Assuming he's a shell of his former self (if not, by some miracle, Portland wouldn't use the amnesty clause on him), why woulnd't he clear waivers? Just asking. BNM
If some other team wanted him, why would they allow him to clear waivers and be available to any team, when they could improve their chances of obtaining his services by putting in a claim?
My only concern, and I like BNB's view, it makes me feel better, but my only fear is Oden isn't big on wanting money so he'll probably be sitting financially ok after this year and he might feel he has a better chance of getting a title by going to Miami next year. Then we could lose him for nothing in return.
I think some of you are way too optimistic about this. Consider this - 1. This is a guy who has played in 82 games in four seasons and he just signed A ONE YEAR EXTENSION. That's a HUGE risk. He could injure his knee again and get nothing. 2. Portland has NOT been a positive experience for Oden. A. The injuries have taken a toll on his psyche. B. The pressure that was put on him for being the "savior" has taken a toll on him. C. The negative media and fanspeak about him being a bust has taken a toll on him. 3. His personality has changed in the last four years. He's no longer the happy-go-lucky guy that made the country fall in love with him. He's very introverted and quiet. Very reserved. 4. If I was Greg I would want a clean start on a new team in a new city that: A. Doesn't only have one team. B. Doesn't have a tabloid rag like the Oregonian chasing after him. C. Doesn't have all the demons that are listed above. 5. He can go to any team next season, leave some money on the table but play with other stars that would take pressure off him and he can just be Greg without having to worry about being the "savior". I'm just really not seeing how this is a positive. Sure, we can sign him to more money than anyone else next summer, but what if he has a so-so season and still is commanding max money from other teams? Do we want to max him out just to keep him from leaving? My gut tells me Greg wants out. This city has not been a positive experience for him at all. The injuries, the hype, the "bust" label. Why would he want to stay here?
Can Portland only match another team's offer if they are willing to pay Oden a Max contract? Or can Portland simply offer anything they want (obviously still under the max) to outbid another team? IE: Are Portland's only choices the MLE or max? Or can they offer anything in between?
The injuries aren't related to Portland. The pressure on him here is less than it would be in big media market. Can you imagine what the NY press would have done with him? The fanbase here is very understanding, unlike in the big cities. Just because some posters on message boards and blogs are negative about him in no way means the fanbase is anything but behind him.
If he really didn't want to be here, and is willing to give up big money to move, then we never had a chance of keeping him, regardless of what we did. He wouldn't have signed an extension. So this seems like a moot point.
If he is playing with stars liek you mentioned, then they will only be able to offer him max MLE at most. That's a lot of money to toss away.
That is absurd. [video=youtube;4TdfpwvAiPk]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4TdfpwvAiPk[/video] Please, point me in the direction of another city, another draft pick in any sport, and this kind of response. If he were to go to Miami at this point, or Dallas, or the Lakers, they wouldn't be expecting the #1 overall pick dominant big man from Ohio State. They would be taking a gamble on a guy that could still live up to those expectations, but might also end up a total bust. People in Portland are still holding onto the dream that Oden will come back and be one of the best centers of all time and it just doesn't seem like that is going to happen.
How many contracts did Kwame Brown get after actually proving that he couldn't play the game? What about Olowokandi? Bargnani? Eddy Curry? Yet, what was the media situation around them like?
Lakers when they got Shaq. I was actually there when he arrived. It was more fanatical than that. And LA is a much bigger market than Portland.
Shaq had already been in the league, been to the Finals, proven he was a star. Hell, he'd already made at least three movies at that point. That's hardly the same thing. I said draft picks. Show me another draft pick that had that kind of welcome. We are talking about putting pressure on a rookie who isn't even 20 years old yet when he arrives in a city that expects him to be a future HOFer.
Exactly this ^^. Roy's not worth 15-17 million a year at this point, but I'm sure there's a handful of teams who'd be willing to risk a mini-midlevel (~2 million a year) contract on him. All it takes is one team willing to put in a claim.
Oh easy... David Robinson... Or Shaq in Orlando. They had a parade and everything. Carter in Toronto. Psst... I didn't know if you knew this but Clippers had a parade for Kandiman too. OMG, I totally remember when clips and their fans were ecstatic about Danny Ferry too! LMAO! Sorry I disagree man. Fanatatics are everywhere. Just because Portland has them, doesn't mean other towns don't.
Carter is a bad example. Nobody except a few people thought Carter would be the super duper uper star that Vince turned out to be. The guy was just a high flying dunker from NC. Jamison was projected to be the better NBA player. The Clips had a parade for Kandi? Did anyone show up?
