Haven't you sported a Kobe avatar in the past?

 

Me?!?! Heck no!

 

I've sported Shaun Alexander, Seahawks logo, UK logo, Bill Maher, Jose Reyes, and the one I'm using now off the top of my head... But never have I even thought of using Kobe. :lol:

Did anyone else catch the piece on the 19 year old 7 footer from China? I believe his name is Yi, and he looks like he's quite athletic for a big guy. Apparently he played well vs team USA last year going for 13pts/7 rebounds.

Did anyone else catch the piece on the 19 year old 7 footer from China? I believe his name is Yi, and he looks like he's quite athletic for a big guy. Apparently he played well vs team USA last year going for 13pts/7 rebounds.

 

 

Yup, Yi Jianlin is his name... I've kept up with this kid for a few years... Top 5 pick IMO.

If the Hawks get the 3rd pick in the draft then it goes to the Suns!

If the Hawks get the 3rd pick in the draft then it goes to the Suns!

 

All I can say is that Bryan Colangelo is a savvy businessman.

^ Yeah and if the Suns do end up getting that pick lets hope they don't pull a "Pistons" and draft a dud with a top pick.

Re: Oden and his potential request to play with his boy, how is this any different than anything else in negotiations? How is it different than requesting a no-trade, requesting more upfront cash, 4 years instead of 5, etc?

 

As I've said 1,000 times on here: If you have the leverage, you use it. The other side is going to use any leverage they have, why not you?

Me?!?! Heck no!

 

I've sported Shaun Alexander, Seahawks logo, UK logo, Bill Maher, Jose Reyes, and the one I'm using now off the top of my head... But never have I even thought of using Kobe. :lol:

 

OK, couldn't recall for sure. I was gonna call you out big-time if you had. :thumb:

Re: Oden and his potential request to play with his boy, how is this any different than anything else in negotiations? How is it different than requesting a no-trade, requesting more upfront cash, 4 years instead of 5, etc?

 

As I've said 1,000 times on here: If you have the leverage, you use it. The other side is going to use any leverage they have, why not you?

 

But does he really have that much leverage with Durant as the alternative?

But does he really have that much leverage with Durant as the alternative?

 

Doesn't matter. He thinks he does. Even if its not at #1, he's definitely a #2 pick so he'll still have leverage.

The collective bargaining agreement in the NBA is a little different than the NFL... I'm trying to cite this from memory so I'll inevitably get something wrong, but from my recollection when they came out with the new CBA (when the age limit) came into play, they changed rookie contracts. I think it's 3 years guaranteed with a team option on year 4. The NBA, unlike the NBA, also has a set amount of money that the #1 pick gets, and so on down the line. It's not like the NFL in that you make an offer to the #1 pick and everyone else signs after... They know how much they're going to make when they get picked.

 

This is an older contract scale but it give the general idea. http://www.insidehoops.com/salaries-rookies.shtml

 

The NBA draft and the NFL draft are very different in how much leverage they give the player... I'm not even aware of a situation off the top of my head where a rookie player has held out over contract issues in the NBA.

 

All that aside, I think this is an extremely different situation. This isn't a player renegotiating his salary, it's a player trying to run the team. You have to give up something of significance in a draft like this to get to move up, and if anyone outside of Atlanta gets the #1 pick, that's what Oden is asking them to do.

If the Hawks get the 3rd pick in the draft then it goes to the Suns!

 

Phoenix also gets Cleveland's first round pick this year, giving them the potential to have 3 first round draft picks.

 

Talk about the rich getting richer.

Just to clarify, the Atlanta pick to Phoenix is top 3 protected.. So they would get it if it was 4th.

The Indiana pick that Atlanta has is top 10 protected... The Atlanta pick that the Phoenix has is top 3 protected... How bad would it suck to be an Atlanta fan and see the lottery pop up Indiana in the 10 spot (1 spot out of your reach) and then get the 4 pick instead of the 3? :lol:

 

I'd have to chuckle at this situation.

I hope the Celtics atleast get a top 2 pick. They would get an almost lock superstar. The Celtics have been mediocre long enough. Actually it would really help the NBA if the Knicks and Celtics became powerhouses again IMO.