Ex-Magic's Turkoglu magically halts the blaze to Blazers

[cyanide]

Link

Not surprising after the Magic scooped Carter up. Looks like Fernandez might not be too happy about this. Will the Blazers be better with this addition? Enough to be contenders? Is my topic title over the top and really annoying? Discuss.

Edit: Made topic title even worse after Hedo goes back on the verbal agreement.

[Calamaro]

I think we all saw this coming. I'm again intrigued why teams with cap space use their money to add players just for the sake of having someone new on the team. (Clippers-Camby last year, Memphis-Randolph and now this.)

Turkoglu may lead Portland deep in the playoffs, but he's 30 and they already had Webster, Outlaw, Fernandez and Roy playing SG -SF.

They should have kept the cap space for next year and see who can sign. (Someone younger maybe)

[Hedonist]

Consider me a Blazers-fan starting today.

I'm again intrigued why teams with cap space use their money to add players just for the sake of having someone new on the team. (Clippers-Camby last year, Memphis-Randolph and now this.)

You don't seriously think those three signings belong in the same categorie do you?

Turkoglu may lead Portland deep in the playoffs

Isn't that what it's all about?

I get your point, a young and upcoming star might be a better investment but I don't think this is a signing just to sign somebody, they probably have good reasons. Adding experience to the mix maybe...

I won't say Turkoglu will be as effective as he is now in 3 or 4 years time but I don't think he'll be worthless either just because he's 30.

[shadowgrin]

Is my topic title over the top and really annoying?

I think it's ghey.

[Alejandrov011]

Turkoglu will be a Corey Maggete like player. Big contract, not the primary scorer. In 4 years he will be a just a contract

[Lamrock]

They should have kept the cap space for next year and see who can sign. (Someone younger maybe)

Next year they wouldn't have cap space, since it would all go to Roy and Aldridge's extensions.

I'm torn on the signing. On one hand, Turk is a veteran, a better player than Outlaw, Webster or Batum and should help Oden since he's a pretty good playmaker (cue Benji's "making teammates better is a stupid meme" argument). He also takes pressure off of Brandon Roy.

On the other hand, Portland was the #1 offensive team last year. If it ain't broke... Not to mention Turkoglu is a below average defender, and in a couple years, his contract will be as bad as K-Mart's. Also, Turkoglu's PER was slightly below average this year, and he could ruin the Blazers offense with his ineffiency. (41% shooter)

I would personally rather have Ariza. he's 7 years younger, has a ring and can actually play defense. Offensively, he won't interrupt the flow, as he is basically Batum with a jump shot. I thought that a Blake + Outlaw for Hinrich deal followed by an Ariza signing would help put us over the top. Instead, Pritchard uses the last cap room we'll have for at least 5 years on a mediocre 30 year old SF who thinks he is a star.

[bowdown]

Blazers will be a very lengthy team as well
maybe unexpected improvement in defense
Blake - 6'3 (hopefully hinrich) 6'4
Roy - 6'6
Hedo- 6'10
LMA - 6'11
Oden - 7'0

Bench is also quite big

[J@3]

Possibly one of the worst thread titles I've seen in years

[Its_asdf]

Turkoglu will be a Corey Maggete like player. Big contract, not the primary scorer. In 4 years he will be a just a contract

...Except Turkey Glue is about 8 times more versatile and brings a hell of a lot more to the table than Maggette can. All Maggette can do is get to the line a ridiculous amount and rebound decently.

[wabenne]

Ok lets just look at this for what it is worth obviously it makes Portland better, how much better we shall see but nobody can say that Turkoglu is not an upgrade for Portland especially given the fact that Portland didn't loose anybody. Turk if a very good player who is a great reason why Orlando had a great season and let to the finals. He is def a cluth player hitting may clutch shot so for Portland he is a addition rather you like him or not.

Now the bad part is for the Magic, Magic you just took a big lost. Now I admit I said uh oh we are in trouble (cavs) when I found out that Orlando got VC but then I said if they loose Turk then they really gained nothing from Carter. Now they have lost Turk and Orlando in my opinion just lost there 2nd best player. So some will look at getting VC as an upgrade but you mean to tell me you think VC was worth loosing Rafar Alston, Lee, Battie and Turk no way. Orlando is in trouble and don't even know it. But Portland you have just placed yourself in the second round.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

This was obviously going to happen.

I'm disappointed with Hedo. He rejected the Magic's offer and went with the money instead.

This sure does give Portland the quality 3 they've been trying to get for a long time now.

I wish all the best to Hedo. Sucks that he has to deal with the cold and hippies now.

[Lamrock]

Cold and hippies > Orlando

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Cold and hippies > Orlando

You hate Latinos or something?

[Andrew]

The possible logjam at shooting guard and small forward strikes me as the major drawback of the signing, but in that regard I see Turkoglu as somewhat of an insurance policy as well. Travis Outlaw is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year and could likely go elsewhere with quite a few teams having a lot of money to spend next offseason, there might still be some questions as to Webster's health and durability and Turkoglu is certainly an upgrade over Batum who was the regular starter at small forward last year. I think it's a decent signing and depending what happens with the rest of the West they should at least have a good shot at getting out of the first round.

[Donatello]

Hedo Turkoglu has backed out of his commitment with the Trail Blazers and could sign with the Raptors, according to Yahoo! Sports.

[benji]

To add to that...

Free agent forward Hedo Turkoglu has broken off negotiations with the Portland Trail Blazers, a source told ESPN's Ric Bucher on Friday night.

The Portland Oregonian reported that Turkoglu broke off talks.

[bowdown]

Good i was really iffy about this especially due to contract size. it kinda amazes me though he was just in the finals and he choses a lotto team from last year over up coming west team who won 54 games with young talent.

[Andrew]

Guess the Blazers will proceed with the swingmen they have then. Probably a better move by the Raptors anyway.

[Brave Sir Rubin]

Toronto is a better city than Portland.

He seems like a better fit in Toronto as it is.

Guess he really is following the money trail though. An extra $6 in Toronto.

[Lamrock]

Terrible move by the Raptors, as it means they will have to lose all 5 of their free agents to sign him. (Marion, Delfino and some scrubs) I would take Marion over Turk anyway, since we need defense, not a mediocre offensive specialist, but best case scenario is we throw our Hedo money at Ariza, and try to snare him away with our now far superior team ans higher salary. Make it happen KP!

[Abctest123]

I'm hearing around 56mil for 5 years. 12mil a year for Turkoglu....ehhhh....

RealGM apparently said the Raptors also offered Marion some 4 year deal or something just earlier today. I guess that puts an end to that.

[J@3]

Portland were stupid for pursuing him in the first place, he's 30 years old and has had two high quality seasons. I never thought I'd see the day where fans are happy that their team gave Hedo Turkoglu 12 million a season.

[Donatello]

The way I figure it, it's (or it was going to be) adding a somewhat proven scorer in the relatively weak SF position. And the contract wasn't so outrageous that he wouldn't be untradeable if it didn't work out. Not the greatest possibility for spending money, but at least it wasn't a Brian Cardinal-type situation.

But looks like it doesn't matter now. Money could be better spent on a point guard, anyway.

[Its_asdf]

Really BC? Was overpaying for one player the best you could do for the off-season? If The Raptors' depth wasn't shallow enough, they are officially FUCKED for acquiring a decent player off the bench now.

[Hedonist]

I read a few fan-forums and most of the Raptor's fans are not happy. A few are coming around saying he can make up for their 4th quarter troubles but the money and depth issues worry them.

Blazers fans seem kind of divided but more excited about him signing with them (when it looked like that) than Raptors fans.