Greg Oden ....Again

[MaceCase]

.....there goes that comical elitism again.

I don't know but it seems to me that "comical elitism" is accompanied by histrionics, condescension and name-calling. Would you agree, Mr. Pot?

Nope, you just seem to be rather sensitive.
You know the Hawks have zero depth and are not even 5 million below the luxury tax and I've pointed out a million teams that can give Oden his best opportunity to grow, shine, get paid, and/or if winning is his ultimate goal, are just downright better than the Hawks before he ever even steps foot there.
Your only counter to that have been contradictions to your own points about teams not wanting to take a lesser risk for them on his injuries, downright ignorance on salary structure and claims that Atlanta is his "best fit" or "vastly superior" to other teams for his services or if he signs elsewhere "he doesn't care about winning". That reads precisely like comical elitism.
If you are not going to open yourself to logical debate and are going to get downright teary eyed over someone pointing out facts to you then I don't know what to tell you, grow thicker skin perhaps but you have not logically refuted my two assertions about:

A) The Hawks having zero salary or roster flexibility.
B) There being 29 other teams that could appeal to him.

I won't bother you any further because you seem to be under some sort of perceived pressure by me so I'll leave you to your merry ole fantasies and should some other debate take place over the future I will be sure to take your sensitivities into account before I respond.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Not saying we are a front runner, but either way you look at it, everybody is gambling on his knees. And with all of the contenders only having the MLE to add depth with, The Hawks are at lesser risk of taking that gamble as they only used their MLE on 3 incompetent C's. Portland could always over pay to retain him, but its dumb to do that. Miami has to fill out their roster. Boston is coming to the end of their run, even though they have Rondo. If Indy wants to sign him, then let's Chase hibbert. Spurs are in the same boat as Boston. NY is probably the more favorable option, but they to are in Miami's boat. I really think you can't count Atlanta out, but if you think its a ling shot then oh well..

[MaceCase]

Not saying we are a front runner, but either way you look at it, everybody is gambling on his knees. And with all of the contenders only having the MLE to add depth with, The Hawks are at lesser risk of taking that gamble as they only used their MLE on 3 incompetent C's. Portland could always over pay to retain him, but its dumb to do that. Miami has to fill out their roster. Boston is coming to the end of their run, even though they have Rondo. If Indy wants to sign him, then let's Chase hibbert. Spurs are in the same boat as Boston. NY is probably the more favorable option, but they to are in Miami's boat. I really think you can't count Atlanta out, but if you think its a ling shot then oh well..

Geaux, first of all the Hawks added Collins, Etan and Powell with vet minimums which every team has an unlimited amount of, we never touched our MLE.
Second of all we are actually in a worse spot than everybody because we have 9 players on the roster (two being Sy and Rolle) and have 66.5 million on the payroll and need to reach the minimum roster size of 13 while staying beneath the lux tax which will hover right around 70 million. The quick math is 5mil or below of cap space remaining... That is below the MLE.

Jamal is as good as gone because of the ASG's tax aversion so I really don't see how the ASG will all of a sudden make a competitive salary offer for Oden that is at the minimum equal to other teams' offers and dole out 22 million + once you subtract the amount they receive from other taxpaying teams and then add the dollar for dollar amount, to the center position when they have holes everywhere else on the team.

All other teams I mentioned either have the pure capspace to absorb him or the cash flow to spend well into the luxury tax, the Hawks do not. He doesn't fit financially or rosterwise so a trade of either of Al or Smoove will have to be done to accommodate him in both those regards. That just seems insane given his history.

A new CBA won't make our money situation any better either so it's not just that I think it's a long shot, it actually is.

[Geaux_Hawks]

Sunds say they will go into the luxury if it improves the team though..

[MaceCase]

I have been accused of being agitated or condescending for my sarcasm so I will just leave that above statement alone. Sund and the ASG have been saying that for years now.

[parson]

Oden may not return until 2012:

http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/214143/Oden_May_Not_Return_Until_2012