During discussion about potential S&T options for FAs (specifically Chris Bosh), he was ranting about how no FA would want to come here, culminating in the statement in the title. So it made me wonder, would a radio host better served by pandering to the listeners ("I love Portland, and I can't imagine why anyone wouldn't want to come here!") or by angering them with statements such as these?
I think it's honest, so I have to respect that. To an NBA player, Portland probably does suck. It rains the entire season, taxes are high, it's pretty small for a baller to live the NBA lifestyle. I thin konce a player has had the opportunity to live there for a while, it's different. But he's right about FA's. Why in the world would someone choose Portland with other options out there?
I agree with MM. While I can think of some reasons why a player would want to play here (primarily living in the great Pacific Northwest), there are lots of reasons not to: 1) VERY high taxes and the state is promising for them to go higher. 2) Despite Nike being here, they get far less non salary revenue than a larger media market. 3) With a lot of similar talent and a coach that cannot rotate players very well, playing time could be limted. 4) The NBA's version of Al Davis as an owner and a management group that steps on people for the fun of it. Vulcan cannot be trusted. 5) The single most sophmoric media in the country where every time a player blows their nose it's front page trash. Not to mention crap heads like Canzano making up lies about you as he pleases. 6) Being ignored by the major networks for TV games. If I were a player, Portland would rank in the bottom 5 places to play on my list.
Why would someone want a girlfriend who works at a pizza joint and who is as dumb as a rock? Chad does. Why would someone want to host a horrible morning sports show? Chad does.
Maybe in the past, yes, but not anymore. We've got a fair number of national TV games. Nothing like CLE/LAL, but among the tops with other playoff teams. If you consider that Bosh in TOR had 0 games televised nationally in the US, our situation is a lot better.
Oh well... its Chad Doing. Somehow and I have no idea HOW.. but the MSP has still been progressively getting worse. When Gavin left I thought the trend would change.. guess they all sucked, not just Gavin.
The city the team plays in has to a be a factor for players. But I doubt it is the biggest factor for many players. Money and the organization are probably the two biggest factors for most players. Camby decided to play here after playing in LA. I don't think he choose Ptd over LA, I think he choose the Blazer organization.
We have a 3-time NBA All-Star whose only endorsment, so far as I can tell, is for some foot support company in Tigard. I love it here, but mainly because of the May to November weather after the gloomy and gray rainy months. Most of the NBA guys leave town during those months. Plus, as mentioned, we have some of the highest state income taxes in the nation, with extra levels of taxation for those who make NBA money.
You havent seen Roy in various Nike commercials? I'm pretty sure that Greg and LaMarcus get $$$ from Nike also. I may be wrong, but I think almost every decent player gets at least a little $$$ from a shoe deal. Small potatoes, but Greg and LaMarcus have deals with a local car dealership, cant remember which one.
He was talking local endorsement deals vs national endorsements. The Good Feet store has to be one of the worst endorsement deals by a star player in the NBA. It really shows just how small of a market we are. Davis Lee made $2mill in LOCAL endorsement deals last year in NY vs Roy's $80k with Good Feet. These things matter to players and they really matter to the player's agents because they often a higher percentage on all endorsement deals. Oden had a deal with Town and Country Auto dealerships but that has ended. He received two cars for doing some commercials. Joel has a deal with the NW Ford Dealerships assoc. He received a loaded truck for doing a commercial. LMA has Providence or Good Sam Hospital cardiac department. All in all none of those deals are over $100k.
Main draw in Portland is the fan support and its really chill to live in but yet kind of fun stuff to do. Once you live there, you end up liking it. Check out sheed! back in P-town!
So, is winter weather so great in Chicago? New York? New Jersey? Minnesota? I think the party-guys would want a bigger city. That was a factor in the Oden/Durant choice. It was felt Durant would want bright lights/big cities and would not stay, while Oden was a small city guy who would like it in Portland. The more mature (in age and lifestyle) guys have said they like it in Portland, that it's a good place to raise a family, that they get great fan support, that they get recognized but not mobbed in public. You think that does not get around? LA is a big city, has warm weather (if you like gasping in the smog), major media. How many free agents do the Clippers get? Cleveland has crappy weather and is not a major media market, but they landed LeBron James and everyone wanted to play there. If you build it, they will come.
1. When was the last time Minny or NJ landed a big FA? 2. NY and Chicago are two of the top media markets in the country, while Portland is 21st 3. When was the last time the Clippers had huge cap space to get someone? Baron Davis just signed with them. He was a big FA. 4. Cleveland got Lebron because they drafted him. He re-signed there because he's from there.
I know Cleveland drafted LeBron. My point was that because they drafted LeBron, this unexciting city with bad weather that is not a major media market became a desired location. I know NJ & Chicago are major media markets. They are still cold. I would not call Baron Davis "a big FA". He was a good player, with a history of injuries, who was/is not a game changer.
