It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (mine)

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

We don't know what he's going to be offered, so until and unless he actually does leave for less money than the Blazers offer him, why don't we just ease up off the gas on panic-mobile. Hypothetically speaking, if he leaves for less money then I would assume that he really, really needed a change of scenery, but I won't speculate about his motives because we don't even know if that's an option from his perspective.

Apparently you're too emotional to talk about this topic rationally right now. In any case I never said you were miserable, I just think the idea of owners holding all the cards is an incredibly antiquated and draconian point of view -- apparently the NBA players association agrees with me, which is why they operate in a free agency system.

Secondly, your assertion that Joel took less is flat out wrong. The Blazers were the top bidder for his services when he was a free agent a few years back; he didn't stay here out of the goodness of his heart (though maybe that was a factor?) he stayed because it was the best financial arrangement and playing arrangement for he and his family. And lastly, it's got fuck all to do with a "moral compass." There's nothing inherently moral or ethical about choosing where you would like to be employed when the rules of your collective bargaining agreement give the right to make that choice.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

As I understand it from what was reported at the time, it was mutually agreed by Oden's camp and the Blazers that they wouldn't enter into negotiations on an extension last fall. This makes sense, I think, since the Blazers didn't know how Oden was going to return from his injury and didn't want to offer a big contract absent proof he would be the player that was worth the money. Oden didn't want to look at a lower priced contract since he hoped his play this season would establish him as being worth a maximum deal. Both parties knew that if Oden's play warranted a maximum offer the CBA would allow the Blazers to make Greg a maximum qualifying offer prior to June 30th in addition to just submitting a qualifying offer. I don't think either side was upset by the lack of an extension, but rather wanted to establish a case for determining Greg's worth before entering into a long term deal. Unfortunately, Greg's subsequent injury and microfracture surgery prevented any of that from happening. Now an offer will have to be made without knowing what Greg is going to be capable of.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

What I'm saying is that the Blazers could have made an offer, and they did not. Oden could have always rejected an offer, but at least the Blazers could say they made him a fair offer. If the rumors are right, and they are willing to pay for $40 million over 3 or 4 years after another lost season due to injury, they could have made a similar offer last summer. At that point, if Oden rejected it, then deal with it. The problem with not making an offer then is that it could be used as leverage, or even poison Greg's view of the franchise, this summer.

Just an incredibly dumb mistake by Cho and the Gang, IMO. A mutual agreement with Oden's camp doesn't mean much, since whether or not to offer an extension was a one-sided decision solely held by the Blazers. Make a fair offer, and if Oden's camp refuses it, at least you don't take the risk of souring Camp Oden on the Blazer front office.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

why does their have to be 'Camps'? Everything that I've heard from Miller and G.O. over the past year points them agreeing on the fact that G.O. needs to get back into shape before they sign any deals. AGAIN, Crapzano reaching for Drama!

In the end, Oden Stays with the Blazers not because he owes the team, but because he sees the possibility of our greatness with him, MARK MY WORD

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

IMO it's incredibly dumb to make assumptions based on your feelings.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

I agree with this. I just don't see any reason why Oden would leave other than his feelings getting hurt or something. So if he leaves because of that, then he was never the player I thought he was. I always thought he had some serious mental toughness. This situation would prove a "make or break" for Oden. Basically if he leaves, then he is a pussy and can't handle the pressure.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

I'm just offering up an opinion, and there are rumors that Oden is a bit upset about being Kwame Brown-ed last summer. I take that information into account when forming my opinion. I think the Blazers have botched a situation that didn't need to be botched. Sides can't negotiate until an initial offer is made, and apparently the Blazers didn't even make that move last summer.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

He should be upset with himself then. I love how some posters in here are blaming the injuries on our medical staff. Oden will control his destiny. If he is too thinned skin to take the pressure of being the #1 pick, then so be it. Let both sides move on. I thought we drafted the strongest mental player in the draft. If he leaves because he's butt hurt, then he is a pussy that we don't need to build around.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

That's your own assumption, though. Maybe Greg cries himself to sleep every night curled up in the fetal position. Being upset at him because he many be not what you assume him to be isn't the fault of Oden, is it?

If he stays, then he is a loyal and tough player who is a pillar of integrity.

If he leaves, then he is a "pussy" who can't handle pressure. :MARIS61:

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

You did? I thought all along that Durant had a killer mentality, while Greg came across as friendly and unfocused, if not aloof. Neither mattered much to me, though.

I still wanted Oden, based on his potential, but not because I thought he was some sort of freakish specimen in terms of his mental toughness. I wanted him to be a Blazer because finding a player with his potential seemed much more difficult than finding a player like Durant.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

I hate Rumors, Assumptions, and Drama.

I think Greg does too, and I know he ain't no Pussy so I think he'll stay.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

Maybe he is and maybe he is just a mental midget that needs mommy to call him everyday and say "You will always be my allstar baby!"

Absofuckinglootly. Champions require mental toughness; especially from your power player. B-Roy is a former shell of himself and received way more critism than Oden. Roy still believes he can start and Roy is a warrior. We need more players like that.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

Oden the most mentally strong player in the draft?! What!? There were numerous reports around the draft that teams weren't sure if he loved basketball (the sport picked him, not the other way around). Just because you thought he was something different than he is (or might be?) doesn't make him a pussy if he leaves and it doesn't mean he necessarily "hates" the fans or the city if he leaves or that he doesn't want to be great.

In any case I'm done debating this until it comes to pass, there's a lot of variables that have be sorted out between now and his potential unrestricted free agency and passing judgement on a players motives before they've even made a decision (or the team for that matter) is pointless.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

I think he ain't no pussy either. Only pussies run away from problems. Oden leaving would be running from the pressure. And that is a pussy.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

Sounds good. I doubt Oden leaves. But if he does, he is a pussy. Sorry, just my opinion.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

It seems that you accept that there may be a problem with Oden and Portland. Some people don't have the freedom to run away from a problem, so they subject themselves to further abuse because they have no other realistic option. Oden, on the other hand, has the flexibiliity to find other options, and if he views Portland as a problem, then I don't have any issue with him finding a situation that he doesn't view as a problem.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

I hear ya Papa G but I'll add, if you run from 'your' problems cus they are yours, their only gonna follow ya, best to deal with em up front

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

I think you're making up a fictional slight. My take is that Oden's camp said essentially that they wanted to prove Greg was going to be worth a max contract and the Blazers were fine with that. I could be wrong, but that's pretty much the way it was reported by Quick.

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

Could be, but there are current rumors that Oden feels betrayed, so it's not like the story isn't out for public consumption. I didn't just make it up out of whole cloth, in other words. Almost everything discussed on the future or past is based on speculation and partial information, so I think I do have a valid point, though it may not be what happened. If I as a business owner definitely wanted Greg to stay with the franchise, I would have offered a very fair contract extension last summer. Instead, a "mutual agreement" leaves uncertainty on both sides of what the reasons are for that agreement, and it's not like Oden's camp could have disagreed with it. Either the Blazers make an offer last summer, or they don't. They didn't, so what exactly could Oden negotiate, since there was no initial offer?

 

Re: It's not their move, it's my move. Everyone says it's their move. I think it's (m

What if Oden isn't the problem, but the situation in Portland is? Then, a smart individual would leave the problem, if other options exist.