The last thing the Portland Trail Blazers want to think about right now is the story that dominated national headlines this past weekend.
If only it were that simple.
While the whole "memo" and Darius Miles re-signing with the Memphis Grizzlies saga will one day blow over, the fall out lingers. In fact, there are some within the Blazers organization who believe relationships have already been lost over the matter. And in a business predicated on "relationships", how will this bode for Portland's immediate dealings around the league, particularly with the NBA trade deadline just over a month away.
Are teams around the league now more hesitant to negotiate with Portland based on their forceful e-mail stance regarding Miles?
According to one NBA league executive who spoke to HOOPSWORLD on the condition of anonymity, there remains "no long term repercussion", despite some front offices harboring negative feelings towards Portland.
"I don't think it matters too much," the league executive said when asked if teams would refrain from negotiating with the Blazers with the trade deadline looming.
"When you are an executive of another team, you are looking at Portland's roster and you are trying to figure out how you can get better. And I think on the margins there are going to be situations where people are going to be less proactive in dealing with Portland because of that, but on the whole, people are interested in their own deals they can put together.
"If they can find a way to make it beneficial they are going to do that."
One obvious front office - the Memphis Grizzlies - won't be calling or taking calls from Portland any time soon, that's for sure. Months before Miles even entered into Memphis' picture, multiple reports surfaced saying Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley could be on his way to Portland. Such speculation has been long deceased, as is whatever relationships that were once forged between the two front offices.
That's the nature of the beast.
The trouble is, Blazers General Manager Kevin Pritchard now has to enter into negotiations with other executives, likely knowing he may have to answer questions regarding the "memo" and a mandate essentially handed-down from owner Paul Allen and constituents at Vulcan Inc., Allen's investment and project management company.
"I think as a person Kevin (Pritchard) is liked by a lot of people. He's an extravert," the executive continued.
"I think he knows he has a lot of good relationships."
In past seasons under Pritchard, Portland has used the draft and offseason to construct their young and talented roster. Aside from last year's trade deadline deal with Denver that sent rookie point guard Taurean Green to the Nuggets for guard Von Wafer, the Blazers typically aren't movers-and-shakers during the regular season.
Now with a given distraction in making a deal, could the same be true of this season as well?
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posted By Aaron, 12 January 2009 9:07:31 AM
There is no way portland could prove another team is picking up a player to hurt there salary cap. They are really stupid. Portland face it like a man and pay mr. miles. I'm kind of happy any way they team was getting stacked. Ok maybe im jealous!
posted By Ty, 12 January 2009 9:09:14 AM
If a GM now hated the blazers but wouldnt pull off a trade that made my team better because they dont want people signing Miles...then he should be fired. If any other team was in Portlands situation they wouldnt want anybody signing him either. They might not threat to sue or anything like that but they would be thinking the same thing
posted By Steve Kyler, 12 January 2009 9:58:36 AM
Couple of points... Miles is getting paid, his money was never a question... the question is how the NBA accounts for it, his dollars swing the Blazers for under the tax and getting $3 million from the other tax payers, to owing tax and paying out $7 million plus... As for proving it, if a team signs him, plays him 2 games and cuts him, then Portland may have a case... if a team signs him, plays him all the games they can play him, then they have no case... Also from what I have heard KP had very little to do with this, he was in the room, but this came from bean counters, not basketball opts people, and the few executives I spoke to about it see it for what it is.
posted By Ty, 12 January 2009 10:04:12 AM
Hey Steve,
How did Miles injure himself in the first place anyway? I have never heard anyone say exactly what happened. I have just heard that an NBA doctor said he would be unable to play anymore..
posted By bilmor, 12 January 2009 12:28:55 PM
It's all moot. Pritchard isn't trading anybody that's not named Lafrenz or Frye.
posted By derek, 12 January 2009 12:44:29 PM
Except maybe a POR-MEM trade scenario, I don't think GMs would let a rude message get in the way of them improving their own teams if the opportunity presented itself.
posted By smith, 12 January 2009 1:39:25 PM
the reality is that Lafrentz contract is going to be just too sweet to pass up for somebody. you throw in a couple young talents like Sergio, Frye, Diogu, and/or Outlaw (God forbid); and that's a really nice package for some team looking to build for the future. The problem is, other teams want Outlaw, and if Portland deals him, we'll be stuck lacking at the back-up 4 (even though he's listed as a 3).
posted By Ted, 12 January 2009 6:55:55 PM
How memphis will impact the Blazers financial situation by playing Miles for 2 more games...
1. As mentioned Portland will pay 7 million in luxury tax (instead of being a recipient) which directly gives Memphis and addition $200,000-300,000 of Paul Allen's money.
2. Portland along with Memphis will one of the few teams under the cap after this season able to sign FA. Portlnad will have $9million less to spend (but should still retain enough capspace to sign one max-player contract). Portland loses the flexiblity to sign a second max-player, if they so chose.
Those are big costs to an organization which result due to poorly established rules on medical retirements. Portland (outside of their threatening email) can only be a passive spectator on all events regarding this situation and has around $10million to directly lose.
posted By Threat power, 12 January 2009 7:18:33 PM
It misses the point to muse on how Portland's lawyers might prove a violation of the joint venture. The point of the email was to squelch repeated rumors and outright statements that teams were "lining up" to stick it to the Blazers. If that's the case, a warning was definitely warranted.
The point being made was, "If you sign him, you'd better be doing it with honest intentions--are you willing to expose your internal documents to legal discovery if it looks fishy?" I think for those unnamed teams thinking of perhaps trying to snatch and then dump Miles to mess with Portland--the email gave them pause. Which was the intent--to warn teams that they'd better be genuinely interested in Miles by their actions. I gar-on-tee that Memphis won't drop him after two games, now.
posted By Jason Fleming, 13 January 2009 9:16:00 AM
Ted - to play devil's advocate here, consider this. If the medical retirement rules were changed, Miles probably would have never been deemed retired and come off the cap in the first place. Then, Portland never would have been in this position, because Miles may have been waived anyway and the $9 mil would have stayed on the cap this whole time. There is nothing in the way the rules could have been changed to allow Portland to have the cap space they can enjoy the prospect of having for the next two Griz games.
posted By memphiscansuckit, 14 January 2009 4:01:40 PM
this whole thing is ridiculous
miles can't play
was seen by three doctors including an independant one chosen by the league.
just cause he can hobble up and down the court doesn't mean anything. memphis blows and aren't any better by having miles play for them. the second 10 day contract proves it right there that they aren't interested in him... i promise you he'll not be in memphis after this 10day contract is up... after they screw portland that is
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