Off season hypothetical

[SendEm]

luxury tax isn't anything to worry about when talking about lebron/wade (even though neither is likely moving). they put butts in seats/ sell boatloads of merchandise.

Huh?

[Sixersftw]

clarifying, I would worry about luxury tax when its time to cross that bridge. If you have a chance to get a lebron/wade you have to cut salary somewhere else. from a business standpoint they are to good to pass up. I wouldn't forgo a chance to get lebron because of the luxury tax, especially if i haven't extended my own players, thus not truly being over the tax threshold.

[Sixerscan]

clarifying, I would worry about luxury tax when its time to cross that bridge. If you have a chance to get a lebron/wade you have to cut salary somewhere else. from a business standpoint they are to good to pass up. I wouldn't forgo a chance to get lebron because of the luxury tax, especially if i haven't extended my own players, thus not truly being over the tax threshold.

The only way they would get either of those guys is through cap room, so the tax wouldn't be an issue.

Then again, there's no way either of those guys are signing here.

[Sixersftw]

well yeah , i was assuming he meant in the future when you have to extend your own players (after signing lebron or whoever).

[SendEm]

There's no way that Portland and presumably Oklahoma City are more attractive destinations than Philadelphia. If that day comes two years from now and the Sixer's only competition to sign either James or Wade is between the Sonics and Trailblazers I'm rejoicing because Wade and Lebron, if they move at all, will choose Philly because it will mean more endorsement money, WAY MORE. Portland, Oklahoma City, or Philly? It's us everytime unless Oden and Alridge look like Hakeem and Tim Duncan....

[Sixerscan]

Holy ****, Portland has cap room in two summers?!?!? I didn't even realize that.

If they get rid of Miles they could have enough cap room to sign both of those guys! (Edit- alright maybe not because of cap holds, but still)

LeBron and Wade will get tons of endorsements regardless. Portland would be a perfect situation for either of them.

[tk76]

Philly is considered a backwater market compared to LA and NY. If you think we have any shot at Lebron on Dwade plan on disappointment. There is more to being a "big market" than local population. Philadelphia has always been a regional market- not what agents are looking for. Saying we are a more desirable market than OKC or Mil does not mena we are suddenly the place to be.

I challenge you to find any outide source that says we are in the running for either of those players (alstjough you see Lebron to NY thrown out there all the time in the media.)

[Sixersftw]

yeah. I had the exact same reaction. portland+lebron= gameover.

[SendEm]

It REALLY matters what city you are playing in for your endorsement deals. Nike doesn't shell out the same money to Lebron in Cleveland that they would shell out to Lebron in LA. Endorsement contracts do come with language that increases wages paid to a player when they move to a larger market. Philly pays more than Portland....

[freshie2]

Depends on what the player is looking for. If the player is looking at career success/their legacy, Portland has a young core that could be tremendous for the next decade...with or without a Lebron or Wade. Philly is a bigger market, and if the issue is solely money, they may choose Philly over Portland if all else is equal. I love Philly, but the rest of the nation has a pretty negative view on the city...many players in this age range may have grown up hearing how awful the Philly sports fans are and how bad the teams are...it may still stick in the back of their mind when they consider their home for the next 5 years. Probably not a big factor in their decision, but it will cross their mind.

Yes Sixerscan...Portland's GM should be exectutive of the decade. A little luck, but also some tremendous moves on his part. Let's hope Ed can spin some of the same magic.

[Sixersftw]

its usually a one time bonus for incentives , it doesn'tchange the term of the contracts base wage. Philly obviously pays more than portland but lebron isn't hurting for advertisments. Winning also comes with benifits. There are often bonuses for reaching certain incentives (conference finals, championship, mvp ect). From a pure business standpoint he would have to look if going to a major city outweights the incentives offered for winning + the actual mental fulfillment an athlete gets from winning.

[tk76]

Oden will go down as more than a little luck. Had we lost 3 more games last year and gotten Oden we would be heading to the finalsw in a few years too.

[freshie2]

Yes...but Portland was 6th or 8th most likely to win the lottery...that is the luck to which I am referring. If the Sixers won the lottery last year, then yes, the future would look completely different.

[SendEm]

Is it beyond the realm of possibility that Greg Oden might actually be just a good NBA player and not be a HOF or even an All Star? I have seen him play once or twice and he's no Hakeem, Shaq, Timmy or Ewing...

[Sixerscan]

Neither were they at 19.

Well, maybe Shaq was.

The only thing that will hold him back is his health.

[tk76]

Oden will be like what we saw from Bynum last night, and then he will get better.

[IggyTheBEaST]

yeah. I had the exact same reaction. portland+lebron= gameover.

ROY + Oden + LMA + Lebron = My New Favorite Team

[IggyTheBEaST]

Assuming they picked 3rd, and ultimately would sign Brand, who is your selection @ #3?

Nobody. You trade the pick

[freshie2]

Oden will at the very least be a defensive force if he can regain/maintain his health. He is more skilled offensively than I believe most give him credit for as well. I'd be shocked if he's not a very special player.