Kmurph

Why is this even an issue?

Seriously, there is room for both Koponen & Batum...I don't see a problem here....

Yeah, Pritchard would "optimally" like to leave the 15th spot open...but he could always trade away a Sergio for example, or another player if he saw a vet worth signing....

I just don't see this as a big deal...there is room and frankly Koponen has proved he is worthy of a roster spot IMO....

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Quit the Webster hate

BLAZER PROPHET

Yep. Then we can watch both of them gather splinters in their a*****.

DonCorleone

Pritchard isn't imagining him getting any real playing time this year. He has always talked about Batum being a project that is a couple years away, but he has a "chance" at becoming a contributor in the future.

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"Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer."

PorterIn2004

Fair enough, but if he's on the roster and other moves aren't made, I'll bet you now that they'll be forced to play him some. Let's say either Webster or Outlaw end up going down for several weeks at some point. Roy can help cover and McMillan might try running Frye there in a big line-up, but really both Frye and even Roy would be out of position there and neither Webster nor Outlaw have shown incredible endurance yet -- Outlaw didn't really have his legs until a 1/3 of the way into the season last year.

Goldmember

Yeah Batum could end of getting some Von Wafer type minutes but if he's so green we can't afford to play him we can always send him to the DL, or as someone mentioned trade Sergio and sign a veteran SF.

Frankly I think we should trade Sergio regardless. I'd rather have Kop play his minutes anyway.

PorterIn2004

I'm torn. On one hand I'm not very optimistic about Rodriguez. On the other hand, his great strength is leading a running team and I'd kind of like to see what he does with with Fernandez or Roy with him instead of Jack, Oden or Przybilla instead of Frye, etc. Koponen might do just as well and have a much more rounded game overall but it'd be kind of nice to see Rodriguez in an environment that fits him better.

Back on the first hand, though, I'd love for the team to get to gell as soon as possible, putting off trades and other player movement until the next off-season unless something comes up that's really too good to pass on.

c_note

LOL, is this a joke?

Did you see what the Blazers had to swing in order to get Batum? The only reason he fell so far was because of his medical records being hidden by a couple teams. He's 6'8 and has a freakin 7 FOOT 4 wingspan... huge vertical, excellent athleticism...you'd have to be CRAAZY to think he may never play in the NBA.

The way I see it, he is very raw currently. At the absolute worst, it takes him ~4 years to develop into a great player, similar to what Outlaw has done. He needs the most work at ball-handling and shooting...and of course the intangibles of the NBA game, but every rookie needs to learn that.

He plays 2 summer league games and people are practically crucifying him...sheesh.

Hector

Last summer, Pritchard misread the talents of both Koponen and Tiny Taurean Green, giving Green the spot that should have gone to Koponen. This time around, he misread Batum's readiness, so he didn't work hard to bring in Freeland for Summer League. Freeland would have done just as well as Batum this summer. He did last summer. With a roster of 15, we have room for Sergio, Koponen, and Freeland. Send Batum back. As Gen. McArthur said concerning Bataan, "I shall return."

meru

1. Koponen was NOT ready last year. He's probably not ready THIS year.
2. By all accounts it was McMillan who wanted Green. I think I heard somewhere that Pritchard wanted Ramon Sessions, but that might just be rumor.
3. As a Brit it pains me to say this, but Freeland really WILL never play a minute in the NBA. I'm not sure he'll even make the British team, which is saying something.
4. The Spanish team that owns Freeland's rights won't release him.
5. Who says Pritchard thought Batum was ready? It sounds like the plan was always to have him play longer in Europe and it's only contract issues that are complicating things.
6. As Gandhi said when asked what he thought of Western Civilization, "I think it would be a very good idea." (I'm assuming it's obligatory to end with a complete non sequitur.)

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"I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that his justice cannot sleep forever." -- Thomas Jefferson, not-so-proud Founding Father

chairman

I must admit Freeland is one Blazer who I watched in Summer league and never thought he would make it. So maybe he will be a 10 year NBA player too. (LOL)

Reep

I think it is a complicated version of all three. A first round pick gets a guaranteed contract. Blazers can renounce the player and not pay the salary (evidently), but lose his rights. Blazers can sit on him and he can reenter the draft next year.

It seems kind of weird to see that first rounders get a guaranteed contract, unless the team doesn't offer them the contract? What if Batum would except the 80% value, would the Blazers have to sign him? If not then first rounders really aren't guaranteed to get a contract.

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01000111 01101111 00100000 01000010 01101100 01100001 01111010 01100101 01110010 01110011

There are 10 types of people in the world: Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

Jayps15

My understanding is that it's not the offering of the contract that's guaranteed, it's the money in it. 1st round contracts don't have performance incentives, meaning once 1st round picks sign they're guaranteed that amount despite how they play (unless the team doesn't pick up either of the 2 option years).

But again, it's pretty ambiguous to those of us without a copy of the CBA and lawyer present...

Paxil

Batum is the man... he is awesome baby! He actually looked like he belonged on the floor! He gets most improved for sure. He graduated from an STD to a bad case of the flu. JK... he looked a lot better today though. Maybe he was just freaked out the first few games.

Balian