(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
When all this Hedo Turkoglu talk started up, I said no thanks. I'm not interested in spending too much money on someone who is a B- version of what Brandon already does for us.
As ESPN.com broke the story that it was pretty much a done deal, I, like many others, talked myself into the deal if for no other reason than I trust KP like he is a freaking deity.
Tonight, I went up to the top floor of my apartment building to watch the dumb ass downtown fireworks (don't ask) and I looked over at the RG. As I looked over, something shouted at me. It was the sign that we've all seen. The "Rise With Us" sign featuring B-Roy, LaMarcus, and Greg Oden.
As I looked at that sign for the umpteenth time, this time with a little more disdain for a certain Turkish citizen, I realized that we had all the pieces already in place. What are we doing trying to grab free agents? What's the last significant free agent we've signed? Can anyone please tell me? Portland isn't a place where big name free agents are lured.
It's a place that cultivates the fertile Earth and plants a hearty seed, waiting for it to germinate into something tasty. We drafted/planted Bill Walton a while back and everything came to fruition. We drafted/planted Terry, Jerome, Clyde, Cliff and traded for Kevin and Buck (among others) and barely got beat for first prize at the fair by a heartier fruit named Michael. We didn't win, but when it comes down to it, the ride was amazing and Blazermania was in full effect. I have this feeling in my gut that we're at the same place right now.
It's been written before, but the veteran leadership that Nate is striving for is sitting right in front of him. Brandon is now a vet. LaMarcus is now a vet. Joel is now a vet. Steve is now a vet. Travis is now kind of a vet. More than anything, the guy we need to get to fill that Buck Williams/tough guy/intangibles/little things/high fg percentage type of player is Mr. David Lee.
The guy has a motor. Pick him up for 1/3 of what Turkoglu wants and we're set. As long as Greg Oden is what we want and expect him to be, we're in good shape. That's what it comes down to: What Will Greg Do? And you thought this was a Turkoglu post. Greg, do what we want, and you'll surpass the legends of Walton and Drexler. Do it. Please.
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