One last look at the whole Hedo thing in the rearview mirror
Hindsight is the clearest of all visions. The Trail Blazers may have learned some big lessons here. At least I hope they did. But even if Hedo Turkoglu completely double-crossed them, the Blazers made some real mistakes. A few random observations:
– First, you never, NEVER bring a guy to town in a free-agent situation unless he’s going to sign. It’s just not done, at least in a public way like this one. And if you’re not sure he’s going to sign and you need to bring him in, you don’t turn it into a media event. There was no excuse for that to turn into a media opportunity. Fly him in on the team plane and keep him out of sight. It’s most often done that way. I keep thinking of poor trainer Jay Jensen, standing there sheepishly in the airport having to hold up that sign welcoming Hedo in two languages. Ugh. This was so unnecessary. My goodness — this isn’t some goofy college deal where you bring the kid into the gym and show him his jersey hanging in the rafters and make a big fuss. I’m not even sure you send all the brass to meet him at the airport. You recruit NBA free agents with your checkbook, not a guide to your city’s best restaurants and nightspots. That stuff comes after he signs. It’s a business.
– I wrote a few days ago what everyone knew all along with this guy: It’s ALL about the money. People now are saying, “Hey — the money in Toronto wasn’t that much more. It was a combination of things.” Well, you can think that if you want, but it probably WAS all about the money. Even if it was only half a million. I wrote again about this yesterday — that it bothered me that this guy comes off as a total mercenary and that he appeared not to have any loyalty toward a team that just went to the Finals. So do you now understand why he didn’t seem to have any problem walking out on the Blazers yesterday? He had just walked out on a whole locker room full of guys he went to war with in the playoffs.
– When I say these things about Turkoglu, I’m not meaning to rip him. It’s his right to be this way. A lot of money is at stake and he’s doing what’s best for himself. In pro sports, you don’t often have a chance to pick your team and name your price. Ask Rudy Fernandez. But if you are doing business with a guy in that situation you have to understand the ground rules.
– By the way Portlanders, Toronto IS a heck of a city. It’s New York without the stink. That a guy would rather live there than here is no surprise and you shouldn’t be offended. Think SkyDome vs. PGE Park. That’s the difference between Toronto and Portland. “Keep Portland weird” is probably never going to be a viable recruiting slogan when it comes to NBA free agents.
– Is there a Plan B? Well, I’m sure they’ll say there is.
– It still all goes back to the Darius Miles affair. Giving him the big contract was a huge mistake. Without that deal, there was plenty of room to sign Turkoglu and anyone else out there. And don’t talk to me about Memphis and that whole mess of trying to get out of paying Miles the money. That just made things worse. He should have NEVER been given that deal in the first place.
– Hedo saved the Blazers from themselves. The last two years of this contract would have been brutal for Portland. I’m still not convinced this thing was going to work on the court. Turkoglu and Roy together, each initiating offense? More likely, Turkoglu would have just deferred to him, found a spot on the wing to stand and just thrown up a ton of threes. And missed a lot of them.
– A guy this concerned about the money, once he gets that last, big, final, lucrative deal — does he continue to work hard? Maybe. Probably. But maybe not.
NBA, Trail Blazers, small-town Portland | Dwight Jaynes | July 4, 2009
Dwight Jaynes, Hedo Turkoglu, Portland, Portland Trail Blazers, Toronto
Fir tree,not fur tree although in a cold winter it could happen.
Dwight, if it were my decision I’d gladly have you replace KP. Without question, it would be an upgrade.
I’ll keep drinking my koolaid dude, it’s so cool if you’re just here to piss people off. That’s so awesome.
You talk about loyalty.
That goes two ways.
Lewis earned $16.4 mil
Howard earned $13.7 mil
Hedo earned $6.8 mil
All three performed equally in the team success. Which means they should be payed equally.
So for Hedo to ask for $10 mil. is very reasonable.
Look at the difference in salaries.
Management said no. Where is there loyalty.
What about Lewis or Howard. They know the huge
difference in salaries. In fact it’s an unfair difference
based on court performance.
So if these two guys were loyal to Hedo why didn’t they
offer $1 or $2 mil from there salary to make the deal.
Loyalty is a two way street.
So lets cut the crap.
Dwight- Money does always have a HUGE factor in these issues, but from what I have heard from a very reliable source it was his wife that didn’t want to move here, and the Blazers could beg and pay him 600 Billion, but if a guys wife doesn’t want to live here, he won’t be playing here. He’ll regret it within 1 – 2 seasons when he isn’t playing in the playoffs.
Look for Shawn Marion to sign with Portland (or possibly be sent here in a trade early in the week) and for the Blazers to pickup a new starting point guard…not saying who, but it will change the Blazers for the better big time!
I think the Trailblazers made the Hedo visit public to capitalize on the blazer hysteria that might be represented while Hedo was being shown around town. If it was not public, then people would be unaware, and thus be invisible to Hedo. Just a guess?
One thing that is lost here is, Shawn Marion will be released from Toronto. Any chance of picking him up?
Toronto is certainly bigger than Portland, yes. Colder and much less personal also. Turkeyglue was a loser from day 1, I’m thrilled the Blazers didn’t get him.
why pick hedo? he’s 30 is he going to get better? no. jaynes is right if he played here he’d end up being the shooter in the corner and we already have that in Rudy. Play Rudy coach. use him right. he’s the best playmaker on the team has the best court sense and can shoot the 3 better than any rookie ever. why the hell sign turk? They need a decent point that doesnt blank at the end of games and doesn’t get burnt every time to the hole. they also need toughness at the 4 spot. Getting turk was a move sideways.