Crapzano's article.

[Mediocre Man]

It's Canzano, and I get that, but I thought this particular part of the story was interesting. Are KP and the Blazers becoming the next Billy Beane and the A's? I know the contract they supposedly offered Hedo was big, but that doesn't mean other things wouldn't have been done to offset it. It also sure seems like the old PA wouldn't have blinked an eye giving Roy a max deal. Just wondering what everyone else thinks?




http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2009/07/canzano_roy_should_get_anythin.html

Consider that the league memo sent to all 30 teams this week set the salary cap and luxury tax threshold $980,000 lower than last season. And it stated that basketball-related income is expected to decline in each of the next two seasons, which would drive the salary cap figure lower.

Then, on Thursday, Tod Leiweke, the head of Vulcan Sports and Entertainment said: "Paul Allen shouldn't subsidize the Blazers to be in Portland and we're getting closer and closer to that magical break-even number which Paul's asked for."

Allen has asked his team of analysts and advisors to cut costs, see. He's given the basketball enterprise a two-year window to make "break even" happen, and the hope here is that the Roy negotiations haven't broken down because someone at the Seattle-based headquarters is missing the bigger point -- the break-even point won't last without Roy around to cut down the nets.