Dwight Jaynes: A new take on Roy's contract negotiations

[GODunk]

The team is only offering 4 years; Roy wants 5 with a player option initially, maybe 5 guaranteed now.

I don't know that the Blazers would be against a 5 year contract, it's the player option that is cause for pause. Look at the circus that surrounds LBJ, DWade, and Kobe. They have player options which means they can opt out and sign wherever they want to (if someone knows the exact rule, educate us).

The Cavs and Heat will go into the year with all the pressure of the media hanging over their heads. Now, I think Roy will get whatever he wants, but the Blazers have their tail in a crack. If they just give it to him the first minute of the signing period, what will LMA expect? LMA is a different cat when it comes to personality. If he perceives he is being screwed over he will simply walk at his first chance.

As far as Bargnani (sp?) is concerned, I don't think he holds a player option. So, the PO is the crux of the deal, IMO.

 

[PapaG]

I don't know that the Blazers would be against a 5 year contract, it's the player option that is cause for pause. Look at the circus that surrounds LBJ, DWade, and Kobe. They have player options which means they can opt out and sign wherever they want to (if someone knows the exact rule, educate us).

The Cavs and Heat will go into the year with all the pressure of the media hanging over their heads. Now, I think Roy will get whatever he wants, but the Blazers have their tail in a crack. If they just give it to him the first minute of the signing period, what will LMA expect? LMA is a different cat when it comes to personality. If he perceives he is being screwed over he will simply walk at his first chance.

As far as Bargnani (sp?) is concerned, I don't think he holds a player option. So, the PO is the crux of the deal, IMO.

Every report I've read say only 4 years are being offered. If you can find something that says Portland is willing to offer a 5 year deal without a PO, it would be the first I've seen/heard of it.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

I haven't turned on Pritichard other than to say he did whiff on Hedo (which I am happy for, BTW) and that his golden image is tarnished in a thus-frustrating summer. I really liked his draft, and the very early returns say the two 2nd-round PFs at least are not stiffs. This Roy situation has Vulcan written all over it, though. I have to believe that Pritchard would sign Roy to a max extension yesterday, and part of me thinks that he's actually surprised at how things are taking shape in terms of the Roy talks.

He did everything he could to get Hedo, the ultimate decision was out of his hands. Hedo looked like the ass, not Prichard.

You had no problem with his draft.

You're saying the Roy situation is due to the Vulcans.

I fail to see what he's done wrong. Could you enlighten me? If this is reason enough to say his golden image is tarnished, then someone's expectations were a little too high. Nobody is going to have everything go their way all the time. The fact is I don't really know what he's done so horribly wrong this summer.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

The Golden Boy is starting to show a little tarnish.

If Brandon Roy wants to be just another superstar jock, by all means, listen to your agent (who may be manipulating you for his and another client's benefit), do whatever it takes to do what is "best for your family".

God I fucking HATE that line.

The real key slip in this by Roy was the line about not being able to recruit free agents since he didn't know if he would be here. This despite being under contract for two more seasons.

If Brandon Roy wants to be something special - BETTER than your average superstar jock, then he will listen to his internal advice, which has served him well in the recent past.

This off-season, Roy should have recruited HARD for the team. He should have waited 60 days or more before ramping up the hard negotiation tactics if they were still miles apart on the terms, he should have avoided negotiating in public, but used it as a threat to "go nuclear" - NOT used it the first fucking week, and he should consider the salary structure plan of the team's attempt to lay the groundwork for a dynasty in his calculations.

As a fan, I want the team to to the best they can contruct a team that can contend for years to come. As I see it, in order to do that, they have to fashion a deep roster of above average talent.

Roy is our best player - but he is not Jordan that will carry this team on his back for years to come. Oden is not Shaq. LaMarcus is not Duncan. We need them ALL, plus several other good players that will need to get paid. If we can't manage that because we overpay, we will have a thin team that has a hard time winning it all.

Imagine our last Finals team without Buck Williams because we paid too much to Porter and Kersey to be able to afford him. There won't be a $100 million dollar payroll again. So, we have to pick and choose. If we start handing out monster contracts, who goes? LaMarcus? Oden? Batum? Who?

I want Roy to tell us who.

And, if one of you smarty pants says, "that isn't for Roy to decide, he only should try as hard as possible to get as much money as he possibly can", I say:

Yes, then if that is the case, then that makes Roy - just another jock. No better. No worse. The tarnish starts. He is nothing "special" among the population of star athletes. And that (money being top priority) attacks the notion of Roy as the "leader". What kind of example of a team building leader is he setting?

+1 good post - this is what I've been trying to say for a week!

I'm not dogging on Roy or KP, but I don't unconditionally trust them either.

 

[PapaG]

He did everything he could to get Hedo, the ultimate decision was out of his hands. Hedo looked like the ass, not Prichard.

You had no problem with his draft.

You're saying the Roy situation is due to the Vulcans.

I fail to see what he's done wrong. Could you enlighten me? If this is reason enough to say his golden image is tarnished, then someone's expectations were a little too high. Nobody is going to have everything go their way all the time. The fact is I don't really know what he's done so horribly wrong this summer.

He hasn't done anything wrong. Tarnish on gold isn't an insult or "turning" on someone, is it? I could have said the stink of summer is on of the pile of s**t, couldn't I? That would probably be considered an insult by most people. Saying a golden image has some tarnish? I fail to see the insult there.

 

[Erroneous Subterfuge]

He hasn't done anything wrong. Tarnish on gold isn't an insult or "turning" on someone, is it? I could have said the stink of summer is on of the pile of s**t, couldn't I? That would probably be considered an insult by most people. Saying a golden image has some tarnish? I fail to see the insult there.

You fail to see the insult there? Okay.... So what were you doing, patting him on the back? Tarnish by definition is a layer of corrosion, that dulls the luster of something like silver. It's pretty straight-forward. Maybe you're confused.

BTW, gold doesn't tarnish.

 

[andalusian]

I think that when you say there is some tarnish on his golden-boy reputation - it means that it is clear that he is capable of making mistakes.

I do not consider it as that big of a deal, it's not like saying he is garbage.

Personally, I think that KP showed us he can make mistakes before - he is now trying to fix his 2006 draft mistake by trading Sergio and trying to sign Millsap - so at least we know he is learning from his mistakes...

 

[SnakeOiler]

He hasn't done anything wrong. Tarnish on gold isn't an insult or "turning" on someone, is it? I could have said the stink of summer is on of the pile of s**t, couldn't I? That would probably be considered an insult by most people. Saying a golden image has some tarnish? I fail to see the insult there.

Tarnish means to diminish, literally. Diminish in this context would be considered an insult to those who still see Roy as shiny gold, like me.

 

[Ed O]

And, if one of you smarty pants says, "that isn't for Roy to decide, he only should try as hard as possible to get as much money as he possibly can", I say:

Yes, then if that is the case, then that makes Roy - just another jock. No better. No worse. The tarnish starts. He is nothing "special" among the population of star athletes. And that (money being top priority) attacks the notion of Roy as the "leader". What kind of example of a team building leader is he setting?

I don't know that I am a smarty pants, but I've NEVER put Roy on a pedestal. Of course he's just another jock... he's a professional basketball player who's spent innumerable hours shooting and dribbling a basketball... he isn't some sort of philosopher-king who spends time in reflection on how best to serve the people of the Pacific Northwest.

I read an quote last night that reminded me of the hubbub being made by some about either or both sides of this negotiation. It goes like this:

There is nothing very odd about lambs disliking birds of prey, but this is no reason for holding it against large birds of prey that they carry off lambs. And when the lambs whisper among themselves, "These birds of prey are evil, and does this not give us a right to say that whatever is the opposite of a bird of prey must be good?" there is nothing intrinsically wrong with such an argument--though the birds of prey will look somewhat quizzicaly and say, "We have nothing against these good lambs; in fact, we love them; nothing tastes better than a tender lamb.

-- Nietsche

Ed O.

 

[Masbee]

I don't know that I am a smarty pants, but I've NEVER put Roy on a pedestal. Of course he's just another jock... he's a professional basketball player who's spent innumerable hours shooting and dribbling a basketball... he isn't some sort of philosopher-king who spends time in reflection on how best to serve the people of the Pacific Northwest.

Oh no?

But he could.

Not that he should. But he could.

Part of the job description of being a "max player", a "franchise player" is to be a team leader, team builder, community leader, charity leader, public speaker, face of the team, face of the city/region.

Much of this is unwritten. Some of it is actually in the dang contracts. It is difficult to enforce, and many of the would-be "franchise players" perform poorly in these capacities. Kinda like how some players get their big payday and mail it in. Of course, teams do their part to diminish these concepts by trading their "franchise players". Only a few achieve greatness in these areas as well as on the court.

Roy is/was well on his way to cementing his place as one of the premier franchise players in the NBA. On and off the court. And, I guess that my disappointment was that he was off to such a good start, that he has a chance at being one of the all-time greats.

He WILL NOT BE if he puts himself above the team, if he doesn't work with the Blazers so that they can figure out how to pay people, and at the same time keep people, if he spouts horseshit like "I can't recruit if I don't know if I will be here".

Looking at the big picture, a star athlete strives for a very long time against a riptide to achieve that monster contract. It may be the only one they ever achieve. By the time they are in those negotiations the thought to get as much guaranteed money as you possibly can out of that one deal - all other factors ignored - must be overwhelming.

I would likely want that too. Who knows, maybe he is more worried about his knees than we know. He lives with the pain, and maybe it is a daily reminder to him. I don't think Roy is bad for wanting what a normal person would want in that situation.

But, if you strive for true greatness, you don't do the normal thing.

And the funny thing is, sometimes (no guarantees) it works out MUCH better in the longer run.

If Roy maintains a true golden image, fosters team building, which allows a better roster, which leads more winning, which makes Roy more popular, he could make much more money, then if he just played hard, kept to himself, and ordered his agent to play hardball at contract time. Winning is the biggest money producer of all.

And in the even longer term, what if politics, big business or NBA management is in his future? Team building and leadership. That will play better down the line then, "I don't know if I should represent the interests of the voters. I am a lame duck and I am down in the polls. I think it is 50/50 I will even be governor next year."

Sorry smarty pants, er, EdO, I do think this stuff matters.

But nevermind. So Roy isn't the second coming. He still kicks ass on the court. Right?

 

[GODunk]

Every report I've read say only 4 years are being offered. If you can find something that says Portland is willing to offer a 5 year deal without a PO, it would be the first I've seen/heard of it.

Well, I'm not an insider, so I don't know what is going on in the negotiations. However, it seems like what has come out of BRoy and the media stuff is that he wants a player option on the 5th year. I am merely giving my opinion that the PO is probably the major sticking point. Pritchard said that Roy is going to be here long term, so I assume that he will probably be here beyond this next contract.

It's just my opinion.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I haven't turned on Pritichard other than to say he did whiff on Hedo (which I am happy for, BTW) and that his golden image is tarnished in a thus-frustrating summer. I really liked his draft, and the very early returns say the two 2nd-round PFs at least are not stiffs. This Roy situation has Vulcan written all over it, though. I have to believe that Pritchard would sign Roy to a max extension yesterday, and part of me thinks that he's actually surprised at how things are taking shape in terms of the Roy talks.

That was what Softy and Trevor (Travis? From 1080) talked about today. Both had "sources" that said KP would give Roy what he wanted yesterday, but PA's holding this one up. Take it fwiw.