An Idea To Keep Oden

[BLAZER PROPHET]

While I have pretty much given up on Oden as have most people, here is a thought. It is entirely possibly (I suppose) that Oden may someday be a productive NBA player. Maybe sign him to a 5-year $2 million per year contract with incentives for games played each year. Perhaps for every 20 games he appears in he gets an additional $1.5 million. We keep him for a relatively nominal amount of money just in case he heals up and he gets a steady income for the next 5 years. Every team carries 5 players or so that are nothing more than practice dummies and victory cigars.

 

[B-Roy]

I don't think you can add incentives that large.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I don't think you can add incentives that large.

Really?? Hmmmm......... well, maybe something will work out that leaves good cap space. I think very few teams are going to make offers after his recent medical procedures.

 

[RR7]

an excuse to tease fans for 5 more years. no thanks. for 2 million a year, we can get healthy productive vets each of those years, like kurt, joel. or, can get 2 rookies.

 

[Nikolokolus]

"Entirely possible that Oden may someday be a productive NBA player" ... that's an interesting turn of phrase.

 

[Rhal]

i wouldnt mind a 4 year 16 mill thats all incentives and only 4 mill (1 mill a year) guaranteed. id also add in really big incentives that seem unrealistic so it wouldnt count towards the total contract. stuff like 3 mill bonus for 70 plus games 5 mill per all star appereance 5 mill if he averages 15 12 2b. not exactly sure how the unrealistic bonuses count towards the total contract cap hold.

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[Sedatedfork]

I would rather invest in powerball.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

"Entirely possible that Oden may someday be a productive NBA player" ... that's an interesting turn of phrase.

Well I think that at his age his body may heal up very well. I doubt it, but it may. Let’s say he isn’t offered a contract from any team- which now is a distinct possibility except a team that may want to take a cheap flyer on him in the event he does heal up well. Maybe 1 to 11/2 years down the road he starts working out again and playing some pick up ball and his knees are problem free. He does a few workouts and he’ll most likely see some serious offers. Maybe not huge ones, but offers nonetheless. We’ve seen people in sports compete again after devastating injuries.

So I was thinking that if we can get him to sign a nominal long term contract, it won’t hurt us at all and may benefit us greatly a few years down the road.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well I think that at his age his body may heal up very well. I doubt it, but it may. Let’s say he isn’t offered a contract from any team- which now is a distinct possibility except a team that may want to take a cheap flyer on him in the event he does heal up well. Maybe 1 to 11/2 years down the road he starts working out again and playing some pick up ball and his knees are problem free. He does a few workouts and he’ll most likely see some serious offers. Maybe not huge ones, but offers nonetheless. We’ve seen people in sports compete again after devastating injuries.

So I was thinking that if we can get him to sign a nominal long term contract, it won’t hurt us at all and may benefit us greatly a few years down the road.

And this makes sense from Greg's perspective how exactly?

 

[RR7]

And this makes sense from Greg's perspective how exactly?

He steals 10 million more dollars from us?

 

[Nikolokolus]

He steals 10 million more dollars from us?

LOL. touche'

 

[magnifier661]

I think incentives can only be 15% of the salary. Basically 10 mil can add an additional 1.5 mil in incentives. I maybe wrong but I think it's something like that.

What I would do is offer 5 mil per for the next 3 years. He is still like a 4 year college player on his rookie contract. Then if he studs out, give him the payday after.

P.S. to other posters that say they'd rather use it for other players like Joel. We still get our MLE and vet mins. What we give Greg doesn't effect that.

 

[Natebishop3]

My idea to keep Greg Oden: offer him a position with the team as the new crowd MC.

 

[Rhal]

My idea to keep Greg Oden: offer him a position with the team as the new crowd MC.

Free wheelchair included?

 

[RR7]

5 million per? jesus. Especially when you know he is very unlikely for next season? 5 million to rehab, and then you're hoping having not played in what will be 4 years by the following season he's worth 5 million for the next two? wow.

 

[MARIS61]

A REASON to keep Oden is what I'm looking for.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

And this makes sense from Greg's perspective how exactly?

I think you're trying to be difficult. But to repeat, he may not get any offers after MF sx #3, blood clots and the scope. If he doesn't or if they are league minimum from Toronto or something like that, our 5-year $2 million per season may look pretty darn good. The first year he will probably take off while regular paychecks roll in, but perhaps he can play some in year 2 and maybe more in year 3... And if it does work out fairly well (taking into account his injuries) we'd probably be first in line to resign him if he deserves a further contract. Some players do develop a sense of loyalty.

And if it doesn't work out, it's not all that much money and he can probably be bought out after the 2nd or 3rd season.

I think it's a win/win for both he and us.

 

[magnifier661]

5 million per? jesus. Especially when you know he is very unlikely for next season? 5 million to rehab, and then you're hoping having not played in what will be 4 years by the following season he's worth 5 million for the next two? wow.

Yes I do.

 

[Sinobas]

I can't think of another athlete in pro sports history like Oden. Some players have been hurt their rookie year and never played again, and had failed comebacks etc.....but who has kept having surgury after surgury without even playing at all in between?

It seems like the Blazers could hire SOMEBODY to figure out what is wrong with this guy. If he can heal, then yes, I'd keep him at a cheap price and wait this out. But if not, why continue to waste a roster spot on him?

 

[Sinobas]

My idea to keep Greg Oden: offer him a position with the team as the new crowd MC.

He'd be the most depressing MC ever.

 

[BlayZa]

just cut the fuckin cord already....

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think you're trying to be difficult. But to repeat, he may not get any offers after MF sx #3, blood clots and the scope. If he doesn't or if they are league minimum from Toronto or something like that, our 5-year $2 million per season may look pretty darn good. The first year he will probably take off while regular paychecks roll in, but perhaps he can play some in year 2 and maybe more in year 3... And if it does work out fairly well (taking into account his injuries) we'd probably be first in line to resign him if he deserves a further contract. Some players do develop a sense of loyalty.

And if it doesn't work out, it's not all that much money and he can probably be bought out after the 2nd or 3rd season.

I think it's a win/win for both he and us.

No I'm actually not trying to be difficult (as to what you feel I'm being, I'll leave for you to decide) I just really don't think there's much upside to trying to keep finding reasons to keep Greg around ... and I'm guessing there aren't a lot of reasons from his end to keep trying to make it work here.

I get it that you aren't ready to move on from Oden, but put aside the fact that the type of contract you are describing isn't really possible (or at least I've never seen anything like it) that's just an awful lot of "gymnastics" trying to make it work here -- I just don't see the "win/win" you're describing. It feels like beating a dead horse.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

It feels like beating a dead horse.

Well, maybe so. Work was slow so I was really trying to come up with a new topic for a thread and decided to try this one.

 

[Draco]

As Mags said incentives can only be a small portion of an entire contract.

If Greg wants to stay around for a near minimum contract to try and rehab I'd love to keep him on the team, but at this point it’s pretty stupid to think of giving him extended years of multiple millions of dollars. He has played far less than a young Sam Bowie! For all we know he's a few months away from retiring. The guy can't get through rehab without his cartilage chipping off. Jay Jenson said the doctors had an unusually hard time drilling into his super dense bones during the knee cap surgery; perhaps that hardness will continuously lead to career ending cartilage defects.

It takes over a year to return from micro-fracture; solid starters that regained their form all took an additional year of playing once they could get on the court to completely recover. So if Oden makes a complete full recovery with very few setbacks at best you’re talking about that translating to above average on court performance in the 2015 playoffs!

Allen has paid over $20 million to Oden, but that just like the fact he was the #1 pick are all sunk costs. The team needs to make the best decisions with scarce resources for the future, regardless of how much we have “invested” or how long we’ve stood by such and such player. With all the possible downside to keeping Oden it would be stupid to tie up long term guaranteed money in him. No other team in the league would take such an action so why should we consider it? A roster spot and a few million in salary could be the difference between us having the full MLE, having more flexibility to swap salaries in a trade, or saving Paul Allen luxury tax money. An extra $2million could be the difference between us getting a Deron Williams in the off-season or having to settle for a Jose Calderon.

We should only be signing Oden to 1 year deals until he gets healthy.

 

[noknobs]

Really?? Hmmmm......... well, maybe something will work out that leaves good cap space. I think very few teams are going to make offers after his recent medical procedures.

Now try to figure out why.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Now try to figure out why.

Hey, as I've said before, I get all that.

My sole purpose of the thread was to come up with a way to keep Oden around in the remote chance he gets himself together physically and at not too great a price if he doesn't.

At no more than $2 million per season, it won't keep us from getting anyone we have a reasonable shot at.

Maybe it's a stupid idea, but in the back of my old mind I just have a feeling this isn't the end of his career.

 

[Nate4Prez]

If we cut Greg or just let him walk at the end of the year, does anyone know what happens to the cost of his surgery and rehab? I kind of assumed the Blazers organization was footing the bill for all the surgery / procedures he has had, and the cost of a physical therapist. If we cut him and no one picks him up is he on his own as far as rehabilitation and training goes?

 

[Nikolokolus]

If we cut Greg or just let him walk at the end of the year, does anyone know what happens to the cost of his surgery and rehab? I kind of assumed the Blazers organization was footing the bill for all the surgery / procedures he has had, and the cost of a physical therapist. If we cut him and no one picks him up is he on his own as far as rehabilitation and training goes?

We foot the bill for whatever rehab or medical expenses he incurs, because he was injured while under contract with the Blazers. Presumably, if he doesn't sign a new contract with another team, he'd still have access to the Blazers training staff and doctors until he's healed ... or as healed as he can be (depending on his prognosis).

 

[Nate4Prez]

We foot the bill for whatever rehab or medical expenses he incurs, because he was injured while under contract with the Blazers. Presumably, if he doesn't sign a new contract with another team, he'd still have access to the Blazers training staff and doctors until he's healed ... or as healed as he can be (depending on his prognosis).

Cool. Thanks. So, even if no one makes him an offer this summer he would still be around the team and facility. I hope he still has a desire to play and feels compelled to stay in Portland. While I don't think he may ever play again, if he does, I want it to be with the Blazers.