What all really happened

[dreamcloud]

So it looks like he agreed to join us before even coming to Portland in the first place, and then chose to waste our time for 2 days.. His agent also admits they backed out of the agreement..

I know it's we should move along now from Hedo, but still interesting to find what happened..

Turkoglu met with Blazers coach Nate McMillan Wednesday night in Orlando and gave his verbal commitment before traveling to Portland on Thursday to tour the facilities. The plan was that Turkoglu was going to Portland to finalize the deal.

But Babby said Turkoglu began having second thoughts upon arriving in Portland. It was widely known that the other team that coveted him was Toronto, which has a large Turkish population, is a "cosmopolitan city" (according to Babby), and is several hours closer by air to Turkoglu's homeland. It was the city Turkoglu's wife was said to have favored from the start of the free-agent process.

But the Blazers made a swift and aggressive push for Turkoglu, becoming the first team to contact him at the start of the negotiating period at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday and putting their cards on the table: five years, $50 million, as reported here that morning. But a rival team executive who spoke to CBSSports.com early Friday accurately predicted that Toronto would jump in with a pre-emptive offer and that Babby -- a shrewd negotiator -- would be willing to wait for Colangelo to clear the necessary cap space to follow through on it.

It turns out that by early Friday, Turkoglu already was seriously doubting whether Portland was the right fit and Babby already had communicated his client's second thoughts to Blazers management. Colangelo jumped in with his offer Friday morning, hours before numerous media outlets -- including this one -- began reporting the original agreement between Turkoglu and the Blazers.

UPDATE: Portland's front office initially was irate with Turkoglu's misdirection, according to a high-level source familiar with the situation, who used the word "reneged" to characterize Turkoglu's decision. Another source said the Blazers and Turkoglu had "different priorities," and that it was obvious that Turkoglu and Portland wasn't the right fit. Either way, the Blazers are moving on. They're expected to make a push for Knicks restricted free agent David Lee, who has not received the anticipated interest from teams with cap space like Memphis (which acquired Zach Randolph), Detroit (which spent its money on Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva), plus Oklahoma City and Sacramento, neither of which is taking an aggressive posture in the first wave of free agency. The Blazers also are expected to focus on a point guard such as Sixers free agent Andre Miller, and some rival executives wonder if GM Kevin Pritchard will make a play for Lakers free agent Lamar Odom.

The Blazers, Babby said, "are feeling somewhat aggrieved, and justifiably so. We just assumed we had made a verbal commitment and we had every intention of following through on it. ... There was never any intention of hurting anybody."

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/11838893/15890497

 

[illmatic99]

Anyone else felt used?

Yeah. Fuck you, Hedo.

Artest would be lookin pretty nice in that #96 Blazers' jersey.

 

[glazeduck]

If nothing else, this whole situation gives us rabid fans another player to vilify and hate.

Ariza and the Rox.
Artest, Rapist and the Fakers.
Birdshit and the Thuggets.
Now Turk and the Raps.
Refs...

Better warm up those vocal chords Blazer fans! There's gonna be alot of booing next season!

 

[Idog1976]

Anyone else felt used?

Yeah. Fuck you, Hedo.

Artest would be lookin pretty nice in that #96 Blazers' jersey.

We'll see. Artest could potentially be the additional chemical being added to a volatile mixture that blows it up. I don't buy all this Kobe is a great leader now garbage. There is no questioning Kobe's skill, drive and competitiveness. Other then that I think he has gone from one of the worst locker room presences in the league (2 and 3 summers ago Bynum sucks, trade me! etc.) to average veteran leadership with near godlike talent. I still think underneath the surface is Kobe's monstrous ego waiting to explode Artest might just be the additional volatile presence the blows things up.

It's a nice dream anyways. I would have rolled the dice on Artest, not Marion though.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I don't feel used at all, and the Blazers shouldn't either.


If the article is right, and I think it is, Hedo agreed an came to Portland. His wife probably bitched, and Hedo saw that while a cute city, it's nothing like Toronto. Toronto, by the way, is awesome. If you think you will be happier somewhere else, then go there.

 

[dpc]

If nothing else, this whole situation gives us rabid fans another player to vilify and hate.

Ariza and the Rox.
Artest, Rapist and the Fakers.
Birdshit and the Thuggets.
Now Turk and the Raps.
Refs...

Better warm up those vocal chords Blazer fans! There's gonna be alot of booing next season!

Whats wrong with the Birdman? Did I miss something?

 

[glazeduck]

Whats wrong with the Birdman? Did I miss something?

After blocking a shot against us he preened and posed for far too long in Denver...

Only to get swatted, then posterized by Aldridge seconds later.

Since, Portland fans LOVE to hate him. (Though I also suspect they'd love to love him if he were to don a Zers Jersey.)

 

[dpc]

After blocking a shot against us he preened and posed for far too long in Denver...

Only to get swatted, then posterized by Aldridge seconds later.

Since, Portland fans LOVE to hate him. (Though I also suspect they'd love to love him if he were to don a Zers Jersey.)

lol so he swats a blazer and then poses... and that makes him hated by everyone? I would love to have a player on the blazers that would do that. He didnt do it to diss the blazers, thats just the player he is, he likes to have fun with his fans.

 

[The Sebastian Express]

I don't see how this can be hanged on Pritchard with this news coming to light. Guy backed out on his word because he had a change of heart.

 

[dreamcloud]

I hate that whole thuggets team.. except Billups..

That whole gel through air thing birdman did after blocking Rudy pissed me off

 

[Minstrel]

Anyone else felt used?

No. Being "used" would imply that he never intended to sign with Portland, he just negotiated with Portland to drive his value up for another team. The article posted completely contradicts that, saying that Turkoglu planned to sign with Portland and then changed his mind.

 

[illmatic99]

Ultimately, Hedo and his agent used KP's offer as leverage to get more from Colangelo. At least, that's my understanding.

 

[Minstrel]

Ultimately, Hedo and his agent used KP's offer as leverage to get more from Colangelo.

That's a pretty trivial definition of being used, as that's sort of the point of auctions...using each offer as leverage among interested bidders for a larger offer.

The standard meaning of being used, in a bidding situation, is that the free agent had no interest in signing with you, that his interest in negotiating with you was deceptive...just a ploy to create leverage with another team. That, according to the article, was not the case here. Turkoglu negotiated with Portland with an interest in signing if they gave him an offer he deemed suitable...he simply changed his mind on accepting that offer at the last minute.

 

[illmatic99]

That's a pretty trivial definition of being used, as that's sort of the point of auctions...using each offer as leverage among interested bidders for a larger offer.

The standard meaning of being used, in a bidding situation, is that the free agent had no interest in signing with you, that his interest in negotiating with you was deceptive...just a ploy to create leverage with another team. That, according to the article, was not the case here. Turkoglu negotiated with Portland with an interest in signing if they gave him an offer he deemed suitable...he simply changed his mind on accepting that offer at the last minute.

Well, statements like "front office initially was irate with Turkoglu's misdirection", "the word "reneged" to characterize Turkoglu's decision", and "(Blazers) are feeling somewhat aggrieved," make me believe there was some sort of deception from Turk's camp.

 

[Minstrel]

Well, statements like "front office initially was irate with Turkoglu's misdirection", "the word "reneged" to characterize Turkoglu's decision", and "(Blazers) are feeling somewhat aggrieved," make me believe there was some sort of deception from Turk's camp.

Well, he backed out after apparently suggesting he was going to sign. I'd be upset, too, if I were the Blazers' front office. I just don't think they were used. They were betrayed, in some sense.

 

[B-Roy]

"This has been a difficult process for Hedo and his family," Babby said Saturday. "He gave Portland a commitment that he would sign there and he went to Portland with every intention of doing so...Portland, both the team and the city, did everything we asked them to do, and it's perfectly understandabe if they feel a bit aggrieved."

Turkoglu had been expected to come to terms quickly with the Blazers, after spending Wednesday night with Portland Coach Nate McMillan in Orlando, then flying to Portland for meetings with team management Thursday and Friday. The Raptors, who wanted Turkoglu as well, had been reluctant to renounce their rights to the numerous free agents on their team that would have been necessary to clear enough room under the salary cap to exceed Portland's offer.

But Toronto GM Bryan Colangelo changed his mind. Friday morning, Babby said, the Raptors called him and said they were ready to do whatever they had to to get Turkoglu signed. That will mean renouncing their rights to several players, including free agents Shawn Marion, Anthony Parker and Carlos Delfino.

"I said 'we've gone pretty far along with Portland,' and he said, 'well, you have to hear me out,'" Babby said.

After Babby relayed Toronto's proposal to Turkoglu, the 30-year-old began having second thoughts about Portland. He and his wife both enjoy Toronto, a city with both a large international population and a sizeable Turkish community, both of which appeal to the Istanbul-raised Turkoglu, who's played all over the world since he was a teenager. And the Raptors have a roster full of international players, including Spanish point guard Jose Calderon, Italian center Andrea Bargnani, Croatian guard Roko Ukic and U.S.-born players Chris Bosh, Reggie Evans and rookie DeMar DeRozan.

-NBA.com

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I don't feel used at all, and the Blazers shouldn't either.


If the article is right, and I think it is, Hedo agreed an came to Portland. His wife probably bitched, and Hedo saw that while a cute city, it's nothing like Toronto. Toronto, by the way, is awesome. If you think you will be happier somewhere else, then go there.

I agree with this assessment. Good luck to Hedo- anywhere but Portland.

 

[Tyler_Hansbrough]

If nothing else, this whole situation gives us rabid fans another player to vilify and hate.

Ariza and the Rox.
Artest, Rapist and the Fakers.
Birdshit and the Thuggets.
Now Turk and the Raps.
Refs...

Better warm up those vocal chords Blazer fans! There's gonna be alot of booing next season!

Huh? Why do we hate Artest? Why do we hate Birdman? I like both those guys a lot.

 

[Public Defender]

The version from nba.com makes the most sense. That in the back of his mind, Turkoglu preferred Toronto, because it's bigger, has a bigger international community, and actually has people from Turkey. So, when Colangelo called Babby and basically said "we're moving the earth to get your guy here," and it was his top choice anyway, it was going to be pretty hard for Hedo to make any other choice.

Personally, I don't take this as a slight against Portland, although nationally, that may well be the outcome. Portland is a fantastic city. So is Toronto. Critics can always say that "Portland is pretty white, small, and rainy." All of that is true. But I could just as easily point out that "Toronto is in Canada (so income taxes will be higher) and it's cold as hell in the winter, and its team has never won anything."

Frankly, I think there might be few cities in the US that could have outbid for Turkoglu, if Toronto, and its "international flair" were what he was after. Certainly places like Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, Memphis, and probably a handful of others would've done no better.

Have to admit, this stings a little. Of the alternatives, I like going after David Lee. But I wonder if being publicly scorned by a high-profile free agent is going to undermine Portland's chances of signing anyone this summer.

 

[Tyler_Hansbrough]

After blocking a shot against us he preened and posed for far too long in Denver...

Only to get swatted, then posterized by Aldridge seconds later.

Since, Portland fans LOVE to hate him. (Though I also suspect they'd love to love him if he were to don a Zers Jersey.)

So what? Are we supposed to be mad at any player who blocks us? Cheer the fuck up man Jesus.

 

[Tyler_Hansbrough]

I hate that whole thuggets team.. except Billups..

That whole gel through air thing birdman did after blocking Rudy pissed me off

Birdman is a pimp. *edited*

Edit: In my opinion, you guys are taking the things Birdman does too seriously! I think it brings excitement to the game.

(is that better Admins? Sorry)

 

[Chutney]

Ultimately, Hedo and his agent used KP's offer as leverage to get more from Colangelo. At least, that's my understanding.

To get a true example of that happening, read up on John Salmons doing that to the Raptors and then signing with Sacramento a few years back.

I know a lot of Blazers fans want one, but it's hard to find an outright villain in this whole saga. Pritchard didn't fuck up, he got screwed by an unpredictable change of heart. And Hedo didn't maliciously string Portland along. I think he made a stupid mistake in making a commitment so early, when it's become clear that he hadn't looked at all the factors. But that's really it.

 

[Chutney]

The version from nba.com makes the most sense. That in the back of his mind, Turkoglu preferred Toronto, because it's bigger, has a bigger international community, and actually has people from Turkey. So, when Colangelo called Babby and basically said "we're moving the earth to get your guy here," and it was his top choice anyway, it was going to be pretty hard for Hedo to make any other choice.

Personally, I don't take this as a slight against Portland, although nationally, that may well be the outcome. Portland is a fantastic city. So is Toronto. Critics can always say that "Portland is pretty white, small, and rainy." All of that is true. But I could just as easily point out that "Toronto is in Canada (so income taxes will be higher) and it's cold as hell in the winter, and its team has never won anything."

Frankly, I think there might be few cities in the US that could have outbid for Turkoglu, if Toronto, and its "international flair" were what he was after. Certainly places like Oklahoma City, Salt Lake City, Memphis, and probably a handful of others would've done no better.

Have to admit, this stings a little. Of the alternatives, I like going after David Lee. But I wonder if being publicly scorned by a high-profile free agent is going to undermine Portland's chances of signing anyone this summer.

To further eradicate any feelings of inferiority Portland fans may feel, consider this: Hedo probably wouldn't have backed out of his commitment if Toronto hadn't offered a little bit more money. I'm sure Hedo loves the city and all that, but it alone wasn't enough to create such a significant change of heart. And it's not like Hedo was desperate to avoid playing in Portland. If Colangelo is a bit slower, Hedo ends up playing in Portland for 5 years being perfectly content (aside from the lack of NBA championships during that stay).

 

[Minstrel]

If Colangelo is a bit slower, Hedo ends up playing in Portland for 5 years being perfectly content (aside from the lack of NBA championships during that stay).

I'm not sure Turkoglu is so bad at basketball that he'd prevent Portland from winning several championships. I think you're way too down on Turkoglu. He's not worth $42 million / year, or whatever Toronto is paying him, but he's not bad.

 

[Pinwheel1]

I think Turk made a mistake with his decision. But that is part of the free agency process. It's a tough decision to make in a few days. I was bummed but am already over it.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'm not sure Turkoglu is so bad at basketball that he'd prevent Portland from winning several championships. I think you're way too down on Turkoglu. He's not worth $42 million / year, or whatever Toronto is paying him, but he's not bad.

I'm one of those as well who think we'd be a worse "team" with Hedo and probably not win any championships had he chose us. Mostly because of his inability to defend (which only worsen as he gets older), but his inconsistent shooting. To be sure, he has some skills I admire, but overall I think he's not right for this team.

 

[barfo]

I don't blame Turkey Glue for changing his mind - there is a reason contracts are written on paper and signed, and until that's done you don't have a deal. I don't blame KP for trying for him or losing him. I do hope he (Turkoglu) winds up regretting his choice a little, and it will be fun to beat Toronto next season. Onwards and upwards, there are other fish in the sea.

barfo

 

[B-Roy]

That's what happened.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't feel used at all, and the Blazers shouldn't either.


If the article is right, and I think it is, Hedo agreed an came to Portland. His wife probably bitched, and Hedo saw that while a cute city, it's nothing like Toronto. Toronto, by the way, is awesome. If you think you will be happier somewhere else, then go there.

Well said. And I fully agree Toronto would be a fantastic place to live, it's only 300 miles from New York City, and it has a rich ethnic and cultural vibe. Frankly I think Hedo did exactly what he should have done which is explore a potential option in Portland while still thinking that his first choice would probably be Toronto, the fact that it certainly helped his final contract amount by having two teams bid him up a little was exactly what a free agent looking to get paid should do. Good on him.

As for the Blazers, I'm not exactly optimistic KP has a solid plan B, but I'm cautiously optimistic that there are still quality free agents and trade targets out there if KP is willing to make some sacrifices (Blake and Trav). I guess we'll find out as the coming days unfold.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Well said. And I fully agree Toronto would be a fantastic place to live, it's only 300 miles from New York City, and it has a rich ethnic and cultural vibe. Frankly I think Hedo did exactly what he should have done which is explore a potential option in Portland while still thinking that his first choice would probably be Toronto, the fact that it certainly helped his final contract amount by having two teams bid him up a little was exactly what a free agent looking to get paid should do. Good on him.

As for the Blazers, I'm not exactly optimistic KP has a solid plan B, but I'm cautiously optimistic that there are still quality free agents and trade targets out there if KP is willing to make some sacrifices (Blake and Trav). I guess we'll find out as the coming days unfold.

I will be anxious to see if KP will actually trade one of his players. I've stated this many times, but I really think it is his kryptonite. I don't think he has the guts to do that.