While I have pretty much given up on Oden as have most people, here is a thought. It is entirely possibly (I suppose) that Oden may someday be a productive NBA player. Maybe sign him to a 5-year $2 million per year contract with incentives for games played each year. Perhaps for every 20 games he appears in he gets an additional $1.5 million. We keep him for a relatively nominal amount of money just in case he heals up and he gets a steady income for the next 5 years. Every team carries 5 players or so that are nothing more than practice dummies and victory cigars.
Really?? Hmmmm......... well, maybe something will work out that leaves good cap space. I think very few teams are going to make offers after his recent medical procedures.
an excuse to tease fans for 5 more years. no thanks. for 2 million a year, we can get healthy productive vets each of those years, like kurt, joel. or, can get 2 rookies.
"Entirely possible that Oden may someday be a productive NBA player" ... that's an interesting turn of phrase.
i wouldnt mind a 4 year 16 mill thats all incentives and only 4 mill (1 mill a year) guaranteed. id also add in really big incentives that seem unrealistic so it wouldnt count towards the total contract. stuff like 3 mill bonus for 70 plus games 5 mill per all star appereance 5 mill if he averages 15 12 2b. not exactly sure how the unrealistic bonuses count towards the total contract cap hold. Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk
Well I think that at his age his body may heal up very well. I doubt it, but it may. Let’s say he isn’t offered a contract from any team- which now is a distinct possibility except a team that may want to take a cheap flyer on him in the event he does heal up well. Maybe 1 to 11/2 years down the road he starts working out again and playing some pick up ball and his knees are problem free. He does a few workouts and he’ll most likely see some serious offers. Maybe not huge ones, but offers nonetheless. We’ve seen people in sports compete again after devastating injuries. So I was thinking that if we can get him to sign a nominal long term contract, it won’t hurt us at all and may benefit us greatly a few years down the road.
I think incentives can only be 15% of the salary. Basically 10 mil can add an additional 1.5 mil in incentives. I maybe wrong but I think it's something like that. What I would do is offer 5 mil per for the next 3 years. He is still like a 4 year college player on his rookie contract. Then if he studs out, give him the payday after. P.S. to other posters that say they'd rather use it for other players like Joel. We still get our MLE and vet mins. What we give Greg doesn't effect that.
5 million per? jesus. Especially when you know he is very unlikely for next season? 5 million to rehab, and then you're hoping having not played in what will be 4 years by the following season he's worth 5 million for the next two? wow.
I think you're trying to be difficult. But to repeat, he may not get any offers after MF sx #3, blood clots and the scope. If he doesn't or if they are league minimum from Toronto or something like that, our 5-year $2 million per season may look pretty darn good. The first year he will probably take off while regular paychecks roll in, but perhaps he can play some in year 2 and maybe more in year 3... And if it does work out fairly well (taking into account his injuries) we'd probably be first in line to resign him if he deserves a further contract. Some players do develop a sense of loyalty. And if it doesn't work out, it's not all that much money and he can probably be bought out after the 2nd or 3rd season. I think it's a win/win for both he and us.
I can't think of another athlete in pro sports history like Oden. Some players have been hurt their rookie year and never played again, and had failed comebacks etc.....but who has kept having surgury after surgury without even playing at all in between? It seems like the Blazers could hire SOMEBODY to figure out what is wrong with this guy. If he can heal, then yes, I'd keep him at a cheap price and wait this out. But if not, why continue to waste a roster spot on him?
