Paul Allen is No. 2

[e_blazer]

We really shouldn't let this pass without notice. For the past 20 years or so the Blazers have had the luxury of having the richest owner in US sports. No longer. That sneaky Steve Ballmer managed to use Donald Sterling's racial insanity to wiggle his way into the NBA and bump PA down the list. But then, what's a mere $5.5 billion difference in net worth anyway?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t2

 

[HailBlazers]

Nothing better than a little competition. Who will win a title first?!

 

[MARIS61]

Since Allen, like all sociopathic hoarders, doesn't utilize his obscene wealth to improve the team or bring superstars to the line-up, or to improve fan involvement through excellent TV access or cheaper seats or even decent halftime entertainment, his net worth is inconsequential to the topic of basketball.

 

[e_blazer]

Since Allen, like all sociopathic hoarders, doesn't utilize his obscene wealth to improve the team or bring superstars to the line-up, or to improve fan involvement through excellent TV access or cheaper seats or even decent halftime entertainment, his net worth is inconsequential to the topic of basketball.

Yeah, because we all remember the league passing that multi-billionaire exemption from the CBA that lets these guys spend whatever they want and the ability to kidnap and force superstars into signing with their teams.

 

[magnifier661]

We really shouldn't let this pass without notice. For the past 20 years or so the Blazers have had the luxury of having the richest owner in US sports. No longer. That sneaky Steve Ballmer managed to use Donald Sterling's racial insanity to wiggle his way into the NBA and bump PA down the list. But then, what's a mere $5.5 billion difference in net worth anyway?

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...ium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial&hpt=hp_t2

If Allen would invest in apple like he was told to, he would be the richest man in the world

 

[MarAzul]

Wonder why Mikhail Prokhorov is not in that list? (Brooklyn)
He is supposedly worth 11 billion.

 

[KeepOnRollin]

Wonder why Mikhail Prokhorov is not in that list? (Brooklyn)
He is supposedly worth 11 billion.

I guess when they say American Sports Owner they mean owned by someone born in America not that the team is in America.

 

[MARIS61]

Yeah, because we all remember the league passing that multi-billionaire exemption from the CBA that lets these guys spend whatever they want and the ability to kidnap and force superstars into signing with their teams.

Nothing prevents Allen from buying the best lineup in the league, other than cheapness. There is no rule that says he can't outspend the other owners.

 

[e_blazer]

Nothing prevents Allen from buying the best lineup in the league, other than cheapness. There is no rule that says he can't outspend the other owners.

Care to explain how that pesky little CBA isn't an issue? He can spend as much as he wants to to re-sign his own FAs since they all have Bird rights, but he can't go over the cap to bring any new FAs.

And, BTW, he already tried that route under an old CBA when he brought in Pippen and a whole circus of aging vets to try to win a title. Didn't work, but the notion that he's too cheap to spend isn't supported by history.

 

[Schilly]

He spent the money when the CBA allowed for it and... When the team was truly in a title contention window. But he still had to get the players via trade or draft in order to be enabled to overpay to keep it together.

 

[SlyPokerDog]

Nothing prevents Allen from buying the best lineup in the league, other than cheapness. There is no rule that says he can't outspend the other owners.

I completely agree! I also think it's bullshit he isn't looking outside of the planet for alien talent. Why fund a rocket if you aren't going to use it to improve your basketball team? Also why isn't he looking into human/animal hybrids? He's spending tens of millions of dollars on human and animal brain research, why not research the rest of their bodies? Why not look to make a gorillaman or an 8 foot tall giant rebounding spider?

 

[blue9]

I guess when they say American Sports Owner they mean owned by someone born in America not that the team is in America.

It could also be that it's only SOLE owners that count. I'm assuming Ballmer fully owns the Clippers? Prokhorov is just a majority owner.

 

[BBert]

I believe Paul Allen will spend over the cap to retain our players if he believes they are "contenders". How they compete and develop this season will determine that.

 

[riverman]

Since Allen, like all sociopathic hoarders, doesn't utilize his obscene wealth to improve the team or bring superstars to the line-up, or to improve fan involvement through excellent TV access or cheaper seats or even decent halftime entertainment, his net worth is inconsequential to the topic of basketball.

Well he did win a Super Bowl with his miserly ways. You expect him to spend 28 mil a year on a 19 year vet past his prime maybe? As to the TV contract I agree it sucks but Chris McGowan agrees according to his media day interview and that deal was in place before he got here. I'd blame Larry Miller for that one. I think we're damned lucky to have Paul Allen instead of turning into the Knicks with Dolan's open wallet.

 

[illmatic99]

In his interview yesterday, he didn't blink when asked whether he would go over lux tax to retain players. He said there's a balance between success and bottom line -- but seemed very upbeat and juiced to see a contender here. I seem to remember interviews in the past few years when he was disengaged and kept mentioning how the team was bleeding money and he was vehemently against getting into the tax.

54 wins and a playoff series win obviously has changed his mindset.

 

[MARIS61]

I remember when 54 wins was a disappointment for Portland fans...

 

[BlazerBeav]

I remember when 54 wins was a disappointment for Portland fans...

You do? In the history of the franchise, we have had 5 season of more than 54 wins. 5.

 

[santeesioux]

What PA needs to do is buy a baseball team and move it here so he can have the highest payroll.

 

[Strenuus]

I remember when 54 wins was a disappointment for Portland fans...

Troll attempt failed.

 

[Strenuus]

What PA needs to do is buy a baseball team and move it here so he can have the highest payroll.

I second this. Now move it through the courts!!

 

[Boob-No-More]

I remember when 54 wins was a disappointment for Portland fans...

Yeah it was a HUGE disappointment back in 1977 when we only won 49 games. The fans were so dejected they took to the streets and expressed their sorrow en mass.

BNM

 

[jlprk]

He spent the money when the CBA allowed for it and... When the team was truly in a title contention window. But he still had to get the players via trade or draft in order to be enabled to overpay to keep it together.

And who did that? Bob Whitsitt.