Yep but Portland play only 1-2 games a year in Dallas while Dallas play 41. All other games are about the same in terms of Texas/non-Texas.
I'm getting quite optimistic about the chance of getting Whiteside. It happened when I was reading some quotes by Wade and Bosch which were kind of about how he needs to grow up and how he doesn't like to talk sometimes. I think those guys had a good influence on him and that he has grown up, but are those really the Parent-type people he wants to hang out with? I don't think so. I think he wants to hang out with some young guys like the Blazers. So I don't think he is going back to the Heat. And for mostly the same reasons not to Dallas. And since Boston didn't get Butler; is that team strong enough for him to want to go there? Who else might want him, New York? Does he want another dinosaur as GM? Do they really have enough talent? I also think he is the only one of the three main targets (he, Durant, Horford) who would be OK with joining the Blazers even if he is the only big free agent to do so. His career is an underdog-makes-good career and so I can see him identifying with the Blazers and with the idea that youth can do it. I also think that "not talking" stuff might just be that he didn't have much to talk about with the old Heat players. If we can't get Horford or Durant, I would rather take a chance on Whiteside than Howard.
Whiteside posted a snapchat of him playing 2k against the Blazers. It's a done deal. He's coming to Portland.
The video game post was obviously a joke. But right before the video of him playing 2k, he posted a video where he said "I'm a business man, that plays basketball" This hints at what most people think. Miami can't pay him the max, and he's not taking any less than that. If we offer him a max contract, why would he not come here? Only way I see him signing somewhere else, is if NY or LA offers a max.
I saw that too lol. My first guess was he was playing against McCollum online. But seriously, Portland embraces off center personalities like Whiteside and I also agree that he would fit in better with our younger players than in Miami. Miami says he's priority number one but didn't they bench him numerous times last season? Wade also has that old school Kobe style leadership where it's respect your elders. That can get tired. Future looks brighter in Portland, and they can offer the max without sacrificing anyone
The LA media sure thinks they are going all in for Whiteside. They need a center and Dwight is not exactly an option. Whiteside is their first choice, then Horford.
Miami can pay him the max, and can still keep Wade and Tyler Johnson too, as long as Wade is still willing to take the $50M/3y that he wanted last summer.
They have 54 million in capholds so its going to be interesting to see what they try and do. I think they do what they did with Bosh. Whiteside will get an offer that is similiar to Miamis and use that offer to leverage a 5y max deal from Miami.
That was my thought as well...good call. Now if only CJ would confirm that. Somewhere I read that Wade might be willing to take a 3-year deal for $50M. So ~$16M a year plus raises to take him through age 38. That roster doesn't exactly excite me even if Miami Beach does.
I didn't realize the deal fell through because Miami didn't want to give him a long term contract, I thought it fell through because it was only for 16-17 million. I just knew he made 20 million this last year, and didn't think he would want to be the 3rd or 4th highest paid player on his team, again.
Apparently, he will have 4 suitors, and I don't think that includes Miami. As a Blazer fan, it is really the first time where it is logical - from a basketball POV - for a top tier FA to join the blazers. HOWEVER, I don't really know much about him off the court. LA, NY, PDX, Miami, Dallas all have different advantages and disadvantages. The major disadvantages of PDX is weather, taxes, travel, and general hipness (as far as a young NBA basketball player is concerned). How important are these things to him? No idea. We'll see.
When we don't get him, what's next? (Incidentally, supposedly the Wiz are offering JOAKIM NOAH a $112-120M 4 year contract! I like Noah... but not THAT much! Not after his injuries.)
