Pelicans to meet with Oden {EDIT-Oden chooses Miami,P.61}

Slow on the media front today. We are supposedly working him out today, but I guess its being kept really well under wraps.

Not looking good-

Quote:

---

http://www.sheridanhoops.com/2013/07...ith-spoelstra/


Greg Oden meets with Erik Spoelstra

ESPN.com reported earlier today that Greg Oden’s camp had narrowed its search down to three teams: the Heat, Spurs, and Pelicans.

Now, reports on twitter are indicating that Oden may be leaning toward signing in Miami:


Erik Spoelstra and Greg Oden met today, as the free agent center’s decision nears.

— Tim Reynolds (@ByTimReynolds) July 23, 2013

While New Orleans has reportedly offered Oden $3 million annually (about twice as much as what Miami and San Antonio would offer), the 25-year-old appears more interested in the idea of playing for a contender.

With the money saved from amnestying Mike Miller’s contract last week, the Heat, in theory, can afford to sign Oden and still save money from what they paid in last season’s luxury tax.

If Erik Spoelstra can convince Oden to sign in Miami, the Heat would potentially have the steal of free agency. Oden, if healthy, would instantly move ahead of Joel Anthony and Juwan Howard in the Heat’s big man rotation.

Scouts have remained impressed with Oden’s conditioning in recent workouts.

---

Now from Spears-

Quote:

---

Marc J. Spears@SpearsNBAYahoo3 minutes ago


Free agent center Greg Oden to make decision next week picking from Sacramento, Miami, ATL, NO, San Antonio & Dallas, source told Y! Sports.


Read more: http://hoopshype.com/twitter/media.html#ixzz2ZuBeb8uF

---

ATL???

Well I'm glad I didn't invest myself as heavily in this potential signing as I did the Tyreke one.

I'm not too confident that we'll land him given the recent turn of news.

Hope I'm wrong...

This was always a lagniappe move. If we get him, gravy. If not, we're still golden.

does anyone actually think he'll stay healthy?

Sheridanhoops is awful reporting. I would take everything they say with a grain of salt.

Looks like MIA will get him. Good luck to him I hope he stays healthy for his sake.

Quote:

---

the 25-year-old appears more interested in the idea of playing for a contender.

---

This is what I mean by "playing for a ring". When you want to "play for a contender" you're not willing to build something.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kumar

Sheridanhoops is awful reporting. I would take everything they say with a grain of salt.

---

I hope you are right Kumar!

No loss if we never had him. Just hope he's not in it for a cheap ring.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jgman

does anyone actually think he'll stay healthy?

---

I am sure people who think Gordon can play 82 game (or even 60 games) in a season think he can.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Kumar

you're a cheerful spirit

---

:grinch:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by FlyGirl

To watch Ryan Anderson of course. ;)

---

:money::snacks::drink: :Peja:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by kclaboy504

Says Ryan Anderson's stalker

---

:2guns: :reaper:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Soundwave

I'm just shocked he didn't order the mods to end this thread.

---

:wstupid:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by RaisingTheBar

We are only on page 24, still a lot more time for that.

---

:bcat::weird: :ban:

Was never a big deal if we did or didn't get him. All extra stuff on the side. We are winning either way.

So now the guy who is here only because he stalks a player is trying to order the mods to ban somebody?

Some people should know their place.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Soundwave

So now the guy who is here only because he stalks a player is trying to order the mods to ban somebody?

Some people should know their place.

---

He does, 15ft behind Ryan Anderson wherever he goes (hiding behind objects of course).

Relax. We still sould have best offer on table. I expect full MLE, plus partial guarantee in second year. Neither Heat nor Spurs can touch that. $1-$2 million is a crap ton of money no matter who you are. He'll wait a week for the Heat to raise offer, but it's not going to happen.

I'm thinking its 50-50 between us and the heat now.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spaniard

Relax. We still sould have best offer on table. I expect full MLE, plus partial guarantee in second year. Neither Heat nor Spurs can touch that. $1-$2 million is a crap ton of money no matter who you are. He'll wait a week for the Heat to raise offer, but it's not going to happen.

---

We don't have MLE, just a room exception (about $2.65 million).

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PELICANSFAN

We don't have MLE, just a room exception (about $2.65 million).

---

Sorry, it's the mini exception. Typing on my iPad in a conference so typing fast.

I'm going to wait until a reputable source can comment on his status. Maybe he does prefer contending, but I would like to hear it from a Woj or Amick type source.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Spaniard

Relax. We still sould have best offer on table. I expect full MLE, plus partial guarantee in second year. Neither Heat nor Spurs can touch that. $1-$2 million is a crap ton of money no matter who you are. He'll wait a week for the Heat to raise offer, but it's not going to happen.

---

If its true that this dude wants to "play for a contender"... then I don't think money matters.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DroopyDawg

If its true that this dude wants to "play for a contender"... then I don't think money matters.

---

I just have a hard time believing a guy who's missed out on so much money due to injuries is chasing a ring or wanting to play for a contender over money/length of contract. I don't buy that. I'd be shocked if he leaves any money or years anywhere. Chasing a ring is a luxury of veterans who've done everything else, Oden hasn't done anything. I just don't buy that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DroopyDawg

If its true that this dude wants to "play for a contender"... then I don't think money matters.

---

Everyone wants to play for a contender. That's a given. Everyone doesn't sign with the Heat if there is a better offer. He may sign with the Heat, but he's not going to sign for half the pay he would get somewhere else. We'll see next week.

If its about playing time you would think he'd pick us over the Heat & Spurs. Plus it sounds like we would have the most money to offer him. Looking at the rosters, he would have the best chance to start for us. Maybe we can talk him into taking a one year deal with the Heat, get his ring, and then sign on with us long term! lol! The only problem with that, is if he has a good, healthy year, his price tag will go WAY up!

Pels:
C: Oden / Smith / Stiemsma / Withey
PF: Davis / Anderson

Heat:
C: Bosh / Anderson / Oden / Anthony
PF: Haslem / Lewis / Howard

Spurs:
C: Splitter / Oden / Bonner
PF: Duncan / Diaw / Pendergraph

monty is in vegas, oden working out in Indy. humm

We should have sent EG with Dell.

Wright just resigned in dallas for 2 years and 10 million i guess that takes them out of the oden chase.

I think the Spurs make the least sense... They are old, play in a tougher conference, and cannot offer him the highest amount of money anyways. Heat/Pelicans are the only teams that seem to have a chance in my mind.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JJackisangry

I think the Spurs make the least sense... They are old, play in a tougher conference, and cannot offer him the highest amount of money anyways. Heat/Pelicans are the only teams that seem to have a chance in my mind.

---

I disagree. I think the Spurs/Heat make the most sense since it'll be a short term deal regardless of where he goes. This contract will set up his next contract and He'll get the exposure he needs and will play in the playoffs for certain. Taking off the homer glasses, the only reason to pick the Pelicans is the money and to keep a low profile from the media.

I think it'll probably be Miami he ultimately goes to. I'd be shocked but very excited to see Oden if he agrees to sign with the Pelicans. When Oden is healthy enough and cheap enough as the kind of deal that the Heat can afford, you can't tell me that with their front court that He isn't a better option than Birdman or Haslem. He'll get a chance to play for the ring and get the chance to play next to Lebron. If he wants to win now, he'll go to Miami. If he wants to wait it out and play 50% of the time under the low profile, then he'll play in NOLA. But it does excite me to think of a front line of Oden and Davis for a long, long time.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nola Hornet

I disagree. I think the Spurs/Heat make the most sense since it'll be a short term deal regardless of where he goes. This contract will set up his next contract and He'll get the exposure he needs and will play in the playoffs for certain. Taking off the homer glasses, the only reason to pick the Pelicans is the money and to keep a low profile from the media.

---

We will agree to disagree then. I was basically saying the Heat were choice number 1 (if he wanted to contend) and the Pelicans were number 2 (if he wanted financial security). I do agree that he probably wants one really solid year on a good team so he can get a nice juicy contract next time around. What are his priorities? I'm not too sure, but neither team would be a bad choice.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Nola Hornet

I disagree. I think the Spurs/Heat make the most sense since it'll be a short term deal regardless of where he goes. This contract will set up his next contract and He'll get the exposure he needs and will play in the playoffs for certain. Taking off the homer glasses, the only reason to pick the Pelicans is the money and to keep a low profile from the media.

---

State of the art practice facility, newly renovated arena, playing with 7 guys his age, no limelight, played for Monty, played with EGO ! Hmm

I never would have though an Oden thread would get 26 pages.

We will sign Oden. I do not have psychic powers, but I believe I do. Delusion of grandeur is a powerful tool.

Source on if Miami is the frontrunner to sign center Greg Oden: "No, I would not say that."

— Max Luckan (@MaxLuckan) July 23, 2013

I dunno how credible this guy is. Only about a thousand followers, but his description on twitter is "Sportswriter, covering the NFL and NBA for 98.7 THE FAN, CBS Tampa Bay, and Orlando Magic Daily." Sooooo it really doesn't tell us anything but I thought I'd get the thread back on topic...

Max Luckan... I wonder if Luck is in our favor now.

Before going on that wrestling side track, I did say probably like most of the answers here, I till wouldn't be surprised if he opted to sign with Miami. Only way he comes to New Orleans is if he would rather come back slowly to a situation that benefits him for the long term while the short term is still with Miami for instant fame and gratification if he can win a ring.

I'm foreseeing this.

http://t.qkme.me/3sjb50.jpg

(Looks just like an older LBJ lol)

:sheepaid: Not getting Oden. Pipe down peeps. Too much competition here with Stiemsma, Smith, and Withey. He can go to Miami and be the man, play with LeBron and play for a championship. It's a no brainer. Or he could go to the Spurs and have the best coach in the league. If the money is anywhere close, NO CHANCE.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NOLa.

I'm foreseeing this.

http://t.qkme.me/3sjb50.jpg

(Looks just like an older LBJ lol)

---

He's Lebron's dad. Top ESPN storyline for 2013. "Father and Son unite to win championship"

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by NOLa.

I'm foreseeing this.

http://t.qkme.me/3sjb50.jpg

(Looks just like an older LBJ lol)

---

It will be great... The first father son duo in the nba

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by PowerPel

Lighten up. It is the offseason.

---

That doesn't mean we want to totally derail what the threads are supposed to be about.

Oden meeting with the Pelicans in Las Vegas per updated Oden article on ESPN. The way it's worded indicates it won't be until Thursday at the earliest. We did get see him work out for 2 hrs today.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DefensiveMind

Oden meeting with the Pelicans in Las Vegas per updated Oden article on ESPN. The way it's worded indicates it won't be until Thursday at the earliest. We did get see him work out for 2 hrs today.

---

I'd love to hear some of the questions they asked after the workouts by Dell. Maybe Monty has a special play/connection/giggle fest with Oden back from the Portland days. Think of the fun times Greg. You could show Anthony Davis how to grow a 45 year old man beard.

Ok.....I'm just hoping with signs with the Pelicans. No chance he ever reads this post.

The media has been pushing Oden to Miami for a year now. It's much more exciting for them to talk about Oden in Miami than Oden in NO. Let's just take a step back and let it all play out. We'll know next week. For what it's worth, everything I've read about Oden points to him signing with us, because we offer that comfortability factor (between his familiarity with Monty, our small market team, low media pressure, low expectations this season, and our proven willingness to work with injury prone players - see Gordon), and that's #1 on his list right now. I think we stand a very good chance to sign him, all homerism aside.

The only thing we truly learned today is that Oden appeared very good in the workouts. Hopefully by Friday he will be closing in on his descision.

Let him go to Miami. We should focus on the health of Eric Gordon. So far he has gone through the summer without a surgery.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by DefensiveMind

Oden meeting with the Pelicans in Las Vegas per updated Oden article on ESPN. The way it's worded indicates it won't be until Thursday at the earliest. We did get see him work out for 2 hrs today.

---

Haha, can you imagine that phone call?

"Hey Greg, how's it going man? Listen, we want to meet with you, so can we fly you out to Las Vegas? What's that? Haha, no silly! We aren't trying to take you out partying and gambling! We just have to do the meeting there because our young head coach is on the Olympic staff, and he has to be there while they are practicing. What's that? You wanted to meet with assistant HC Randy Ayers, one of the best big man coaches in the league? Oh, well he's up there too, so that should work out. Wait, you wanted to meet with our head trainer Jon Ishop? Funny you say that, he's there too! What's that? Yeah... We do have a lot of our staff on the Olympic team. Impressive right? I know. By the way, while you're up here, you'll get to see 3 of your teammates! There also up here practicing with the team. Wait, what was that? You want to sign your contract now? Great! We'll fly you up on Thursday!"

Not sure if Oden really cares about any of that though. If he wants to be with a contender, he'll go to the Heat. If he wants the $3 Million we are alleged to be offering, then he'll come here.

if I was a betting man, I probably wouldn't like our chances....but, on the other hand, its often a good thing for the underdog if they can just hang around and resist getting put away early.....