Oklahoma City's NBA team traded for Desmond Mason on Wednesday, keeping the streak alive. Mason has been part of every Oklahoma City NBA season in history.
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Two years with the Hornets, now the inaugural season with the Not-the-Sonics.
And this news checks in at somewhere between marvelous and fabulous for OKC.
Mason is the kind of player, and person, every franchise can use.
The Hornets can attest to that, and so can everywhere Mason has been. The Milwaukee media at first Wednesday questioned whether Mason would be included in a trade, saying he's too good of a guy to be let go.
Nobody's too good to be traded, of course, but Milwaukee's loss is Oklahoma City's gain.
Mason is a great company man, always willing to do PR for a franchise, always willing to embrace the community.
Mason also is willing to do the dirty work on the court. He's that rare ballplayer who does everything well except what people focus on the most: shooting.
Mason's shot is a train wreck. But NBA games aren't won on style; NBA franchises aren't built on form.
Games are won and champions built on hard work and dedication and defense.
Mason plays hard. As hard as anyone in the league. Do you remember Doug Gottlieb's great story from their OSU days?
Gottlieb called Mason his favorite teammate, because of how hard he played.
Said Eddie Sutton would ream out the Cowboys at halftime, saying if everyone played as hard as Mason, OSU would be in much better shape, and Sutton's tirade would inspire Mason to play even harder.
Mason can run the floor and defend several positions and rebound. His shooting will make you scream, but blue-collar players like this — Bruce Bowen, Shane Battier — only make their teams better.
Here's all you need to know about Mason. When he leaves a place, it wants him back.
Milwaukee traded Mason to the Hornets in 2005 but signed him as a free agent in 2007.
Now Oklahoma City, which experienced two years of Mason while experiencing the NBA, wants him back, too.
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It's inflation, Larry. Poor Clay didn't get a sweet enough deal with the Ford lease, or the tax breaks from the state, or the reduced wages he's paying, nor any out of pocket expenses for the Ford renovations, so he HAD to raise the prices in order to "break even"......
"offers 11,000 tix for under $50 for the average joes...Outrageous"...it certainly is Roger, when those same tickets only cost $20 with the Hornets! Now you are starting to understand!
"No worry the wages are less here, and that cost of living is (supposedly) cheaper, he's jacked the prices anyway"...Jacked up the tix reserved mostly for corporate sponsors and offers 11,000 tix for under $50 for the average joes...Outrageous
So I guess the increased ticket prices is just a way of saying "thanks" for bringing the NBA to town. No worry the wages are less here, and that cost of living is (supposedly) cheaper, he's jacked the prices anyway....And for the most part, people are so drunk over this bassa'ball deal they don't even care...
Paul wrote: "Oh yeah, lets not forget the 45 million he's got to send Seattle...and maybe another 30 million more..." Not to worry for Bennett et al, that money is probably coming out of the Ford tax increase funds. For those who doubt it, go ahead, read the City Ordinance #23,520 for yourself ...Chapter 52. TAXATION: ARTICLE II. SALES TAX CODE: §52-23.3. Additional excise tax on gross receipts for funding City sports facilities...in particular the language in paragraph "(b)" is worded just vaguely enough these costs could easily fall under any one of the several categories listed....
"On average, ticket prices will be about 36 percent higher than they were in Seattle last season.---HUH?!? Can't be true.. " Yeah,,,higher ticket prices here, even though the average median wage is far below Seattle, and the cost of living is touted as being so wonderful here. Thats why Clay jacked the ticket prices. Oh yeah, lets not forget the 45 million he's got to send Seattle...and maybe another 30 million more...
Tulsa's trying to steal our Thunder! No pun intended. Well look at the bright side, tu! Well there is not bright side for Tulsa, is there? OKC has a team with no name and Tulsa has a name for no team!
Amateur hour. Why? Because Desmond played for OSU? This is almost as bad as the nickname Thunder. I love having a franchise where I grew up, but so far operations - since arriving in OKC- have been amateur hour.
As for the Blazers, I went to my first game last year and it was at best an "ok" time. Nothing that would prompt me to be in regular attendance. The Blazers were behind and just basically gave up, literally. You could completely see them stop playing and caring. Not a very exciting, electric game to watch! As for Mason, I think this was totally a PR trade. I agree that it was good business in the salary mix, however, he has plenty of Oklahoma history and would be a good community partner and really help the team shine. As for playing, I agree it will be difficult for them to find a place but he does play hard. I think it'll be good either way, he isn't a thug that will tarnish the new team's image and give fans even more to cheer and relate to.
To see Oklahoma City play, it is going to cost you more than it did to see the same team play in Seattle, according to a report by the Associated Press.
Oklahoma City, still without a name, released its season-ticket prices Thursday. On average, ticket prices will be about 36 percent higher than they were in Seattle last season.---HUH?!? Can't be true..
Well my feeling is that Desmond can still take it to the hoop with the best of them but he need not be shooting from more than ten feet away from the basket. He's got a really squirrelly shot. But on the other hand he still plays some awsome D! He'll have to be a role player. He's not a guard and he's too short to be a small forward. Certainly he can jump!
OOps, meant to say that Igoudala and Okafor signed for a little more than 10 mil per year. Okafor for 12mil/per approx, and Iggy for 13.3mil/per. on the post below.
This is a "nice, feel good" story, but I am not so sure that Desmond is all that this story is making him out to be. He was a very good team mate when he was in Seattle; a crowd favorite. But he was pissed off when traded; and had plenty to say about it. The same thing happened in Milwaukee the first time. He called the then General manager a "snake" after the trade.
As for his game, It's more than his shooting. He's a very poor Free throw shooter besides from the field. He is such a poor 3 pt shooter that he didn't even attempt one last year. Plus he is basically the same player as Damien Wilkins. Same size, same approximate skill set, yet Damien shoots better and makes less money and is a couple years younger. In all fairness, Desmond is a better rebounder.
So don't make the mistake of thinking that Desmond was obtained to make the team better. I don't think that is the case at all. With Desmond and Damien and now Kyle Weaver on the roster, there is a logjam at the backup 2/3. Weaver is the only one of the three that can backup the point as well. No, it's clear that the reason Desmond was obtained was also not to sell tickets. Tickets are selling fine. The reason Desmond was obtained was because 1)his salary worked in the trade which un-logjammed the PG position and 2) he has an expiring contract. So does Joe Smith. Desmond makes about 5 mil, and I would guess Joe makes 4-6 mil as well. Put those together and if we don't trade them, we now have 10-11 million for free agents or to lockup a player down the road (Durant??). If you add in Wilcox's salary, who is also a free agent (he makes about 6 mil), that makes about 17 mil at the end of the season for a very very serious free agent. There are only a handful of teams with that kind of money if any. And only a very few players that can command it. Some big names like Emeka Okafor and Andre Igoudala both signed this year for less than 10 mil.
Okc will undoubtedly work some more trades, but at all costs with an eye toward that fat salary cap number at the end of the season. Our core will be Westbrook, Durant, Green, Collison and somebody at the 5. 3 of those guys are on their rookie (read small) contracts and are bargains for now, but will have to be paid.
So, no, Desmond wasn't brought in for any other reason.
Plus, where is he going to play? He has always been a man without a position. He is not a good enough shooter to play SG, We already have a #5 pick in Jeff Green at the SF position. So don't think he is here long term.
I have watched plenty of NHL games and they dont skate any better than the Blazers. They may skate better than the Tulsa buttOilers, but not better than the Blazers. Plus I am there for the hockey, not to watch Brian Boitano or Nancy Kerrigan.
Bruce, what color is the sky in your world. I have lived in OKC, Denver, and Dallas. Have seen the Blazers, Avs, Stars and a lot of DU college hockey in Colorado. CHL is not top level hockey. The speed of the game is clearly slower and the passing is nowhere near as crisp. The CHL games are just as competitive, but that is because the teams on both sides are at a lower talent level. Don't be so delusional about the Blazers place in the interest level in OKC. While the Blazers will keep their fan base, it will pale in comparison to the NBA, OU, and OSU, but my wife already knew that. Maybe one day, you'll realize it too.
Fisticuffs? That's really all CHL hockey is about. Watch an NHL game and you will be shocked....they actually know how to skate. The CHL is just Thugs on Ice.
OK...so a big hockey fan like yourself would rather have the Blazers than an IHL team? That mentality is why we haven't been able to attract the NHL. CHL hockey is soooo much better than NHL isn't it?
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Oklahoma City, still without a name, released its season-ticket prices Thursday. On average, ticket prices will be about 36 percent higher than they were in Seattle last season.---HUH?!? Can't be true..
As for his game, It's more than his shooting. He's a very poor Free throw shooter besides from the field. He is such a poor 3 pt shooter that he didn't even attempt one last year. Plus he is basically the same player as Damien Wilkins. Same size, same approximate skill set, yet Damien shoots better and makes less money and is a couple years younger. In all fairness, Desmond is a better rebounder.
So don't make the mistake of thinking that Desmond was obtained to make the team better. I don't think that is the case at all. With Desmond and Damien and now Kyle Weaver on the roster, there is a logjam at the backup 2/3. Weaver is the only one of the three that can backup the point as well. No, it's clear that the reason Desmond was obtained was also not to sell tickets. Tickets are selling fine. The reason Desmond was obtained was because 1)his salary worked in the trade which un-logjammed the PG position and 2) he has an expiring contract. So does Joe Smith. Desmond makes about 5 mil, and I would guess Joe makes 4-6 mil as well. Put those together and if we don't trade them, we now have 10-11 million for free agents or to lockup a player down the road (Durant??). If you add in Wilcox's salary, who is also a free agent (he makes about 6 mil), that makes about 17 mil at the end of the season for a very very serious free agent. There are only a handful of teams with that kind of money if any. And only a very few players that can command it. Some big names like Emeka Okafor and Andre Igoudala both signed this year for less than 10 mil.
Okc will undoubtedly work some more trades, but at all costs with an eye toward that fat salary cap number at the end of the season. Our core will be Westbrook, Durant, Green, Collison and somebody at the 5. 3 of those guys are on their rookie (read small) contracts and are bargains for now, but will have to be paid.
So, no, Desmond wasn't brought in for any other reason.
Plus, where is he going to play? He has always been a man without a position. He is not a good enough shooter to play SG, We already have a #5 pick in Jeff Green at the SF position. So don't think he is here long term.