Subscribe Feed (RSS)If you saw this story today, you should know what I’m talking about. It contains all you need to know about how agents for players should be handling dealings with the media while conducting negotiations. Here’s how Roy’s agent is handling things:
Bob Myers, who represents Roy, said on Tuesday that the negotiations have taken a decided turn for the better this week.
“We’ve had very productive discussions recently and are optimistic we will reach a deal soon,” Myers said.
Myers is the same guy who caused all the ruckus a while back by going public with the whole idea that the two sides were having a problem with the fifth year of Roy’s max deal. It has been characterized as a “snag” in the negotiations.
What a bunch of bunk. You see, there is a reason they call it a negotiation. Each side takes a position and then tries to get its way, usually resulting in some sort of compromise. That’s how it work and it usually takes some time. But when one side runs to the media and pleads its case, it upsets the balance of things, causes undue alarm or violates the usual code of negotiating in good faith. At least that’s the way negotiations, traditionally, are supposed to take place.
I believe Myers violated that code and someday down the road in dealing with the Portland Trail Blazers, he’ll be repaid for it. The deal was going to get done. But he was stupid and caused a whole set of problems for Portland management it shouldn’t have had to deal with at that time.
And I’m sure the Blazer brass didn’t like it one bit. I wouldn’t. I mean, there’s a time to go to the media — if there’s a general impasse or the other side has gotten up from the table in a sort of take-it-or-leave-it posture. Then you have no recourse.
But come on, this is a negotiation over a five-year deal that doesn’t even kick in until after next season. The negotiating window is still wide open. And really, doesn’t everyone think this is eventually going to be resolved amicably?
How should the agent have handled it? Well, as I said, it’s all right there in that same story. LaMarcus Aldridge is also looking for a contract extension:
Aldridge is also hopeful of securing a long-term deal, but it is unclear where his negotiations stand. Arn Tellem, Aldridge’s agent, has not returned multiple phone messages over the summer.
Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard did not comment on negotiations.
Arn Tellem has been around. He knows the proper way for agents to conduct business. Sure, if things get dire and he doesn’t think there’s any wiggle room left for his client, he’ll run to the media, too. But not until it’s his last move. Same, probably, for Kevin Pritchard. If Tellem is being unreasonable in his demands at some point, you could see the Blazers leak a story where they try to gain fan sympathy for a position they deem unfair.
Again, these are negotiations. That means ups and downs. Besides, daily updates during a complicated negotiation are kind of like getting on the bathroom scale daily while you’re dieting. It’s good to do it every week or so, or better yet, every month. But you get on there every day and at some point, you’re going to find disappointment. You’ll stay the same or add a pound, which is normal, and it isn’t a true reflection of the direction the whole thing is headed.
As a writer who used to love it when agents fed me details, I must admit they only did it to serve their own purpose. And the good ones almost always keep their piehole shut.
Tags: Arn Tellem, Bob Myers, Brandon Roy, Dwight Jaynes, negotiations, Portland Trail Blazers
Dwight- you really couldn’t have said it any better. I agree with all of that.
BUT… at the same time, I see where Myers is coming from. I can sort of see Myers thinking to himself “wait a minute- you think this is a NEGOTIATION? You think that Brandon is going to get anything less than exactly what he wants? What a joke!”
When you represent the best player in team history, it sort of makes it laughable that the team is going to try to make things a little tough for you and your client. I don’t blame him for basically saying “look, you get this done right- and fast- or we will shut this talk down and play the field next summer”.
At the same time, you can do and say all of those things without EVER involving the press- which is precisely your point.
Best player in team history? Whoa. Not yet. Not even close. And he’s looking to get many times over what the best players in team history were ever paid. Let’s keep it real here, folks.
I’m saying that I could see his agent arguing the point that Roy is on track, after 3 years, to become the best player in our history. That’s not even hard to argue, really.
It’s far from being a fact after only his first 3 years, but it’s not hard to see the path he’s on will likely lead him to arguably our best player ever.
So, if you’re his agent and you think he’s clearly demonstrated that path- statistically and otherwise- you have to act accordingly.
“Best player in team history” is not my thinking, but definitely the stance his agent should take. You don’t get paid in this league at the END of your career, after all. You get paid based on demonstrated success and potential.
And honestly I can’t believe you are comparing the salary of a current player to those of eras long past. Talk about having trouble “keeping it real”. C’mon, Dwight.
Comparing Roy’s salary to that of Drexler or Walton is seriously lame.
re: “not best player ever, not even close”
Actually, there’s commentary on Blazers Edge that argues pretty favorably that not only is he close, but he may already be.
The two other players are Walton and Drexler.
Walton… okay, you got me. forget about it. Although, most people seem to favor Drexler as the best, so I’ll argue on that.
Drexler: Roy and Drexler match up pretty closely on PER on their BEST years. That’s now. Looking at the first three years of each Roy comes close or even ahead in areas. Now, adjust for pace. The blazers NOW being the slowest during a time period when teams are slow and the Drexler blazers being the fifth fastest in a time period of speed demons in terms of pace.
granted Roy can use a few more years before we shower him with more love (and a ring please), but to say not even close… I think you need to dig out some numbers.
Also, apart from numbers, Roy brings drive (drexler lacked… mr. late to practice), leadership (team follow people they respect and you don’t get as much respect if you don’t show up for practice), and athleticism that he hides until he needs it. He relies on intelligence in the game instead of his freak abilities. Also, he’s helped turn a loser into a winner.
I can accept that Roy>Drexler right now is crazy talk and you can call me crazy for pondering that. However, to say he isn’t even close… it doesn’t fly for me. Drexler could have = Jordan, but he didn’t have the drive/will/hunger. Roy does.
I shall stop rambling now.
Dwight Jaynes.
Keepin’ it real
I think Roy could potentially become the best player in team history–or at least surpass Drexler for best guard. (Comparing a wing player like Roy or Drex to a guy like Walton is fare more problematic). He ain’t there yet, obviously; but he’s got the skills–and Roy has already demonstrated a far better work ethic than the notoriously lazy Drexler. While Roy isn’t as athletic as Drex, he’s got a lot more hops than people give him credit for.
good post Dwight. This all seems dumb to me, Canzano just want to draw attention to himself and now ESPN has an article. This could be alright but if something goes astray it surely wont help any. Tell us when a deal is done. I wish Roy had more business savvy, he could just bypass the agent and split the agents cut with the Blazers, and pay his agent far less money to handle the everyday affairs and business endorsements, similar to Gilbert Arenas. Anyway spot on as always Dwight.
I think they jerked Roy around to send a message to Aldridge. They’d be insane not to give Brandon whatever he’s asking for.
Dwight, you are on a roll. This article subtly answers all those who earlier made such a big deal over the negotiations with Brandon. Fans were being used. Many fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
As far as Brandon’s game is concerned, he still has several things to work on in order to be the player that I believe he will become. First, he needs to work on his facilitative decision making. He has to defer to his teammates more so that they can develop, and in return help his efficiency increase. Second, he needs to focus on his off the ball skills. Moving to open spaces, being a willing spot up shooter, being a ball rotator without dribbling or slowing down the offence. Third, he needs to focus on his defense in the first quarter the same way he often does late in games. I believe he has a bad habit of coasting on defense early, and this has affected his teammates play and also has something to do with all of the slow starts that the Blazers had last year.
Brandon has the talent, the real questions I have about him are between the ears. I don’t think a lot of people realize this with all of the idol worship going on. I hope he will be willing to make the adjustments that need to be made rather than listening to all those who seem to think that he has arrived. He has plenty of room to grow from a team perspective as far as I am concerned. Max contract, OK, maxed out as a player, far from it.
I am surprised that people are so eager to give Brandon Roy max money SIX years from now. Guaranteeing $19 million in 2014-15 is a heady bet for a guy with a history of (admittedly, minor) knee problems. Worst case scenario is not that he leaves for free agency. Worst case scenario is overpaying, then he gets hurt and his contract cripples the organization for the next six years. Look at Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards.
Stop trying to think rationally… this is sports.
Also…
This is a top 6 player in the league after three years of being in it.
don’t forget that Roy came out and said he was going to make a public statement. Think his agent might have pushed him to say that?