Sports Column

Blazers still can make this work

On Sports

By kerry eggers

The Portland Tribune, Jul 21, 2009, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

PRITCHARD

Man, has Kevin Pritchard taken some lumps from Blazer fans and members of the Portland media, who are certain he is really blowing it by not giving Brandon Roy what he wants in contract negotiations with the Trail Blazer star.

I’m not certain of anything on the subject, because I’m not there with the two sides on the bargaining table, though I have reason to believe this will all work out in the end.

It has been reported that the sticking point on Roy’s contract extension is the All-Star guard wants a player option on a fifth and final year.

If that’s the case and I’m Portland’s general manager, I’m just fine with that. Here’s why: Though maximum salary figures aren’t known until the salary cap is set each year, this year’s figure is at $13.4 million. If we use that as a starting point for a five-year Roy extension that would begin with the 2010-11 season, and give him the maximum 10.5 percent increase, it would get him to about $19 million the fifth year in 2014-15.

In any market — and right now the NBA market is a combustible one — that’s a lot of clams. Yes, Roy is the face of the Blazers, a good guy and the player most responsible for their upsurge. But in 2014, he’ll be 30, with a lot more mileage on knees he has had trouble with in the past.

Can you see why the Blazers might be at least a touch reluctant to make such a commitment?

Keep in mind that owner Paul Allen loves his players so much, and was persuaded by former GM Bob Whitsitt to spend money on them so freely, it nearly killed the franchise.

Early in this decade, Portland suffered a net loss of more than $100 million one season because of reckless player salary spending and luxury-tax charges.

Allen gave away the Rose Garden via Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reacquired the arena a couple of years later, and through improved leadership and smarter spending, has seen his franchise improve financially and on the court.

Today, about half of NBA franchises are in the red. Portland is still facing eight figures in losses annually, though the sellout crowds of the past two years have brought the club closer to what Allen hopes will one day be a break-even figure.

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