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Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Pinwheel1 said:
How is his agent getting him more money than another agent would that isn't pissing off a fan base? Nic will get paid regardless. But agents who pull this shit don't care about the animosity it could create for the player. I will use Rudy as an example. The more his agent popped off the less forgiving the fans were if he did not play well. Nic will get his money either way, but if I were a player I would tell my agent to tone it down a little bit.
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All of this will be forgotten by week two of training camp. Only the most diehard fans actually pay attention to the behind the scenes negotiations that go hand-in-hand with free agency. Rudy's biggest problem was not producing and then publicly crying his way out of town.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

I don't think Batum or his agent are being assholes. NBA teams treat this like a business and it's perfectly acceptable for players and their agents to treat it like a business. Fans who follow negotiations always take the team's side because none of the money affects them, so they have nothing to lose from the players getting terrible deals and it improves the team they watch. From a rational standpoint, though, Batum and his agent should be doing what's best for their interests. As nik says, the vast majority of fans don't care about negotiations, so it really has no downside in terms of public perception. Nor should it. There's no reason why management should get a free pass to play hardball (that's just good business, that's why they're rich!) but players should be vilified for playing hardball (ungrateful asshole...there's more to life than being a money-grubbing mercenary).
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Minstrel said:
I don't think Batum or his agent are being assholes. NBA teams treat this like a business and it's perfectly acceptable for players and their agents to treat it like a business. Fans who follow negotiations always take the team's side because none of the money affects them, so they have nothing to lose from the players getting terrible deals and it improves the team they watch. From a rational standpoint, though, Batum and his agent should be doing what's best for their interests. As nik says, the vast majority of fans don't care about negotiations, so it really has no downside in terms of public perception. Nor should it. There's no reason why management should get a free pass to play hardball (that's just good business, that's why they're rich!) but players should be vilified for playing hardball (ungrateful asshole...there's more to life than being a money-grubbing mercenary).
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I think the issue is, players frequently leave cities because "teams" aren't doing enough to put players around certain pillars to win, and then they up and leave. When we go to you and say hey, we want you, but we want to add more pieces to contend, I would BELIEVE that Nic would think highly upon that. Not say "Fuck you, I'm signing at 12:01 on the dot - I'm getting my pay, screw trying to win".

I have no problem with Batum saying, hey I'll hold off for X amount of time so you can piece a decent team together. Or hey, this is what I'm getting offered. If you don't intend to match, I'm signing right now. If you do intend to match, I'll hold off a couple of days.

In the end, its truly best for HIM to wait - because if we miss out on free agents? Guess what? We suck again, and he won't be happy going 22-60. He is getting his payday no matter what.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

OregonHuskerMan said:
I think the issue is, players frequently leave cities because "teams" aren't doing enough to put players around certain pillars to win, and then they up and leave. When we go to you and say hey, we want you, but we want to add more pieces to contend, I would BELIEVE that Nic would think highly upon that. Not say "Fuck you, I'm signing at 12:01 on the dot - I'm getting my pay, screw trying to win".

I have no problem with Batum saying, hey I'll hold off for X amount of time so you can piece a decent team together. Or hey, this is what I'm getting offered. If you don't intend to match, I'm signing right now. If you do intend to match, I'll hold off a couple of days.

In the end, its truly best for HIM to wait - because if we miss out on free agents? Guess what? We suck again, and he won't be happy going 22-60. He is getting his payday no matter what.
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Batum is upset because he did not think the Blazers had his best interest at heart when they decided not to extend him during the season. Most players want a guarenteed contract as soon as possible but Blazers wanted to hold off. (what if Batum had torn an ACL during the 2nd half of the season)

Now they continue to want Batum to work around their timeline and the agent is in a position to say we will do what is best for Batum irregardless of the Blazers situation. It is exactly what the Blazers did with Batum during the season . . . made a decision that was best for the Blazers irregardless of what was best for Batum.

I agree with mistrel, this is a multi-billion dollar business and both sides should be approaching this in a business like manner. If Batum wants to stay with Ptd then it makes business sense for him to wait. If what he wants is the biggest contract, then waiting on the Blazers isn't really a consideration.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

OJ Mayo to be an unrestricted FA after Memphis declines to tender a qualifying offer.

Memphis has appeared so ready to part with Mayo for so long. Yet, they could never really manage to separate. Looks like it's finally happening.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Quick's guess on the targets:

Chris Kaman and Brook Lopez
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

BLAZINGGIANTS said:
OJ Mayo to be an unrestricted FA after Memphis declines to tender a qualifying offer.

Memphis has appeared so ready to part with Mayo for so long. Yet, they could never really manage to separate. Looks like it's finally happening.
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I still can't believe they nearly traded him for Josh McRoberts...
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

That's an incredible amount of horse shit, though. Duncan is a free agent, he is trying to fuck the Spurs because they didn't extend him during the season. Or KG, or Roy Hibbert.

Batum and his agent were asking an extraordinary amount and the Blazers (at that point) declined.

However; this is a NEW GM, and not allowing him to speak with Batum is somewhat silly, is it not? They have no clue what Olshey has to say, and by straight up saying "Don't talk to him" is more of a dick move than being a "hardliner", yes? It would be different if it was the same management, but its not.

And its completely different, as we still have his rights. He can determine (almost solely, by what he does with his contract) if he plays for a average middling young team next year, or one that can continue to improve. If he wants to be stuck here for the next 5 years, sucking dick, so be it. If he wants to put us in a place to win, he'd wait.

Hell, DeAndre Jordan waited last year so that the Clipps could make some extra signings, and that was a contract NO one expected him to get...

This is less about Batum and more about the agent. Telling Olshey to fuck off despite the fact that he played no part in previous negotiations is fairly poor character - but I do agree if Batum wants to be here, like he says, he will adjust to meet our timeline as well as his. It is poor to sign a contract out of spite, because that really wouldn't be his BEST interest.

The agent is saying its in his best interest, until its matched, and he's stuck in the lotto every year.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

I like Lopez but he's going to command a contract similar to Batum and is coming back from injury.

Would much rather focus on Gordon, regardless of what the Hornet management say about his contract. Make 'em sweat!
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

"Now, in an attempt to maintain leverage, Ndiaye has instructed Trail Blazers general manager, Neil Olshey, not to speak with Batum and he hasn't done so since becoming the team's general manager."

Sorry but I don't agree with this. If I am the player I want to listen to what the new guy has to say. Ndiaye is taking it too far.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Seems like this is a tactic that European agents like to use.... but it doesn't work so well over here in the states.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Pinwheel1 said:
"Now, in an attempt to maintain leverage, Ndiaye has instructed Trail Blazers general manager, Neil Olshey, not to speak with Batum and he hasn't done so since becoming the team's general manager."

Sorry but I don't agree with this. If I am the player I want to listen to what the new guy has to say. Ndiaye is taking it too far.
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Wow - Batum's agent is a TOOL.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

OregonHuskerMan said:
That's an incredible amount of horse shit, though. Duncan is a free agent, he is trying to fuck the Spurs because they didn't extend him during the season. Or KG, or Roy Hibbert.

Batum and his agent were asking an extraordinary amount and the Blazers (at that point) declined.
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Reports were that the Blazers offered a "low ball" offer. I don't know whether the figures were reported, but if they legitimately felt that the Blazers attempted to low ball them (which is within the Blazers' rights to do) then I don't see why they should feel any sense of "loyalty." Loyalty is a bankrupt concept if it's only supposed to go one direction.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Bouna the boner is just coming off as a fucking idiot more than anything else. You'd think an agent would want his client to have the best possible team around him. If he proceeds with this course of action all he'll succeed in doing is hurting his client's team, and nothing more. A team, I might add, that has stated countless times how much they value Batum and that they'll match any offer, yet Bouna's response is that we can't talk to him? Weird.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Mediocre Man said:
This would make zero sense according to Olshey himself. Olshey has said he doesn't want to spend his money on modest upgrades
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I think Brook would be a large upgrade over the nonexistent C we currently have. And would put less pressure on Leonard to perform right off the bat.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

RR7 said:
I think Brook would be a large upgrade over the nonexistent C we currently have. And would put less pressure on Leonard to perform right off the bat.
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Ya, I probably over reacted on Lopez.

Not a great rebounder, but he is a skilled passer and scorer. Olshey said he would like the team to play with motion, so Lopez would be a good get.....Then again he also said he wants to play pick and roll, so????????
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Mediocre Man said:
Ya, I probably over reacted on Lopez.

Not a great rebounder, but he is a skilled passer and scorer. Olshey said he would like the team to play with motion, so Lopez would be a good get.....Then again he also said he wants to play pick and roll, so????????
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With Lopez a RFA, does anyone really think NJ will let Lopez walk? Especially considering they have nothing else if Deron walks.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

BLAZINGGIANTS said:
With Lopez a RFA, does anyone really think NJ will let Lopez walk? Especially considering they have nothing else if Deron walks.
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Maybe?

Maybe they realize they can't get a deal done for Howard, so they will clean house and just sign him next off season? Maybe we can work a S&T with them for future picks for an Orlando deal?
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Mediocre Man said:
Maybe?

Maybe they realize they can't get a deal done for Howard, so they will clean house and just sign him next off season? Maybe we can work a S&T with them for future picks for an Orlando deal?
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I was honestly just asking the question, not debating. I really don't know.

But after thinking about it for a few, I would expect them to match whatever Lopez is offered.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

BLAZINGGIANTS said:
I was honestly just asking the question, not debating. I really don't know.

But after thinking about it for a few, I would expect them to match whatever Lopez is offered.
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Me too. But like I mentioned, maybe a S&T possibility?
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Any S&T possibilities I hope Neil seriously looks at K. Leonard. The Spurs are yet again lusting for Nic Batum.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Fez Hammersticks said:
Quick's guess on the targets:

Chris Kaman and Brook Lopez
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But why?

Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if this happened. The idea would be to acquire an "all-star" like Kaman, which would make it look like the Blazers have acquired pieces to the average fan and keep people tuned in long enough to endure the Blazers first and second round losses.

It keeps business afloat. Rebuilding doesn't.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Minstrel said:
Reports were that the Blazers offered a "low ball" offer. I don't know whether the figures were reported, but if they legitimately felt that the Blazers attempted to low ball them (which is within the Blazers' rights to do) then I don't see why they should feel any sense of "loyalty." Loyalty is a bankrupt concept if it's only supposed to go one direction.
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Why would the Blazers extend Batum and lose valuable cap space when they could wait and sign him this summer. It made zero sense and if Batum can't see that, too fucking bad. It's obvious that he and his agent took it personally with how they're handling things publicly. Why wouldn't they understand that the team is trying to maximize it's cap space before signing him to a fair deal? Seems rather childish, selfish, and short sighted.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Eric Gordon was pissed that he was traded in the manner he was with the Clips. Neil told him hours beforehand the trade was dead and Gordon would be with the Clips for the long-term. Gordon was awkwardly then on a bus with season ticket holders when the news broke. I don't think there is any way he signs an offer sheet with us.
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

rather have Spencer Hawes than Kaman. He is a NW guy and is quite funny (he caused a twitter storm re: Obamacare yesterday)
 
Re: Now what? i.e. Free Agency

Natebishop3 said:
Why would the Blazers extend Batum and lose valuable cap space when they could wait and sign him this summer. It made zero sense and if Batum can't see that, too fucking bad. It's obvious that he and his agent took it personally with how they're handling things publicly. Why wouldn't they understand that the team is trying to maximize it's cap space before signing him to a fair deal? Seems rather childish, selfish, and short sighted.
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Batum and his agents odd behavior if anything hurts his free agency value. Teams want a positive guy and if your bitching with your old team it sounds like a disgruntled employee that might eventually bitch when he gets to a new team. So maybe we should be thanking Batum's agent for acting like an ass, hurting his clients value, and lowering the price we'll have to pay to match.
 
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