Telemachus
Starter
So basically two superstars is gonna get you a ring at some point. That was my thought...I think.
So all the Kings need to do to win a Championship is to get 2 superstars? Sounds simple enough to me.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
Bad decision on his part, IMO. Portland could be a top 5 team for years to come with the addition of Hedo, while toronto isn't going anywhere anytime soon. Glad someone in here stayed on-topic.
kingsnation
All-Star
Wait, so Hedo ISN'T a Blazer?? Wow, we really jumped the gun! 
kingsnation
All-Star
So all the Kings need to do to win a Championship is to get 2 superstars? Sounds simple enough to me.
Well, outside of the 04 Pistons, it is practically a proven theory.
Wait, so Hedo ISN'T a Blazer?? Wow, we really jumped the gun!
Hence the revised thread title...
Entity
Hall of Famer
Hedo is 30 years old. In the eastern conference with Bosh they could do well. Also this may be inticment to keep Bosh around.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Penny and Shaq didn't only because of the short time frame -- they were both kids when Shaq decided to ditch and Penny's knees went out.
Malone and Erving won the title in 1982.
rainmaker
Hall of Famer
The big question is IF Bosh sticks around. Also, they have to let a lot of talent walk away to clear enough space to sign Hedo. Of course it could work. But IMO, its much more of a gamble for Hedo if his ultimate goal is to challenge for a champoinship.
Jerryaki
Starter
clearly it's not. if it were, he'd stay with orlando for a reduced price. this is all about the dollars...canadian or US.
Heuge
Starter
I really dont think it is about the money since NBA players pay higher taxes in Canada.clearly it's not. if it were, he'd stay with orlando for a reduced price. this is all about the dollars...canadian or US.
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
This whole thing doesn't reflect well on Hedo's desire to win as opposed to have a chance at personal glory.
DocHolliday
Starter
It was noted on Twitter last night that Hedo said before the end of the season his family would play a very big role in the decision of where he plays.
The last minute decision seems to be because of his wife wanting to Toronto over Portland, because of the high Turkish population.
So once Toronto showed intereste she liked being in the place with the biggest Turkish population.
The last minute decision seems to be because of his wife wanting to Toronto over Portland, because of the high Turkish population.
So once Toronto showed intereste she liked being in the place with the biggest Turkish population.
LPKingsFan
All-Star
So, turns out Doug Christie was actually the second-most whipped player on our classic Kings teams?
Heuge
Starter
Im actually going to give this guy credit here, it seems more like a family decision then anything else. The money is about even. There is more personal glory to be had in Portland, IMO. I'm thinking the guy did what he and his wife wanted.
I agree. I think it shows that Hedo has a balanced attitude about his job. He's not putting personal glory or cold hard cash ahead of his family. Maybe that's old-fashioned but I like it.
iowamcnabb
Hall of Famer
Well The raptors have a pretty solid team but i think he had a chance to be part of something special in Portland. But hey, good news for us. Congratulations to him as well. Toronto is a beautiful city and seems to fit his lifestyle. He is one of my favorite non kings and i really enjoyed watching him in the playoffs this year.
If you will catch me saying one bad thing about Portland its that we're not very ethnically diverse here whereas Toronto is one of the most International/European flaired cities in the league. I think it makes good sense for him from a family perspective.
As "special" as things could be in Portland I think the Artest to LA has the potential to make things very difficult in the West for the next few years.
Plus the Kings just picked up the next LeBron, Rodman and whatever fantasy we have molded Casspi into
As "special" as things could be in Portland I think the Artest to LA has the potential to make things very difficult in the West for the next few years.
Plus the Kings just picked up the next LeBron, Rodman and whatever fantasy we have molded Casspi into
6th
Homer Fan Since 1985
I agree. When a man thinks of his family first, and what is best for them, then he is not thinking of personal glory. He is thinking about what will make others happy. He'll get a nice paycheck either way. Good for Hedo!
Jerryaki
Starter
heuge is right about the money being mostly even; and toronto does have a large turkish population, so that makes sense for him too.
but whatever the reason, i still think it's sucky to renege on your word. wonder why he was in such a rush to verbally commit anyway if their was a shot at going to toronto.
6th
Homer Fan Since 1985
From what I read, they could not come to an agreement and Hedo broke off talks. Both Hedo's agent and Portland's GM said on Friday afternoon that a deal had not been agreed to. That was according to the Oregon live link posted earlier in this thread. I don't see a renege on his word there.
That's my take, too. These "instant facts" people get from Twitter, etc. are often part fact-part wishful thinking, exaggeration, etc. There used to be a hard-fast rule in journalism that you couldn't run with something unless you were able to get TWO separate confirmations. With Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, etc. there's no way to do that. In fact, you can't even track back a source...
I wouldn't put any blame on Hedo for this.
Gargamel
Starter
Depends on whether Penny is a superstar. I don't think he made it there in 95. There was another Hardaway who put up similar numbers.
Malone and Erving won in 83. If not for Malone, Erving doesn't get one, period.
Jerryaki
Starter
this is from espn:
"A source close to the discussions said Turkoglu had given a verbal commitment to the Blazers on Thursday, then alerted the team on Friday morning that he was having second thoughts. By mid-afternoon Pacific time, the Blazers were told the deal was dead and Turkoglu would be signing with the Raptors."
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4305310
they were the ones running with the "turkoglu spurns blazers!" and all that jazz, but it's the article i'm basing my comments on.
Jerryaki
Starter
and this from an oregon live article:
"You saw the Blazers lose a 6-foot-10 free agent, and you wondered, "Crap, what now?" I saw Turkoglu break a verbal commitment he had made with the Blazers to take more money with the Raptors, and I wondered, "How badly will the people here beat themselves up?""
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/or...f/2009/07/when_money_talks_turkoglu_walk.html
Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
No, it was confirmed this morning by Hedo himself that he had given the Blazers a verbal committment, and then backed out for whatever reason.
Oops. My bad...
As much as I've always liked Hedo, I don't like this. If he had concerns about whether his wife would be happy, how many Euros there were in the community, etc. I think he should have resolved those issues BEFORE he made a commitment - verbal or otherwise - to the Trailblazers.