One thing a lot of people are overlooking in the Hedo Turkoglu chase
Once in a while, when you are an emerging power, as the Trail Blazers and their fans believe they are, you get an opportunity to sign a free agent because that guy is tired of losing and wants to go someplace where he can win a ring. Someplace where he can be a part of building something special.
But this Hedo Turkoglu situation is different. This is a player who was a critical piece on a team that won the Eastern Conference championship. He was wanted back. He would have been paid well to come back. He was valued by his coaches and employed perfectly within the team’s system to maximize his own talents. He was appreciated by fans and teammates alike and, in fact, had just gone through a long, long playoff march with those teammates. That team still has a lot of upside — and, in fact, he was part of building something special in Orlando.
But he has chosen to leave. For what? Really, I don’t think you can say it’s anything but money — and not even a lot of that compared to what he’d have made in Orlando. It seems just a tad mercenary to me. Which is fine, I guess — it’s what made this country great. And there could be more about this that we don’t know. Maybe the guy just didn’t like playing for Stan Van Gundy.
But I’m surprised that there hasn’t been some concern about his loyalty. His motivation. He’s always been known as a good guy to have on a team but why would a player so quickly seem to want out of a situation like that one? Is this a team-first guy? What, exactly, are his values?
Really, it all makes you wonder just what makes him tick.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | July 3, 2009
Dwight Jaynes, Orlando Magic, Portland Trail Blazers, Stan Van Gundy
Perhaps this is my Blazer bias coming out (amazing considering they have even signed the guy yet) but the key to Hedo leaving the Magic was one contract. 6 years, $118 million for Rashard Lewis. Rashard Lewis is a good player, maybe even a very good player but that is superstar money. Just compare the skill sets for Lewis and the Turk.
Lewis is a poor dribbler and rebounder, the essence of a number two or three option, whereas the Turk creates for himself and others.
So consider that you are Hedo and after Nelson goes out its you that steps up your game to fill the gap and bring this team to the NBA Finals. And the Magic offer you 4 years $36 million or about half of what Lewis received. I honestly believe people underrate what contracts mean in the NBA. Its all about respect.
Not only just Lewis’ contract either. After trading for Vince Carter with his 3 years and $51 million contract, the Magic hedged their bet with the Turk. The Magic needed insurance in case the Turk left, but again they were willing to pay a player who hadn’t played in the system almost twice what they offered the Turk.
Maybe after five years he’s just tired of living in Orlando.
Great question Dwight, I hope someone asks it.
Hmmm, why did Brian Grant leave Portland, when he left?
I understand why you are asking the question Dwight…but you know as well as I do that their are many reasons that players leave cities. Some are professional, some are very personal.
The issue that I am interested in is why Nate is so high on him. Pritchard and Nate both seem to really want this guy…why? What is Nate going to do with Turk and how will Nate adjust the offense to fit Turks abilities?
If Turk is signed, then what is next when it comes to the PG position? Will Roy become our starting PG as Jason Quick has alluded to for two years?
Will we see a Roy, Rudy, Turk, LA and Oden starting 5? With a Blake, Webster, Batum, Outlaw and Pryzz second unit? Can all these pieces fit?
I don’t think his loyalty should be questioned at all. He spent the last 5 years in Orlando, and was arguably their Finals MVP, was he not? What loyalty did they show him? They traded for Vince Carter and eliminated any money they had to offer him, while also diminishing his role. I’ve said before that I’m just luke warm on the guy, and I don’t think that he alone is what puts us over the top; but his situation with Orlando has little to do with loyalty from his end.
One more thing, maybe Turk will become the point forward…and handle the ball as much as Roy…
Give me a break Dwight. It is extremely rare for a player to leave many millions of dollars on the table to stay with the team they are with for less. Of course, it occasionally happens, and makes news for it, but what Hedo is doing is what almost every player does. They take the best deal, all things considered. If he can go to another up and coming contending team AND make considerably more money, he’ll do it and so would most everyone else.
Orlando didn’t show him much loyalty when they signed Carter. Plus, the dude had an opt out clause in his contract for a reason.
With that said, I’m hoping Hedo goes to Toronto.
I should say traded for …
Another thing that I haven’t heard mentioned is that Portland will not go after another PG if they sign Turkoglu. I think they looked at all of the options at PG and decided that Hedo is better at initiating offense than any of the PGs they could get. I think they would rather keep Blake than get another guy who is going to need the ball. With Hedo and Roy on the floor they don’t necessarily need a guy like Miller. Hinrich is just a slighty better version of Blake and Chicago probably doesn’t want to trade him now. Kidd will be too expensive and he’s 36. I believe KP and Nate are committed to Bayless as the future PG and if LA can win with Fisher we can win with Blake. I think KP will now go after the back up PF if Hedo does sign. They have to move somebody else, but I don’t think it will be a PG.
He’s only made about 28 Million so far. This contract alone will eclipse that. Just a guy looking out for his family and himself. If he was a CEO, no one would bat an eye.
When Hedo opted out, he stated he was doing so because he needed to take care of his family…my reaction to that was if you can’t do so with $7 million a year, thinking you needed $10 million a year to do so, then you have problems. His opting out was about money…not about having enough to take care of your family, or living a comfortable life for the rest of ones life…it’s about getting the most one can…even if you really don’t “need” it.
who the hell cares
Dwight, Jason Quick reported on 1080 the fan 2 days ago that Hedo apparently came right out and said his next contract was all about the money. He is looking to make as much as possible from his last big contract, and it would be the determining factor in where he ended up. Nice to see a player being honest about it, at least that’s what I think.
this loyalty stuff is overblown and it’s also a two way street. Teams trade players all the time. Sometimes it completely disrupts their lives. I don’t here teams being questioned about their principles and loyalty when they make a trade they think can improve the team. Why should a player be held to a higher standard then a team?
Orlando is a hell hole and the team doesn’t exactly scream out “dynasty” to me… plus there is no way his value will be higher a year from now (remember it’s the summer of LeBron, plus he’ll be a year older) so it would have been foolish of him NOT to seek the best deal now.
And sorry Dwight, I do think the wining and dining matters a little. Reports are coming in that his wife prefers Toronto because it is an international, cosmopolitan city. Well, if Blazers brass can show them around and help them realize that this is a nice city (and this town is a WAYYY nicer place to live than Sacramento, San Antonio, and Orlando, his other three NBA stops) and kind of European in some ways, that will help calm her nerves (plus we’re taxed less than Toronto anyway so that offsets a higher offer by the Raptors).
As you married men know… happy wife, happy life. Now show them the Benjamins and get on with it.
The players know good and well that this is a business and nothing more. It’s not like playing for ol’ Whatsamatta U. Players get traded, they get superseded, they even get questionable medical verdicts to clear cap space. This is it for Turk, his last big contract. I don’t blame him a bit for going for it. Who wouldn’t in his shoes. I know I would.
For him to consider the money would be very normal. I would not judge him on his contract and his wishes. He can hope and wish for a big contract with the Blazers. I think the Blazers already know what the limit will be with what they give him. It is hard to question his loyalty to the Blazers when he has not been a part of the organization. Personally, Van Gundy brothers have “short man” syndrome. They really believe they are the Gods of Basketball…..I want to turn the sound down on the TV when they come on. Maybe it is the pitch of the voice but just drives me crazy……..personally………Hedo was tired of the voice…..laughing
ESPN is reporting it looks like a done deal…. But it certainly isn’t the end of the roster tweaks; that logjam at the three just got ugly…
Had to do it though; to win a championship we gotta have someone to guard the freakishly big small fowards these days, and though Batum and Webster may have a lot of upside, no way their putting a dent in beasts like Lebron, Melo, or Artest, not to mention long shooters like Kevin Durant….
It has been debated ad-nauseaum, but you have to give it to KP; this was the man Nate wanted and one of, if not The, premiere free agent on the market…. And I’d venture to say with Turk we beat Houston in last years playoffs…..
I don’t mind the question being asked. It is funny how loyalty pops up when a player leaves for more money, but rarely does a team get maligned for a lack of loyalty when they refuse to overpay to keep a player. If Portland trades Outlaw (who has worked hard for them), are they considered disloyal, or any team that trades a player who has given years of service to their team.
Personally, I feel like Turk is 30 years old (I am 32 so I am of similar age), he knows this should be his best contract (since he is in his prime), and he is trying to find the best fit and the best contract he can get. He found a contending team that was willing to pay him well, maybe overpay for his services. He would be stupid not to do it. Basketball is an age-limited career, he has to take advantage of it.
Whether I like Turk or not, I don’t blame him, or question his loyalty.
Get off your high horse Jaynes…Turk is doing what every other pro athlete has done. I also disagree with her assertion that he chose to leave. Yes he opted out. That was because he was underpaid! Did you see the finals Dwight? He was the one guy the Lakers had no answer for…
On by the way did you see the cup game between the Timber and the Sounders? Over 16,000 plus. Soccer city usa is alive and well baby!
The same people who are bashing the Hedo Turkoglu signing are the same ones that wanted the Blazers to “Draft the Stache.”
Whatever happened to those intelligent people that paraded and marched at the Blazers practice facility, chanting “Draft the Stache, Draft the Stache!”
I don’t give a rip about “what makes him tick.” I wish I had a buck for every tough bucket I’ve seen him make in critical situations. The guy is an awesome shooter and will give Nates offense a few new facets.
Arvydas-Haha, I admit I wanted to draft the stache, and I was lukewarm about Hedo till about 3-4 days ago. I like the idea of taking pressure off of Roy by having another playmaker on the floor. It’s going to make us tougher to defend.
I agree with the first guy who said maybe Hedo was a bit stung by Rashard’s salary and by the lack of loyalty shown by the magic towards a guy who helped them to the finals.
i guess the only question now is who can be traded to relieve playing time pressure? IF you trade Outlaw for a pure 4, you still have 2 back up 3s, plus the need to get Rudy on the floor for 25 minutes, only 12 of which come in relief of Roy. If you trade for a 1, we don’t have enough bigs. Can we trade Outlaw and Webster for an 8 million dollar 4 who would accept back up minutes? If you do that, how do you tell Aldredge he should take even $1 less than a max deal? How about we offer Webster and Blake for Hinrich and Outlaw for a like priced 4 man (turiaf)? Perhaps a sign and trade for Brandon Bass, who is not going to get a full exception from anyone. How do you feel about Kurt Thomas? Outlaw and the trade exceptions for him might get close to adding up. We need to create enough minutes for those who survive to be happy. If we give up too much talent in a deal, the flip side is the guys left here can play more.
Not Happening, Hedo leaving town per the Oregionian
hedo rejects blazers HAHAHAHAHAHA
Okay, now time for all of the “I love Hedo” crowd to suddenly change course and try to convince the “we told you so” crowd that KP still walks on water and that you didn’t mean it when you originally jumped on the Hedo bandwagon.
Hedo is a joke and this entire fiasco has clearly demonstrated how screwed up our management team really is. As I tried to tell some of you, KP got lucky in 2006, gang, and it’s been downhill ever since.
downhill ever since? Yea, lol, we are the lowlifes of the NBA alright. Go back in time 3-4 years and look around. I think we are in a bit better shape now. Hedo went for the money/liked Toronto more. Has nothing to do with Mgmt. Some people have some sort of axe to grind with the blazers and get on a pedastal to shout “I told you SO” when things don’t go as planned. As far as getting lucky in the ’06 draft, well yea. Luck is always a factor. You think the Lakers didn’t have some luck in their current run?
Dwight after you posted that note, I thought about it and figured it must be over. Turk was using us. I thought he may just go back to Magic, and maybe he will. but he was not planning to be Blazer,
You do stay ahead of the curve.
“that’s what makes this country great”? Trading collective achievement–excellence, really–for personal greed? It tells a lot about this country, surely, but it certainly isn’t what makes this country great. The opposite, actually.