an unrestricted free agent? Locking up our starters will obviously be priority #1 this coming summer. But I think Freeland may be the next most important signing. Big men get injured all the time and he has been able to fill in as both a PF or C. These recent few games have been the best basketball of his career. Yes the competition is terrible; but he had a few moves where he looked legitimately athletic out there. He never makes the stupid mistakes of our other options and plays totally within himself and the flow of the team. Its hard to find such high IQ play from a backup big man in the NBA. There are guys who can provide it on offense only or defense only but rarely on both sides of the ball. He has anchored our team with LMA and Lopez being out and is one of the heroes of our season so far. Way to go Joel!
Well said! I think he's a keeper. I think he likes playing here. He knows he's going to be a career backup big and he's looking better and better this season. This Blazer era is special from the coaching staff to the roster. A lot of players are going to want to play here the more successful we are
I really really like Joel and would love to have him back but I think he'll get a nice offer to go back to Europe. He was already one of the best big men in the Euro League before he came over here, he'll dominate now with what he learned here in the NBA. Freeland is going to get paid!
First career double double tonight! I'd give him the game ball for the Knicks game...he had a team high and game high +28 per
Well he makes $3 million now and is in line for a hefty raise. I don't think they pay much more over there? Plus there's issues where teams say they'll pay players, then they say they'll be late then the paychecks just never come. It seems rare for an NBA player making mid level type of money leaving the NBA but I suppose its not impossible.
Nah, he's not giving up what he's worked hard to earn here. He's at the right age to have a good solid NBA career. Over there the quality of venue is like the D league here and about the same fanbase. Definitely a step backwards, money or no money.
