Two Year Contract for Oden (Seems Like the Norm)!?

[Mayfly]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2924136

So the Trail Blazers signed Oden to a deal worth $3.8 million in his first year, and $4.1 million in the second year with an option for a third and fourth. Is anyone else shocked by this? Not the amount of money present, well that, because he is a #1 pick, but also the fact that they only signed him through 2 years? Do they want him to walk if he performs well? It seems to me like LeBron or Wade received much bigger salaries and years on their contracts. The Blazers should pony up to sign him to a bigger contract with more years, but I guess they want to save their backsides if he flops. Thoughts?

Edit: I just read the part about the collective bargaining agreement. Does that mean they cannot sign him to a longer deal in his first year?

 

[bigpern23]

Re: Two Year Contract for Oden!?

I thought rookie contracts could go five or six years. Not sure though. Two definitely seems short.

 

[Mayfly]

Re: Two Year Contract for Oden!?

I thought rookie contracts could go five or six years. Not sure though. Two definitely seems short.

I just looked over the CBA in the NBA. They just limited the maximum years on a contract from 7 to 6, and then made the age to be drafted 18 to 19, then expanded the salary cap. I wouldn't be surprised to Oden walk to a better team after the second year.

 

[vonnegutnaked2]

Re: Two Year Contract for Oden!?

Club option for 3rd and 4th year.

Unless Oden busts, he'll be in Portland through 2011.

 

[JoelHammond]

Re: Two Year Contract for Oden!?

Dude. Chill. It's SOP under league rules.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#41

 

[Mayfly]

Re: Two Year Contract for Oden!?

Dude. Chill. It's SOP under league rules.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#41

Thanks for the web site. Don't worry. I am not a Blazers fanboy at all, I just thought it was ridiculous that Oden only got a two year deal. But looking at that, it looks like they signed him to the maximum amount of money that they could. Shouldn't the other players be following suit and signing likewise deals?

 

[JoelHammond]

Re: Two Year Contract for Oden!?

Yes, and they will. In the NBA (that's a darn good site, BTW, as you said), there's a structure. They'll all sign, and quickly.

 

[Mayfly]

Re: Two Year Contract for Oden!?

Yes, and they will. In the NBA (that's a darn good site, BTW, as you said), there's a structure. They'll all sign, and quickly.

So I guess what will happen is that the Blazers will try to restructure his deal during his first year or after his rookie season to make it more lucrative. Isn't that what the Cavs did with that LeBron fellow?

 

[JoelHammond]

Re: Two Year Contract for Oden!?

He cannot make any more money in NBA salary than he already is. He signed for the maximum amount he could make, as the No. 1 pick, for his first four years.

He'll sign an extension after his fourth season, if he likes what's going on in Portland, a la Dwight Howard, another No. 1 pick, will do this offseason.

 

[slappy4428]

The Blazers may be concerned that Oden will be 51 after his first two years, though.

Thought he was now

 

[JoelHammond]

Hey slappy, can we keep this on topic please?

Oh, and be sure to wish Idaho (the state, not the former moderator) a happy birthday.

 

[Mayfly]

Not to threadjack my own thread, but who was the last prized rookie to sign a huge contract and then flop? On the other hand, who was the last rookie to sign a small deal and then thrive? I am trying to figure this out pre-collective bargaining agreement.

 

[JoelHammond]

Post-CBA: Arenas and Boozer played for pennies, then cashed in big-time, as second-round picks.

 

[Mayfly]

Post-CBA: Arenas and Boozer played for pennies, then cashed in big-time, as second-round picks.

That is true. Arenas and Boozer both surprised and now are cashing in. How about that Rashard Lewis going to sign with the Magic. Wasn't he a late first round, early second round pick?

 

[Pancamo]

Lewis was a second round pick and is on his 3rd contract.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

Dude. Chill. It's SOP under league rules.

http://members.cox.net/lmcoon/salarycap.htm#41

Pure free agency after four years for the top pick in the draft?

How long has that been SOP for?

 

[JLawson]

The NBA at least got their CBA right, no long holdouts like in the NFL. If this was football Oden wouldn't be signed until at least a week into training camp.

 

[Simon_Cowbell]

The NBA at least got their CBA right, no long holdouts like in the NFL. If this was football Oden wouldn't be signed until at least a week into training camp.

Lot more money on the table for the NBA rookies. Lot safer bet.

 

[Claws for Concern]

I'm happy about a two-year deal for Oden. Now if someone could just remind all owners in all sports to do one-year contracts for every player in every sport, I'd be up for that. No more of these crazy multi-year deals when in all likelihood the athlete won't live up to it all for its duration.

 

[Lester Bangs]

I'm happy about a two-year deal for Oden. <b>Now if someone could just remind all owners in all sports to do one-year contracts for every player in every sport, I'd be up for that.</b> No more of these crazy multi-year deals when in all likelihood the athlete won't live up to it all for its duration.

That would be the Charlie O. Finley plan. When the baseball union was hammering away at the reserve clause, the visionary ******* bellowed "Make 'em all free agents every year!" It would be an interesting world.

As to the NBA's CBA, it's a model for what pro sports should be, with both sides noting that there's plenty of cash to go around and the top tier of players giving a little so the bottom tier is better taken care of. Of course, NBA players also are a far smaller group than any of the other major sports, but it's a well-structured deal.