Blazers interim GM unsure about bringing back Oden, Andre Miller Portland Trail Blazers college scouting director Chad Buchanan, who is serving as the team’s interim GM after this week’s firing of Rich Cho, is non-committal about the contract situations of center Greg Oden and point guard Andre Miller, the Portland Tribune reports. But Cho said the organization was leaning toward making an $8.8 million qualifying offer to Oden for next season, and team president Larry Miller indicated the front office was “on the same page” regarding Oden, who can become a free a restricted free agent July 1. “If Greg does the things that we need him to do or that we expect him to do, then we are going to issue a qualifying offer to him,” Miller said recently, according to CBS Sports. “Rich may have just said the same thing differently than the way I said it. The reality is, even up to (Blazers owner Paul), we’re on the same page.” However, Buchanan does not seem so sure. “We’ve had a lot of discussions about that,” Buchanan said. “We’ll continue having those. I can’t give you much more than that on the situation with Greg or Andre.” The Trail Blazers, meanwhile, have until June 30 to exercise their $7.8 million option on Miller for next season. http://aol.sportingnews.com/nba/sto...-unsure-about-bringing-back-oden-andre-miller
Fuck the Blazers if they give up Oden. Its like they want to alientate the fans (so they can move to seattle...all part of the master plan). Don't give a shit about Miller though. Its all worthless to have him if they're not building a team to contend.
He has nothing to gain by revealing anything. At least that's my optimistic side telling the story. I don't want to lose Oden. I'd rather have his overpriced and shredded knees retire as a Blazer than risk seeing him explode for another team... Ed O.
I have an Oden jersey and 2 Oden shirts. Fuck that shit if they give up on him and just let him go. I will be pretty furious. Not going to lie. Like protest in front of the RG in hippie fucking costumes and shit angry.
I know everyone likes to assume that Greg can come back like Amare after his surgeries (mainly due to age) but what if he comes back like T-Mac and Penny? His knees are ravaged.
I really don't give a fuck. If we give up on Oden, this current Blazers squad is as good as fucked until Roy's contract is up anyway.
With center and PG being our two biggest positions of need moving forward, unless this interem GM has something else up his sleeve, you damn well better bring back Oden and Miller. It's not like we're going to draft anyone at 21 that can instantly jump in and be an NBA sarting center or PG. Based on the players we've ended up with in the last few drafts, I can't help but wonder if Buchanan falls in love with some of the guys he's scouting and thinks they will be much better at the next level than they actually are. We basically dumped Martell Webster and Jerryd Bayless and gave their roles to Luke Babbit and Armon Johnson. Say what you want about Webster and Bayless, but they are MUCH better NBA players than Babbit and Johnson. Bsed on the last couple of drafts, I'm not sure if our former director of scouting knows how to evaluate NBA talent, let alone assemble an NBA roster. BNM
McGrady had major back problems. Penny Hardaway had microfracture back when the surgery was significantly less refined. Microfracture and similar surgeries are considered to have far better recovery rates these days.
What if we don't renew Oden, dropped Miller & then Roy rolled off via Amnesty Clause in the new CBA. Then imagine that a hard cap comes into place & teams need to shed salary, perhaps we can pick someone up. With some of the numbers being tossed around in the CBA negotiations, it'll be hard to forecast how resigning these two might affect us. If we can drop enough salary off our books to rebuild around Matthews, Wallace, LaMarcus & Undetermined All-Star, I think you do it...
Roy and Oden will be Blazers next season. Oden will sign a multi-year contract with the Blazers as well. If there is an amnesty, I suspect we will use it on Roy, but I think the deadline will be closer to the year of the "hard cap". Enjoy
The questionable players are Batum, Camby and Miller. They hold the highest trade options and value. Also, Camby and Miller's contracts are great pieces for a team wanting to cut salary, since they have only one season left.
If the Blazers let Oden walk, and he signs with someone else and succeeds, I really may give up the fucking ship. At that point, it'll be crystal clear this franchise will never amount to anything. I've said from day one that Oden is the Blazers' only chance for a title. Superstars win titles. They get the calls, they get the press, they get the glory. Brandon Roy, as good as he was, was never going to bring a title to Portland. LaMarcus Aldridge will never bring a title to Portland. They are 2nd tier stars AT BEST. Only Greg Oden had/has that something... that charisma, that look in the eye, that marketability.... to make ESPN and the average NBA fan, not to mention the NBA referees, wake up and take notice of basketball being played in the Pacific Northwest. He was and is Portland best and only opportunity for a Championship. Let him go, and kiss it all goodbye until fate drops another #1 draft pick, can't miss, once-in-a-generation megastar in Portland's lap and pray to God that he sticks around long enough to win the city at least ONE title before he jumps ship to a Glamour market, which is inevitable. That might happen once every 30 years... oh wait, that's how long it was.
It would be real hard to watch Oden leave Portland in anyway. I agree that I think he is our only means of a championship at the moment.
Anyone in mind? Keep in mind teams like Miami and NY also need a top PG who may cost nothing to sign since his original team will be paying him the big bucks. We might get someone, but to get rid of Roy, Miller and Oden in the hope of landing a free agent is risky for a small market rainy city.
