Horrible thought: Oden not safe if Pritchard leaves?

[Minstrel]

Just to clarify, the issue is production vs salary demands - which is related to draft status.

No, I don't think his salary demands will be based on draft status. It'll be based on his production. Right now, he doesn't have the best case, but he can point to great play when healthy. That will be moot if he's injured again next season...great play when healthy is meaningless if one is never healthy. But right now, when no salary decision has to be made, his play when healthy is extremely relevant to whether he should be "dumped" by an incoming GM.

 

[Nikolokolus]

IF (that's a big IF) KP is let go or resigns, the next guy has to pick up the pieces and try to make something happen with the cards he's dealt. Not so sure about the Beasley deal, but if the new GM thinks moving on without GO is the plan, shouldn't he be allowed the leeway?

Yes.

It all boils down to whether or not they think the return they could get for him is greater than the risk that he'll get hurt again and not amount to anything in the league. Every GM has to perform that kind of calculus with any of his players. I wouldn't expect Oden to be dealt no matter what when KP is replaced (it's not really an "if" at this point) but I expect the likelihood of him being extended or retained goes way down.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I don't think there's much of a risk in not extending him this year, other than cash. We have him locked up through this year, and it's doubtful that, with his injury history, he'd take the 1-year QO and take his chances to get to UFA in 2012-13. More likely is that we guarantee him 3 year at the QO level w/team option year 4 (that'd end up at basically 3/27M if he gets injured, and 4/36 if he does well) if he signs before Oct. 31. Then, if he gets a big offer next summer as an RFA, we can decide to match or not. Personally I think he's going to be a beast, and 4/36 would be a steal (consider what Bynum got for his extension).

 

[Minstrel]

I expect the likelihood of him being extended or retained goes way down.

If the Blazers replace Pritchard with a competent GM, I don't think the likelihoods of that change at all...it will remain entirely a question of whether Oden has a largely healthy 2010-11. If he does, he will be retained at a fairly large (though non-max deal, barring an utter explosion) deal. If he doesn't, he'll be left to explore free agency.

Now, if the new GM is another John Nash (in terms of competence), then I agree with you.

 

[rocketeer]

First, I have to say I enjoy the irony of this thread.

Back on BBF, there was a vocal contingent of posters who were gung-ho to trade LMA for the chance to draft Beasley. Now, nobody wants to touch him. No offense, but some Blazer fans are getting *too* gunshy over maturity/character/personality issues.

if the reason people didn't want beasley was maturity/character/personality issues, you might have a point. the reason people don't want beasley is because he's worthless on defense, not a good rebounder, and really not a very good offensive player.

 

[Shooter]

If it's really the case, as some people have suggested, that part of what's pissed Allen off about Pritchard is his taking Oden over Durant, could it be the case that any following GM will want to dump Oden just to remove the "stain" of the Pritchard era? If anything like this happens, I will find it very hard to care about the Blazers for the forseeable future:

Really? Has Oden proven that he can stay healthy for even one NBA season? Will he even come back from this latest injury? Will he ever be a shadow of his old self??? There are so many questions about Oden, and so much dissapointment associated with him, that I wouldn't blame management for trying to move him.

 

[HailBlazers]

No he hasn't proved he can stay healthy, but he has proved he can be a highly effective defensive anchor with lots of potential of the offensive end.

I would totally Blame the Management if they even thought about moving G.O. He was the one they picked, and now they must live with the decision because that is the chip they banked on. While it may not seem like it, We've come too far with Greg to be giving up now

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I am in the camp that says Oden is our best shot (even if longshot) to win a title. But I wouldn't be as sad to see him go as KP because Oden's attitude jsut doesn't sit right with me.

If Oden plays a full season and continues to develop from where he left off, I don't care about his nonchalaunt (sp?) attitude . . . but it's tought to deal with when he is constantly hurt and not helping the team.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

Back on BBF, there was a vocal contingent of posters who were gung-ho to trade LMA for the chance to draft Beasley.

Who cares? Even if there were, that wasn't TOO unreasonable, given that Beasley put up better stats than Durant in the same conference. But now we know he sucks in the NBA.

Now, nobody wants to touch him.

...because he sucks. Bad. (Good quote on Portland Roundball Society: "our guy just needs new knees, their guy needs a new heart.")

No offense, but some Blazer fans are getting *too* gunshy over maturity/character/personality issues.

...but mainly the fact that he sucks. Bad.

Second, whoever is brought in to replace KP will have no reason NOT to trade Oden. He will have no emotional attachment to the kid, and will be able to evaluate him in an objective manner.

I hope he does. Because he'll then see a player who is a superstar in PER when healthy, and an incredible rebounder and defensive presence, who would not get anything close to his worth in a trade. My worry is that the new GM will NOT evaluate Oden objectively, but instead view him as Pritchard's Folly.

If he is offered fair value - which is going to be less than some fans think

You mean not Dwight Howard?

- I would hope he does make a deal.

That's funny, I only think it's worth a trade if you get better than fair value.

 

[HailBlazers]

If Oden plays a full season and continues to develop from where he left off, I don't care about his nonchalaunt (sp?) attitude . . . but it's tought to deal with when he is constantly hurt and not helping the team.

Yea well imagine how tough it is for Oden to deal with being constantly hurt all the time and meeting expectations, you'd almost have to be nonchalant to deal with that type of pressure

But I agree unless we get chris bosh and a legit point guard, GO gives us the best shot at a trophy

 

[Denny Crane]

Steve Kerr is an excellent case in point. He inherited a team that was run and gun and not much defense. He traded away one of his best players (Marion) for a defensive player (J O'Neil), picked up then traded Shaq, etc. All to restructure the team so it still features Nash/Amare pick & roll, but much heavier on the defense. He also hired a coach in that image.

Regardless of Minstrel's post, he did what he thought would win, and the team made the WCF before losing to the defending champs 4-2. Not shabby, though not a championship.

 

[e_blazer]

Steve Kerr is an excellent case in point. He inherited a team that was run and gun and not much defense. He traded away one of his best players (Marion) for a defensive player (J O'Neil), picked up then traded Shaq, etc. All to restructure the team so it still features Nash/Amare pick & roll, but much heavier on the defense. He also hired a coach in that image.

Regardless of Minstrel's post, he did what he thought would win, and the team made the WCF before losing to the defending champs 4-2. Not shabby, though not a championship.

And the Suns would very likely have lost to the Blazers in the 1st round had the Blazers been healthy. Having your team healthy at the playoffs is pretty much an essential ingredient to a GM looking smart.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

And the Suns would very likely have lost to the Blazers in the 1st round had the Blazers been healthy. Having your team healthy at the playoffs is pretty much an essential ingredient to a GM looking smart.

And a coach.

 

[e_blazer]

Our coach was healthy.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I can live with an Oden trade if we can get another young Center in return. I'm getting sick of hearing 'if he can stay healthy, he'll be a beast.' It's a revolving door, year after year. It's embarrassing.