Stepping Razor

post of the year

Dan

If Ruben's play justified him getting more minutes, I could understand why we have people defending his *****ing. But his play doesn't justify it.

__________________
A Buddhist walks up to a hot dog vendor and says "Make me one with everything".

when will the loss of life end?

The world respects the power of our example, not an example of our power.

I'd like to say I made this, but I didn't

dkap

I agree that he hasn't played at a particularly high level so far this year, but last year he was one of the most productive players on the team, yet we had these same issues on the table. Ruben and management are simply at odds, regardless of his output on the court.

Dan

Chalupa

The team should activate Ha.
Give him about 10 min a game at center and let Theo get the back up PF mins and what ever is left over at center.

It sounds like Victor is still questionable with a Toe injury and really there is enough small forwards activated as it is. I'd rather have more size for now in the back court.

barfo

Well then, you should send him a certified letter along with the balance due on his contract.

barfo

Trader Ed

Then there is what I said all summer long. Its entirely possible that Ruben opts out of his contract this year... He may not have to wait a year and a half. If he is motivated to get out of here, he has his own fate in his hands at the expense of loosing bigger dollars by opting out. He will not get over $6 mil if he resigns with another team on mid July IMHO. But he can put himself in a position to be where he wants and on a winning team.

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"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts..."

Heart, desire and hustle! Its the fire within that makes a champion.

Trader Ed

The flip side to your argument is that management actually may be right and you may only have an opinion.

And the solution to the problem is? What will make us title contenders in 2 years?..... I am waiting?

The Blazer brass has painted themselves into a corner and they have to live with it. Assuming we try to trade Ruben and get something in return. Even at an even talent return which is unlikely or he opts out this summer... the talent pool has been dwindling for a few years. We have untapped potential... no proven talent. Winning seasons are in a galaxy far far away....

__________________
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts..."

Heart, desire and hustle! Its the fire within that makes a champion.

Trader Ed

Ruben has gone off each year with some of his tirades.... usually 2x a year. Its like the rains and snows in the fall, and the flowers coming out in the spring. You can just about count on it.

In the past couple of years he has settled down and kept his foot out of his mouth and played inspired ball. Maybe this is his usual rant... maybe its beyond that now, and as Ed says.. very frustrated and hating to loose. He is emotional.... which is not a problem. Its how he harnesses it that makes the difference.

__________________
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts..."

Heart, desire and hustle! Its the fire within that makes a champion.

Schilly

I think it's entirely possible that Rben won't be a Blazer by the time he makes it back to Portand. Remember they said he's gonna hang out with Damon today then head to Ohio where his wife and kids are.

Nash on Courtside said he has had several discussions regarding Patterson and trades, in the last 24 hours in fact had multiple this afternoon. There was a lot of caution regarding wether anything was pending, in fact I got the impression the way it was handled that it was possible, that talks may be serious. The Courtside guys were cautious to ask things by prefacing by pointing out that Nash shouldn't feel pressure to mention if anything was pending, nor should he feel pressure to drop hints. Nash didn't even aknowledge the fact they mentioned the term "pending" so neither aknowledged nor denied. IMO if nothing is pending Nash says "there is nothing iminent".

BIG Q

The easiest way to move Patterson is to get him to waive his trade kicker. If he will not do that then he will most likely not opt out and management will most likely just park his butt until he becomes an expiring deal. In all, I agree 100% with your post.

__________________
BRANDON
ROOKIE
OF THE
YEAR

Trader Ed

Its funny the way they are handling this with Ruben compared to what Darius did last year???

Ruben seems to be getting set up for a much harsher penalty


I am not 100% positive but I do not think they can waive the trade kicker

Rubens salary $6.3 mil... with trade kicker about $8.3 mil

25% less for teams over the cap puts it about $6.1 mil in return

__________________
"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts..."

Heart, desire and hustle! Its the fire within that makes a champion.

Blazer Ringbearer

anybody have any idea what the other transgressions were that have been cited in the articles?

i wonder if ruben has been picking fights in practice or mouthing off to coach constantly...

Schilly

Just to extrapolate on this. He can only waive as much of the kicker as it takes to get the deal done, no more.

RPCity

Coupla quick things.....and I promised myself I wouldn't respond to Ed in this thread.....but two things just demanded a response.


C'mon Ed.....I totally respect your views and your right to have and express them.....but are you seriously suggesting you weren't justifying anything Ruben did? By trying to shift blame (in whole or in part) to management, you are defending him. By calling him a "Passionate veteran who wants to win" you are describing him with words of praise. If those aren't at least attempts at justification....I dont know what it would be considered.






I disagree with this statement. Completely. Did you watch the game Ed? I know it was early on a Sunday morning on the west coast, so I wouldnt be suprised if you didnt. I know I would have missed it if I were in Portland. But I'm in Jersey and I was at the game. As I've said time and time again since the game....it was completely back and forth the entire game. The ONLY stretch in which the Knicks were in control or looked anything like a "better team" was a 2-4 minute stretch in the third quarter when Zach, Telfair, and Miles were all out of the game. If you remove that 9-0 run, we lose by two points.

Two.

And how can you say the Knicks were in control the whole game when WE were leading at halftime....and throughout the first half (though by slim margins).

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Believe meh

It ain't ea-say

BIG Q

You are correct, and Patterson can also waive his player option for next season to facilitate a trade.

__________________
BRANDON
ROOKIE
OF THE
YEAR