bajaden
Hall of Famer
When the subject of amnesty came up in the negotiations little gumdrop fairies started swrilling around my head. My first thought was, how could I abuse this concept to my advantage. To my regret, I must admit that someone on another fourm beat me to it in printed form. However, a good idea is a good idea, so here it is.
Greg Oden is an enormus talent. No one would deny that. But he's a talent thats played in only 82 games in four years. Thats hardly getting your bucks worth. Under normal circumstances there is no way a team like the Kings would even consider taking a chance on a player like Oden. However, if a amnesty clause is part of the new CBA, and reportedly it is, and will be good for two years, then the whole situation changes.
Oden currently has a one year 8 million offer from Portland. An offer they had to make to keep him a restricted freeagent. If I were the Kings, I would make him a three year offer over 10 mil a year. You could even throw in another team option year if you want. If not matched by Portland, or exceeded by another team, then I would take out as big an insurance policy as possible on him.
Reportedly he won't be capable of practicing or playing until this coming January. If the amnesty clause is good for two years, that gives the Kings whats left of this season and the following season to find out exactly what they have. If it doesn't match their appetite, then you use the amnesty clause and cut your losses. Although you still have to pay his salary, most of that, hopefully, will be covered by insurance.
Make no mistake. Its still a risky move. You'd be using most of your current cap space on a player that may not play, when you could have pursued a Tyson Chandler or a Dalembert. But to paraphrase the other site, " If he can remain upright, he's everything the doctor ordered.
Greg Oden is an enormus talent. No one would deny that. But he's a talent thats played in only 82 games in four years. Thats hardly getting your bucks worth. Under normal circumstances there is no way a team like the Kings would even consider taking a chance on a player like Oden. However, if a amnesty clause is part of the new CBA, and reportedly it is, and will be good for two years, then the whole situation changes.
Oden currently has a one year 8 million offer from Portland. An offer they had to make to keep him a restricted freeagent. If I were the Kings, I would make him a three year offer over 10 mil a year. You could even throw in another team option year if you want. If not matched by Portland, or exceeded by another team, then I would take out as big an insurance policy as possible on him.
Reportedly he won't be capable of practicing or playing until this coming January. If the amnesty clause is good for two years, that gives the Kings whats left of this season and the following season to find out exactly what they have. If it doesn't match their appetite, then you use the amnesty clause and cut your losses. Although you still have to pay his salary, most of that, hopefully, will be covered by insurance.
Make no mistake. Its still a risky move. You'd be using most of your current cap space on a player that may not play, when you could have pursued a Tyson Chandler or a Dalembert. But to paraphrase the other site, " If he can remain upright, he's everything the doctor ordered.
