SB Nation User Blog: berrygraham

MILLER, SALMONS TO BULLS

berrygraham — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 21:48:37 -0000

MILLER, SALMONS TO BULLS

no salmons for the blazers...but michael ruffin to the blazers???greatest pick up ever!!!!

OT: Brand Situmeration

berrygraham — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 12:58:01 -0000

So as a recent college graduate with no job, I have a lot of free time on my hands. And I love the NBA. But I am not so sure I love Elton Brand. I listened to Brand's comments on ESPN and to Coach D's (i can't spell Dunleavy) comments too. It might be me, but I really think that Brand screwed the Clips and his buddy Boom Dizzle. A recap of what i know (sans verification...if i'm wrong, please please please correct me):

B. Dizz wants an extention from GS beyond this year. Doesn't get it. Attempts to force Mullin's hand by opting out. Also opts out with an eye toward LA as it's BD's hometown and he's also making movies. BD probably talks with Brand about movies (Brand has his own production company, BD just released a documentary about gangs) and b-ball. Brand doesn't like losing, doesn't like playing for Mr. Sterling except when they win. Brand suggests to BD to sign with LA for an '05-'06 renaissance. Brand says he'll opt out b/c he wants the clips to sign BD and so he can get a contract extention beyond this season. Brand says he'll take less money so the clips can be competitive (ps you can make WAY more money in movies with WAY less effort than you can in basketball). BD agrees to a contract with the clips, $65m/5yr. Brand says he'll return to the clips for less money, specifically $75m/5yr (according to reports and pissed-off dunleavy). Now, there is some previous tension between Sterling and Falk (Brand's agent) about the offer sheet situation when brand signed with Miami and the clips matched. Falk didn't want Brand to sign with the Clips for obvious reasons (read: Sterling's cheaper than my Nike-made converse which now have holes in the soles after a mere 3 months). Fast forward to this summer, clips make their offer, and somewhere along the line, because of Sterling's hatred for Falk or negotiation difficulties, the clips try to deal directly with brand. Falk apparently asked for a max extention (something like $120m/6yrs) this summer, and if he didn't get it, he'd ask for $150m/7yrs next summer. Sterling says wait a minute, Brand just had a major injury (ruptured achilles', only played 8 games last year), is 29, and one of either of those contracts would kill the clippers cap space until 2020. Sterling, Baylor, or someone of the like goes behind Falk's back to try to negotiate with Brand himself. Major no-no in the sports agent world, as you are threatening their ~3% commision on a multi-million dollar contract. Brand tells Falk, Falk goes nuclear (or nucular if your GW). Falk, whose status in the league as a power player has declined recently, pulls a power move, saying 'wanna go behind my back, do ya? take this' and starts talking to GS and Philly about Brand. GS offers $95m/5yr. GS looks like it's taking a step back this year, brand says no thanks. Philly comes along, offers $80m/5yr, has a good young core (T. Young, Iggy, Lou Will, Sam Dam) and some vets (A. Miller), plays in the weaker east. Brand/Falk, pissed at the clips for previous/current slights, says yes to the 76ers.Final score: BD 1, Brand 1, Philly and fans 1, Clip's fans -5,459,384

This brings us up to speed, i think, on the situation. Man does it suck to be a clips fan these days. My deepest sympathies go out to Frankie Munoz. I also think BDizz got screwed somewhat. He could have played out this year, had another good year with GS, and got a bigger contract next year when more teams have cap space. Yes, he did get his contract extention, and if he doesn't get along with Mike D, he might develop some phantom injury (See: Scott, Byron and how BD played under him). And Brand did get his contract extension. Brand says the clips low-balled him, and even worse, made it a take-it-or-leave-it offer. Dunleavy says that he has, among other things, the contract edited by Falk and text messages from Brand saying that all he asked for was $75m/5yrs. Dunleavy also says that other players have TM's from Brand saying something like "you me and BD!" Which side do you agree with? Honestly, I just feel for the clips' fan as they're getting screwed again. But, if what the Dun-meister says is true, Brand is, well, a douche. Admittedly, the clips would have been playing the same 5 guys all year (BD, Brand, Kaman, Gordon, Thornton) with no bench, and wouldn't have been a lock to make the playoffs, but i'm not so sure about Philly though. Maybe it's just me, but it seems as though they were overachieving a bit this year. Also, i know the west is stacked, but Dallas is in decline, Phoenix has the Methusalian tandem of Nash-O'Neal, Denver is another two glasses of red wine away from Anthony getting another DUI, and Houston needed a record-breaking win streak to get in the playoffs while the over/under on Yao's apperances this year is 41. That's half of the west's playoff teams. Yes, portland is on the rise and should be in the playoffs next year, but GS most def. is out of the playoff picture now, as are all the other lottery teams from the west (who? Sacto? Really? Sactown? Artest and Martin? Really?). Yes, this is unfounded hyperbole from an unemployed guy with a BA in Ancient Greek, but it's not unreasonable (maybe it is). If you made it this far, just remember: khalipa ta kala (noble things are difficult). Thanks for reading. Comment away...go blazers. batum will be amazing.

Bring back D-Miles?

berrygraham — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 05:26:39 -0000

Maybe the best addition for our team is already a part of the team (besides GO)

Now might be a good time to try to start bringing D-Miles back when we get back to portland after this tortuous road trip. we're tired and i think he's been chomping at the bit to play. he'd give the blazers another scorer who can create his own shot. Playing him along side Outlaw on the white team would give the blazers two quality slashers who can shoot. His presence would provide a different look than the blazers have with James Jones. Don't get me wrong; Jones has had a tremendous influence on this team, but he's not the athlete that Miles can be once he has fully recovered. Miles would also be able to take some of the scoring load for the second unit from Outlaw's shoulders, and probably some from Roy and Aldridge too. I'm under the impression that he's been more involved in the community over the past year. I don't think he's going to take a buyout unless it's at the full value of his contract, which would make no sense for the blazers to do for salary cap reasons. I think the new look blazers will do wonders for D-Miles maturity on the court Plus, he wouldn't have the pressure of being a franchise-saver that he has had previously, hopefully making him more comfortable to play freely. Any thoughts?

Oden vs. Durant

berrygraham — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 01:20:26 -0000

Who do we pick? I think it's an obvious choice...

I think that this debate regarding whom the blazers should select is ridiculous. The choice is obvious: Greg Oden. Not only is the guy a man-child, but he has a great character. I mean, watching the brief interview with him during the McDonald's All-Star game was so telling. He speaks honestly of school coming naturally while basketball was difficult. He reminds me so much of Tim Duncan, with a similar quiet but intense demeanor. Oden will improve our defense so much more than Durant it's not even funny. Having a mobile big man who can patrol the lane, step out on guys like Nowitzki and Okur while still being able to move with them, and keep little guys like Nash and Parker out of the lane, all of these will improve our defense. How many times during the Suns/Spurs series did Nash drive to the hoop, only to circle out again because of the forest of big guys. With Duncan and Robinson formerly and Oberto/Elson now, it's like the Spurs start two centers, even though duncan's listed as a PF. With LMA and Oden, we'd have our Redwoods in the lane. Additionally, guys like Oden come along, oh, never! He has the potential to be one of the 10 best centers of all time, and bring rip city back from the nursing home. I'm sure Durant will be a great great wing, but how many more wings are there than great centers. I don't really want to be searching for more Ha's or Jake Voskhul's in the second round (i know, not possessives, but oh well). Another thing that scares me about durant is his body type. I know he's only 18, but he has such a slim frame. He reminds me of having a body too much like Rip Hamilton, one to which he won't be able to add enough muscle so as to take the punishment that he will with his inside game.

I hope my point is clear enough. I would also like to see the blazers pick up Jeff Green if possible. I think he'd be the sort of glue guy we need going forward. I mean, i sort of equate green with my favorite blazer of all time, Buck Williams, a guy who'd be willing to do the little things we need (rebound, play solid d, move the ball) and score without needing the ball in his hands every time down the floor. Even if we don't get him, I think that we should make a big push to get Rashard in a sign and trade with the Sonics. He'd provide us with a guy who really can score at will, could improve our rebounding and 3 point shooting, and isn't known as the same sort of cancer as Z-Bo has been.

Addressing the conley rumours, I seriously would like to see the blazers make a push to pick him up. I like JJ, but he disappeared at times last year, and, contrary to what some of you think, he DOES NOT score at will. If he's confident, he can work for his shot off the dribble or move to get open. But when he's not confident, It's ugly. I like sergio, but I think he's at least a year away. Oden and Conley have such chemistry, and i think they'd provide a great center for the team. I think also it would change the dynamics of the team used to being dominated by Z-Bo.

This is way more than I thought i'd write, but i've been totally engrossed with how to make the blazers better since the end of the season. KP, if you read this and you have some internship positions availible, please let me know. I'm young, love the blazers, bright (latin/greek double major), and a hard worker. Just kidding.

Go Blazers. Bring back the Shonz.