Aldridge: Both sides got what they wanted

sorry but you misread the quote you're responding to. I didn't say top FAs don't leave their team to sign with PDX, I said they always migrate from small markets to bigger markets. LeBron returning to hometown Cleveland is about the only exception to that rule I can think of. Portland is just one of the many smaller markets that never ever signs top FAs... when was the last time Milwaukee signed a top tier guy with options? Or Minnesota? Or Toronto, Utah, OKC or Sacto? Maybe Durant resigns with OKC next offseason, but if he doesn't here's guessing it won't be to sign with Portland (who will have a ton of capspace).

Remember following the Donahue scandal how Stern was going to look into the various allegations made that officials were fixing games? He stonewalled the claims that games were fixed per league order, but recall how he was going to seriously look into setting things up similar to baseball and other pro sports where their officials would operate independently from the league to address the league's lack of credibility. Of course nothing of consequence happened & the NBA remains the only American "sport" that has it's officials reporting to the commish as it's boss. I'm pretty sure the players cynically watched all that unfold... and here we are.

Dame got paid this past offseason. When his next contract is up I won't be the least bit surprised if he has other priorities, and I wouldn't blame him if he did. I'd also wouldn't expect him to level with the public as to exactly why.

STOMP

 

Fuck LaBenedict Aldridge. That is all, carry on.

 

You think Greg Monroe is a Top Free Agent? Seriously?

Detroit is clearly better with him gone.

STOMP

 

So pretty much, what that one guy from San Antonio failed over and over to do.

 

He was one of the most sought after. Doesn't have to be the best, just the best during his free agent period.

 

Paying 1000$ for a burger doesn't make it fillet minion... it makes one an idiot for overpaying

sure it's early, but Detroit winning % last year was 39% this year they're winning at a 62% clip

meanwhile the Bucks winning % last year was 50% and this year they're at 44%

Monroe was not the sort of "Top Free Agent" I was referring to... in fact I'm sure I could dig up a post or two of me saying essentially please god don't let Portland be so misguided as to persue him in the various offseason FA threads this past summer. No D from the front court equals no Ws

STOMP

 

Detroit has Morris and Illyasova instead of Josh Smith on a max deal. Bucks lost Knight, Dudley and Zaza. NBA team performance is much more than one player.

Memphis resigned some Gasol guy and their win % went from 67% last year to 33%. Most thought he was the #1 free agent after LeBron.

The Knicks and Lakers both wanted to sign Monroe for the same amount of money as the Bucks but he went to Milwaukee. Players don't flock to big markets just because they're big markets. Chandler signed in Phoenix. Atlanta got Paul Millsap.

Chicago big market couldn't sign any free agents in the 2000's. So we've seen it over many summers in NY, LA, Dallas, Chicago. San Antonio isn't a big market; its over 4 hours to Dallas. Thats like saying a player will sign in Portland because of Seattle and Boise.

Sure every team would love a LeBron or Durant fillet minion. But saying all the top free agents flock to big markets is wrong.

 

Portland resigning Aldridge a few years back and Lillard this past offseason are examples (like Gasol in Memphis...who has been playing injured) of smaller market teams sometimes retaining their own. Thats obviously not the type of FA I was referring to. Teams can pay a tad bit more to retain their own and moving does suck for anyone, but the small to big trend is a fact thats beyond debate. Millsap going from Utah to Atlanta is an example this as Atlanta is far more populated then Salt Lake City (5M vs 1). Lol at siting Chandler. Thats worse then the Monroe reference as neither is close to an All Star let alone a difference maker.

btw, Texas has a population that dwarfs Oregon 27 Million to 4. The entire country has Texas transplants with rooting interests in tact... relatively nobody outside of the NW is from the NW.

STOMP