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Hawks fans fall for the Okie Doke again.

Diesel

By Diesel
in Homecourt

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Diesel Grand Master

Diesel

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I was just noticing where the PTL braintrust saying that they are not interested in MCJ.

In the Dieselputer, the information comes out that saying that PTL wanted MCJ was a ploy by MCS to make his son's value raise higher.

MCJ was valued at 8 a few weeks ago.

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beav

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I was just noticing where the PTL braintrust saying that they are not interested in MCJ.

In the Dieselputer, the information comes out that saying that PTL wanted MCJ was a ploy by MCS to make his son's value raise higher.

MCJ was valued at 8 a few weeks ago.

Ummmm.. maybe the dieselputer just remembers what I posted this morning? LOL!

Oden-Conley not a package

Wednesday, May 30, 2007

O K. Greg Oden is the man. Ohio State teammate and friend Michael Conley Jr. is the man beside the man. And rookie sports agent and over-involved father Michael Conley Sr. is the man behind the man beside the man.

Got all that?

Great.

Clip out that first paragraph and keep it for reference for the next month because you're going to need to remember those three things whenever you hear a rumbling or rumor involving the Trail Blazers, Oden and either of the Conleys.

Depending on whom you believe, the Trail Blazers are either obsessed, or mildly interested, in acquiring a second NBA draft lottery pick they allegedly plan to use to acquire Conley Jr., who has played alongside Oden since junior high.

The Blazers suspect most of the misinformation flying around about their phantom pursuit of Conley Jr. is coming from Camp Conley, which is run by Conley Sr. There is no pursuit, the Blazers said. They like Conley Jr., but they like their young nucleus even more. While it's true, a team source said, that the Blazers had a conversation with the Atlanta Hawks about their No. 3 pick, it was a single conversation that went nowhere fast.

The Hawks apparently wanted two young Blazers (LaMarcus Aldridge and Jarrett Jack) along with Portland's first pick in 2008 as part of the trade. And I'm thinking the Blazers nodded and moved on because a source close to that phone call said, "I'm sure Greg Oden will become good friends with Brandon Roy."

I have never met Conley Sr. But I've heard he's an intelligent, caring, pleasant man. I know he ran track at Arkansas and that he was the Olympic gold medalist in 1992 in the triple jump. And that he spent the last seven years working with USA Track and Field.

Then, he recently decided to head into the sports agent business with Oden as his prized client. He started a management group (MAC Management Group) and recently partnered with an established agency (BDA Sports Management). I suspect Conley Sr. cares immensely for his son, and for Oden. He coached them both since they were in the sixth grade. And he's repeatedly said that he believes he's doing what is best for them.

But what Conley Sr. is missing is what's best for the Blazers. I suspect it does not include his son.

Especially not if the Blazers are asked to give up players like Roy and Aldridge, who no sane general manager would trade straight-up for Conley Jr. The Ohio State guard hasn't proven he can consistently shoot or win without Oden on the low block.

The Blazers have games to win next season, and championships to chase beyond that. And they have a roster to manage today. And they're going to do what's best for the organization, even with Camp Conley spreading hype, trying to fuel trade talks and interest. That's what sports agents do, sometimes mucking up the whole process.

Ruben Patterson's agent and Darius Miles' agent attempted to engineer trades for their clients, off and on during the last three years, and each time, they've been told to return to the Blazers with a trade that makes sense. Patterson didn't leave until the Nuggets came calling. Miles is still in red and black. So I suppose agents try, but ultimately are aware that they're not the integral players unless they're holding the leverage.

Conley Sr. has leverage in Oden. He knows it. The Blazers know it. Maybe that explains their lone phone call, and mild public interest. Maybe they're the ones putting on the show, if only so they can tell Oden they tried.

Anyone who has spent any time around Oden knows he loves Conley Jr. like a brother. And that he trusts Conley Sr. enough to sign with him over the more established and experienced agencies who could broker better sneaker deals. But right about now, I'm wishing Camp Conley could get a little visit from Bob Sugar, one of the sports-agent characters from the movie "Jerry Maguire," who would explain to the Conleys that this draft stuff is "show business, not show friends."

You sort of hope this doesn't devolve to the point where Conley Jr. is threatening to sit out, or not report, if the Hawks pick him. And that Oden doesn't threaten to do the same to Portland should they pass on his friend. And that Conley Sr. realizes that the greatest gift he could give his son is the confidence that he'll know he can succeed with or without Oden.

John Canzano: 503-294-5065; JohnCanzano@aol.com To read his blog, go to http://blog.oregonlive.com/ johncanzano; Catch him on the radio on "The Bald-Faced Truth,"

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