8 Million Reasons to join a Loser - Conflicting TURK REPORTS

• 11.6\YEAR-TORONTO
• 10\YEAR-PORTLAND
• BOTH Five Year Offers

Hey, far be it from me to tell anyone they are unwise to turn down MORE MONEY for a chance to be part of a WINNER, but it seems to me that the perks of winning could have enough benefits to at least BALANCE the Ledger; NOT TO MENTION cost-of-living, "Quality of life", ect...all relative things, I suppose...RJ's point about Turk's desire for Tornoto's Int'l flavor speaks to that.  Good LUCK, Hedo.  Coulda been a fun ride...and WILL be with or without ya.

Reports:  Turkoglu agrees to terms with Blazers

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | July 3, 2009

 

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) -Hedo Turkoglu reportedly agreed to join the Portland Trail Blazers after helping Orlando reach the NBA finals.  ESPN.com first reported the signing Friday, citing unidentified sources. Turkoglu's agent, Lon Babby, didn't immediately return calls or e-mails. Portland cannot comment on the agreement until Wednesday, when teams may sign free agents. 

Reports: Turkoglu headed to Toronto Raptors

By ASSOCIATED PRESS | July 4, 2009

TORONTO (AP) -Free agent Hedo Turkoglu will join the Toronto Raptors after spurning the Portland Trail Blazers, according to multiple reports.

The 6-foot-10 forward helped Orlando to the NBA finals last season. On Friday, a person close to the Blazers confirmed that Turkoglu ended contract talks with them. The person spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the negotiations.

Hedo Turkoglu (and his agent) have apparently decided to take a few more dollars to join a recently purged Toronto Raptors Squad...despite Portland Trailblazers opening up their checkbook and rounding up every available dollar under the CAP to lure him to the NW.

• Portland's offer:  5Y | 50 ML Range
• Toronto offer:  5Y | 58 ML Range

Toronto is clearly a "Basement Dweller" for a long time - with or without Hedo. 

 

HENCE:  Being part of a potential NBA winner wasn't a primary or even marginal motivator for Hedo - and\or he's giving his AGENT, Lon Babby, clear control of the process - w\o much oversight, according to inside reports from close to Friday's Meeting between Blazer officials and Babby; w\Hedo versed and instructed to remain all but silent.  Most insiders dismiss INITIAL Opt-out move as entirely expected - but Portland is flatly STUNG by this failure, and hard-pressed to find a sliver-lining, even with a distant Plan B | C and\or D.   From the outset when Hedo exercised his Orlando Opt-Out, and after Detroit's Plan emerged away from Hedo, Turkoglu to Portland deal looked like a Slam Dunk; Blazers' Owner Paul Allen, Blazers' GM Kevin Prichard, all the way down the line to Blazers' HC Nate McMillan were quietly thrilled when every potential obstacle to PLAN A had fallen into place precisely...I was dead wrong again - as was Blazers' Beat Writer, Jason Quick (Oregonian). 

Portland came FIRST; Portland came HARD & HEAVY at Turkoglu w/EVERYTHING THEY HAD: 

1. Highest possible $/length under Cap 
2. Specific Plan to uniquely utililize Turkoglu's Skill Sets. 

In addition, Portland has done everything to prove that they are Methodically Orchestrating the Construction of a Solid, Championship-Caliber Team, that's just a key piece away from mounting a consistent, altogether SERIOUS and lengthy 3 to 5 Year, Title-Contending Run. 

 

It still apparently didn't work.

2  Roy 6-6

3  Turk** 6-10 (woulda coulda)

4  Aldridge 6-11

5  Pryzbilla 7-1 (and\or Oden 7')

• Starting position:  OPEN
• Sheed would FEAST on Opposite Block from Duncan
• Pop's FREE & LOOSE 3-attack: Taylor-made for Sheed's court weave-float, drop-back, spot up 3's
• MoTurkogluMemphisney:  Mid-Level Exception, worth MUCH MORE in No-State-Tax Tex, than 'Taxachusetts'

Don't worry about it too much Steve - your team is on the rise, with perhaps the most underrated superstar in the league (roy).  I really like watching the Blazers play, though I agree, Steve Blake is not the permanent solution at PG

You're right about the money, he could have stayed here and had a good chance of playing for another title, but he opted out of his final year as soon as the Finals ended.   That was why the Magic got Carter.  Hard for me to fathom why he'd want to go to Toronto instead of Portland, unless he's trying to get more from the T'Blazers.

ESPN says the main reason is the international flavor Toronto offers.

Thanks, RJ....just returned to see this - and we'll RETURN the Return right now

BREAKING NEWS: 

WKRN Nashville

Reporting Steve McNair has been found shot dead....very very sad

I'm convesing with a NBA 'Insider' right now - call in a sec

 The Toronto offer has to be for 5 years right? Unless there is some kind of sign and trade?

I guess Turk really doesn't care about winning

 Rasheed has a good shot at landing here

Call me crazy, but I've been seeing an AWFUL LOT of Rockets articles that are basically praising Trevor Ariza as the next superstar.  They are aware he can't even create his own shot, right?  I mean, the kid played decent defense in the playoffs, and hit open shots, but that's just the thing - he was WIDE open.  Without Yao to get him free, is this guy really worth 6 mil/season?

I must also admit, as an LA guy at heart, I'm supremely intrigued by how this Ron Artest experiment will work out.  I'm excited to see him MEGASMASH SGs and SFs not named Kobe for a while...

Chad - is that quote in your bio from Family Guy?