Insider: Toronto 's Win In The Turkoglu Tug-Of-War Is A Blazers Victory (Arnold)

[ABM]

From: The O

Let's give a loud shout-out to Banu Turkoglu. Her reported affinity for Toronto rescued the Blazers from making a colossal mistake. Now, the Blazers are positioned to acquire a player that will be a much better fit.

Hedo Turkoglu, wooed by the Blazers since the free agent negotiating period began July 1, ran off to the Canadian city and left the team standing at the altar holding a $50 million bag. Turkoglu's wife reportedly preferred to live in Toronto rather than Portland, so Turkoglu listened to his wife and took the extra millions from the Raptors......

 

[Ed O]

Hmm... a lot of opinion. Kind of simplistic analysis relative to what we discuss here, of course.

Ed O.

 

[maxiep]

That article reads like he's trying to make his readers feel better. Save that crap for Mike Barrett.

 

[Natebishop3]

Hmm... a lot of opinion. Kind of simplistic analysis relative to what we discuss here, of course.

Ed O.

Actually, there was a lot of incorrect information in that article, considering Geoffrey C. Arnold calls himself "the insider." lol

Or they could just wait for the 2010 free agent class, when players including LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, Amare Stoudemire and Carlos Boozer could be available.

But Marion constantly grumbled about being the third or fourth option on offense in Phoenix, earning him a trip north of the border, and he cannot create his own shot.

It's obvious he doesn't check his facts.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

It also reads like someone who has no idea about the Blazers cap situation next year or how the CBA works. Imagine that coming from the big O.

 

[Natebishop3]

hahahah here's another error in the article.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Andre Miller might be an ideal fit for the Trail Blazers' hole at small forward. Miller averaged 12.9 points and 8.5 rebounds a game last season.

 

[Nikolokolus]

hahahah here's another error in the article.

Good god ... that's just fucking inexcusable for a paid reporter. C'mon "O," the economy can't be so rough that you can't afford a simple fact checker or a reporter who actually researches what he writes.

 

[C_note]

LOL someone link this thread back to the author!

 

[alex42083]

hahahah here's another error in the article.

Well to be fair to Arnold, that was a photo caption which reporters don't usually write. But it's still an embarrassment for The O and O-Live itself for writing and printing it that way.

 

[Natebishop3]

Well to be fair to Arnold, that was a photo caption which reporters don't usually write. But it's still an embarrassment for The O and O-Live itself for writing and printing it that way.

Maybe so, but the other errors were definitely his.

 

[mgb]

If we didn't use this years cap, would we have a lot of cap space next year? Show your numbers please.

 

[WillG]

Agree with the OP %100.
The Blazers will come out of No-Turkey a lot better off in the long run.
(Combination of logic and gut feeling)

 

[HailBlazers]

Hmm... a lot of opinion. Kind of simplistic analysis relative to what we discuss here, of course.

Yeah it was all apart of the KP plan. Wine and dine Turkyglue's wife for a weekend in Portland's only luxury hotel and throw $50 million their way to create a scene so that the next desired free agent will know were not messing around. .

Anyway it's gonna take a lot more than Hedo to go up against the West next season, I'm still surprised we did so good this year. The thought of Artest going to LA makes me throw up in my mouth, and that doesn't feel good, it's pretty acidic

 

[Nikolokolus]

If we didn't use this years cap, would we have a lot of cap space next year? Show your numbers please.

You're joking right?

 

[Mediocre Man]

If we didn't use this years cap, would we have a lot of cap space next year? Show your numbers please.

$0.

 

[Crimson the Cat]

You can't spin Turk's renegging into a positive. It has hurt the team. Not only do we lose him, we missed an opportunity to sign Ariza, someone I believe the team was high on. We also missed out on both Carter and Jefferson.

We'll find another great addition to the team, and maybe even a couple other players, so I'm confident the team will be further improved next season, but this is not a victory.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

From: The O

If I were as ugly as Hedo and had a babe like that for a wife, I'd do everything she told me to also.

 

[Minstrel]

$0.

About $8 million if Portland renounced their rights to Koponen/Freeland/Claver. And to Blake and Outlaw, who will be free agents.

http://www.sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143587

 

[Mediocre Man]

About $8 million if Portland renounced their rights to Koponen/Freeland/Claver. And to Blake and Outlaw, who will be free agents.

http://www.sportstwo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=143587

I get 50.6 million WITHOUT Pendergraph, Cunningham, Mills, Claver, Koponen and Freeland, and simply letting Blake and Outlaw walk away for nothing. That is also minus a 1st round pick cap hold next year too.

Stern said the cap will most likely go down this year to a rumored 57.3. If anything it will stay the same next year, but some observers say it will more than likely decline again. Even if it stays the same that is only 6.7 in cap space, or about 1 million more than the MLE.

It woul dleave Portland with

Roy
Aldridge
Oden
Joel
Bayless
Batum
Webster
Fernandez

So 8 players.

The answer is $0

 

[Minstrel]

I get 50.6 million WITHOUT Pendergraph, Cunningham, Mills, Claver, Koponen and Freeland, and simply letting Blake and Outlaw walk away for nothing. That is also minus a 1st round pick cap hold next year too.

I get $49.6 million or so, without any of those players. None of whom have guaranteed contracts for this year, let alone next.

That would be about $7.6-7.7 million cap space.

Obviously, the answer is $0 if Portland chooses to fill the cap space up with guaranteed contracts, but if their plan really was to have cap space next year instead of this year, they can do that without losing any core players. In addition, if they can dump some salary (like Webster's deal) at the deadline, they can get near $12 million in cap space.

It won't be easy, but it's certainly possible to have significant cap space next year. I'm not advising such a strategy, but the idea that Portland can't possibly have cap space next year due to extensions to Aldridge and Roy is incorrect.

 

[RickyRubio]

If I were as ugly as Hedo and had a babe like that for a wife, I'd do everything she told me to also.

You think she is a "babe"? And who the hell says babe still? She is a 4\10 on my scale. But that is only 1 pic. She could be hotter.

Anyhow, yeah I agree with the poorly written article. WAY too much money and not a good fit. Watch. Hedon't is NOT going to play well next year. Wont even make the playoffs.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I get $49.6 million or so, without any of those players. None of whom have guaranteed contracts for this year, let alone next.

That would be about $7.6-7.7 million cap space.

Obviously, the answer is $0 if Portland chooses to fill the cap space up with guaranteed contracts, but if their plan really was to have cap space next year instead of this year, they can do that without losing any core players. In addition, if they can dump some salary (like Webster's deal) at the deadline, they can get near $12 million in cap space.

It won't be easy, but it's certainly possible to have significant cap space next year. I'm not advising such a strategy, but the idea that Portland can't possibly have cap space next year due to extensions to Aldridge and Roy is incorrect.

If we are talking in "if's", IF Joel opts out of his deal that will give us more money. IF we renounce Barndon and LMA that would give us more money.


As for their plan. All we have heard about for the past 2 years has been cap space THIS YEAR. If KP tries to spin this in any way as we really wanted it for next year, and anyone believes him, then shame on that person.

 

[Minstrel]

If we are talking in "if's", IF Joel opts out of his deal that will give us more money. IF we renounce Barndon and LMA that would give us more money.

If Portland renounces Brandon and LMA? I think you're confused. Those numbers reflect a max deal contract extension for Roy and a near-max contract extension for Aldridge.

Przybilla opting out is pretty likely, since he can probably get a larger deal on the free agent market and can surely land a starting position.

As for their plan. All we have heard about for the past 2 years has been cap space THIS YEAR. If KP tries to spin this in any way as we really wanted it for next year, and anyone believes him, then shame on that person.

Shame on Pritchard if he can't adjust his plan based on circumstances. But I doubt he bases his plans on what bitter fans say about him.

Again, I'm not advocating that the Blazers shoot for cap space in 2010, just that your contention that it's impossible is wrong. They can clear space in 2010 even after extending Roy and Aldridge. It's an option, if they choose to go that way.

 

[Natebishop3]

If Portland renounces Brandon and LMA? I think you're confused. Those numbers reflect a max deal contract extension for Roy and a near-max contract extension for Aldridge.

Przybilla opting out is pretty likely, since he can probably get a larger deal on the free agent market and can surely land a starting position.



Shame on Pritchard if he can't adjust his plan based on circumstances. But I doubt he bases his plans on what bitter fans say about him.

Again, I'm not advocating that the Blazers shoot for cap space in 2010, just that your contention that it's impossible is wrong. They can clear space in 2010 even after extending Roy and Aldridge. It's an option, if they choose to go that way.

That's a legitimate fear though, Joel opting out.... Maybe we SHOULD trade him.

 

[maxiep]

That's a legitimate fear though, Joel opting out.... Maybe we SHOULD trade him.

We have his Bird Rights. He likes it here and we can pay him the most to stay.

 

[Natebishop3]

We have his Bird Rights. He likes it here and we can pay him the most to stay.

You are right, but maybe he wants to start? Once Oden gets going, do you really think there will be enough playing time for Joel? He isn't a scorer so he can't play power forward. He's going to be wasted on our bench in the prime of his career.

 

[Mediocre Man]

We have his Bird Rights. He likes it here and we can pay him the most to stay.

Unless GO is hurt though, he will never be a starter. It might not be important to him, but I think there are going to be some teams out there that will offer him some good cheese next off season after all of the big name guys stay where they are. Joel would move up to the top of that class pretty quickly. I realize we love him here, but do we love him enough to match a huge offer? He will be just a back up hopefully.

 

[maxiep]

If Joel only cares about starting, he's not the person I thought he was.

 

[Natebishop3]

If Joel only cares about starting, he's not the person I thought he was.

It's not really about starting, but more about actual playing time. How do you figure Joel is going to get much playing time when Oden is playing 35+ minutes per game or more?

 

[PapaG]

If Joel only cares about starting, he's not the person I thought he was.

If he is paid as a starter on another team over back-up money in Portland, I wouldn't blame him for moving.