Orlando was able to get Grant Hill and Tracy McGrady to sign there. Still, the social life of Orlando compared to NY/LA/MIA is the same as Sizzler compared to Mortons.
I guess it's my main point that we can keep our free-agents; plus we've gotten our fair share of decent free agents (Miller, Rod Strickland, Brain Grant and even Pippen asking to be traded to Portland). I think it all stems from what players, management, win/loss record and cap space we have to offer. If we have an already winning line-up; maybe just one piece could make us into a contender.
This is easier said than done. We'd have to S&T Hickson and send the rights to the player already drafted along with JJ. Hickson technically can't negotiate until July 1 (after the draft). I thought I read somewhere that there isn't much motivation for teams to S&T for guys like JJ at this point, except for a few select situations. Can't recall the article I read this in.
There's a difference between keeping our own players who have lived and played in PDX, vs. luring someone from out of town. The national perception of PDX isn't that great. You talk to people here in the midwest or in the east coast, and they think of it as pretty podunk.
Well, Indy is boring as hell. But that goes to my point, again, as you never see teams in those cities being hotspots for FAs. The ones you've heard in the rumors the last few years are: LA, DAL, HOU, MIA, NY, BKN. No one even mentions OKC and SAN. Those teams are amazing, but not FA hotspots in anyway.
Correct in that a sign and trade would not happen till after the draft. Also correct that there is less motivation since the team signing would only have incentive to do this if they wanted to preserve an exemption and sent something back we valued. Still, the Pacers and Mavs agreed to a similar deal with the Mahimni/Jones/Collison deal.
Figured. I just don't see a deal like this for Hickson. Since it involves a draft pick and JJ being a free agent with no chance to have already negotiated with another team, a deal like this would require us to have drafted on draft day with the intent of keeping the player. I know it occasionally happens, but drafted players aren't often traded in the weeks after the draft (except in deals the deal were already worked out on draft day). Not say it can't or won't happen, I just think the odds of us working out a S&T involving JJ and our 2013 #1 are pretty slim.
Simple - Bird Rights. Most teams are able to retain their own free agents because they can offer them more money (bigger annual increases and an extra year), and they can go over the cap to resign them. Of course, as you noted, occasionally a disgruntled superstar forces his way out by demanding to be traded or they will walk for nothing. Melo did it, Howard did it, etc. The last big name player who forced a trade to Portland was a past-his-prime Scottie Pippin, but only because he thought it was his most realistic chance to win another ring. BNM
I understand there is "more of an incentive" for a team to resign their existing players, via "bird rights"; but their have been many free agents that didn't care. They wanted out, they took the reduced payroll for the new team. Then I don't know if you remembered the dark ages in NY; one of the largest markets in the NBA; when players wouldn't touch them with a 10 foot pole. I think the biggest decision maker for high profile players is opportunity for success. If it was all about money; then why wouldn't every player in the league play for L.A. or NY? I remembered someone explaining that David Lee as a 2nd year player was averaging 10 mil per year in endorsements from the high market. They sucked, but all the players were fucking making bank!
Not really. I view the boards on RealGM every once in awhile, but PacersDigest is the S2 of the Pacer world. Do not see that changing.
The RG crowd and the soon to be remodeled practice facility are advantages we have over other small markets.
BTW, I went to that Celtics game last night. Had great seats too. But I'm baffled at how green the arena was. Seriously, are there that many Boston transplants throughout the country? It was just like the Celtics' crowd at the RG a few weeks ago.
I do not think they are transplants. A lot of families started as Celtic fans because of Larry Bird and kids pick it up. Indiana is bad for this because the Pacers were hard to root for before Reggie/Rik and Larry Legend being from French Lick.
Have you lived there though? I did for a year and a half. I can definitely see why Dwight and Shaq wanted to go elsewhere.
