logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 1, 2014 13:44:23 GMT -6
This preseason presser has a different feel than the last two years. Instead of the usual beach venue, the team has chosen to hold this press conference at a local high school: Miami High School. The gym is stuffy and muggy especially in the heart of the summer. A simple podium is set up underneath one of the hoops. In walks Logpmess, the third year general manager of the Miami Heat.
LPM: Thank all of you for meeting me here. I would like to thank MHS for allowing us to use this facility. First of all I would like to address last year. I am proud to say that we made the playoffs for the first time in my short tenure here as GM. We played a very good Raptors team in the first round, which ultimately ended with us losing in 6. We had a real chance to upset the playoff veteran, but unfortunately did not pull through. Since then, we have made some moves towards the future. We decided to trade away our low post presence of Hakeem Olajuwon. In return, we got Derrick Harper and Cliff Robinson. We would have liked to keep the dream on our team for the rest of his career, but unfortunately the salary cap was just too much to retain. We are excited for our new players and expect them to fit immediately into the roles we place them.
LPM: This season will be a little bit different. We are in a division where every other team has an established big man as a centerpiece of the team. We gave up our big in order to go more youthful and to get closer to the salary cap. Every year is a playoff year and we will continue to maintain our expectation of excellence in doing so. I decided to make this gym our venue of the press conference, because this facility will be where we train. We are going back to the basics. We need to be a strong young team that makes people play our style of basketball. This style will be led by our all star point guard and carried all the way down the rest of the roster. I, honestly, see this season going one of two ways. Either we will be battling for a 4 or 5 seed in the playoffs like last year, or we will be looking at a high lottery pick. It all depends on these next few weeks of training camp. I expect our team to really create a bond with each other that will carry us into the season as one solid unit.
LPM: With that, I will open up the floor for questions.
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Post by WigNosy on Jul 1, 2014 13:46:27 GMT -6
Whom do you plan to start at Center now that Olajuwon is gone, especially considering your most established big man, Robinson, plays more an outside game than an inside one?
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 1, 2014 13:57:19 GMT -6
Whom do you plan to start at Center now that Olajuwon is gone, especially considering your most established big man, Robinson, plays more an outside game than an inside one? We are a very young team. We are looking at Scott Haskin making a return to his college position as center. We expect big development during training camp in his game. Having a smaller lineup means we need to game plan better this year.
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J2
Junior Member
Washington Wizards
Posts: 955
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Post by J2 on Jul 1, 2014 14:14:38 GMT -6
You have a high payroll this season, and it looks to only get higher with Jim Jackson set to enter Free Agency next season. With so much money tied up in this squad, is it safe to say that this team is contend-or-bust from now on?
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 1, 2014 14:20:44 GMT -6
You have a high payroll this season, and it looks to only get higher with Jim Jackson set to enter Free Agency next season. With so much money tied up in this squad, is it safe to say that this team is contend-or-bust from now on? Not necessarily. We have a large expiring deal coming off next season in Harper. That will allow us some breathing room for resigning The implementation of RFA this year really messed with our expectations for Jackson's future with the team as we devoted future cash during last years in season negotiations into pieces that are less important than Jackson. We see him as a good player that can be great. He isn't there yet as a SF. We would have to really evaluate his worth compared to the required contract to retain him. We see ourselves as a young team that is still developing to contend for a true championship.
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Post by gmessi2 on Jul 1, 2014 14:21:23 GMT -6
Do you see your team transitioning into an outside game plan this year?
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 1, 2014 14:38:10 GMT -6
Do you see your team transitioning into an outside game plan this year? Our strength is on the outside game. I don't see scoring as much of a problem as defense will be.
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Post by Nick Malone 77 on Jul 1, 2014 14:56:17 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: Was last years taste at the playoffs and first round loss to Toronto helpful and now an expectation that your squad could be a mainstay in the playoffs or do you feel like you have many more hills to climb?
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Post by TrayWithAnA on Jul 1, 2014 15:34:20 GMT -6
Can you talk about the trade talks between you and the Clippers for Hakeem? Did you guys know that you had agreed on a deal with your rival? Do you have each other names saved in your phone? If so, what is the entry in the phonebook?
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 15:38:40 GMT -6
Ron Jermey from the tl;dr network. Are you starting to feel the "Heat" rising as Gary Payton's tenure gets longer an longer with litter success ?
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Post by LoCo89 on Jul 1, 2014 15:41:03 GMT -6
Ron Jermey from the tl;dr network. Are you starting to feel the "Heat" rising as Gary Payton's tenure gets longer an longer with litter success ? Can we have a name change? It should be Ron Germ-y
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Jul 1, 2014 15:43:02 GMT -6
Ron Jermey from the tl;dr network. Are you starting to feel the "Heat" rising as Gary Payton's tenure gets longer an longer with litter success ? Can we have a name change? It should be Ron Germ-y Ron Jeremy: Suck my dick.
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Soundwave
Full Member
Toronto Raptors
Winter is coming
Posts: 2,465
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Post by Soundwave on Jul 1, 2014 22:44:30 GMT -6
Do you believe Jim Jackson has what it takes to jump to superstar status?
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 2, 2014 12:46:02 GMT -6
Nick Melon; Charlotte Observer: Was last years taste at the playoffs and first round loss to Toronto helpful and now an expectation that your squad could be a mainstay in the playoffs or do you feel like you have many more hills to climb? It was definitely helpful as far as the experience. We learned a lot of game planning and technique. I think we have a lot of development ahead of us before we become a mainstay in the playoffs.
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 2, 2014 12:49:33 GMT -6
Can you talk about the trade talks between you and the Clippers for Hakeem? Did you guys know that you had agreed on a deal with your rival? Do you have each other names saved in your phone? If so, what is the entry in the phonebook? I messaged at least half of the league asking about interest in Hakeem. Nobody wanted to take him. Then along came that guy. It took some back and forth. But eventually we made a decision. He is in my phone now. I saved him as "up short" because that's the only way he comes.
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Post by TrayWithAnA on Jul 2, 2014 12:50:10 GMT -6
Can you talk about the trade talks between you and the Clippers for Hakeem? Did you guys know that you had agreed on a deal with your rival? Do you have each other names saved in your phone? If so, what is the entry in the phonebook? I messaged at least half of the league asking about interest in Hakeem. Nobody wanted to take him. Then along came that guy. It took some back and forth. But eventually we made a decision. He is in my phone now. I saved him as "up short" because that's the only way he comes. Ew
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 2, 2014 12:51:28 GMT -6
Ron Jermey from the tl;dr network. Are you starting to feel the "Heat" rising as Gary Payton's tenure gets longer an longer with litter success ? I see what you did there. Next question. Oh I have to answer it. Well shit. Not necessarily. We are a good center away from being right back in the mix. Gary Payton's greatness will be here for years.
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 2, 2014 12:53:09 GMT -6
Do you believe Jim Jackson has what it takes to jump to superstar status? He definitely does. He isn't necessarily a superstar sf because he is naturally a SG. But hopefully he will continue to work hard and develop.
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rpf
Full Member
New Jersey Nets
IDGAF
Posts: 1,743
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Post by rpf on Jul 2, 2014 12:59:36 GMT -6
Jay Z I got 99 problems but the Nets ain't one: What role are you looking Cliff Robinson to have on the team this year?
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 2, 2014 14:47:30 GMT -6
Jay Z I got 99 problems but the Nets ain't one: What role are you looking Cliff Robinson to have on the team this year? We really want him to be a match up problem. Make the opponents power forward position really work on the defensive end. His points help too.
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Post by IamQuailman on Jul 2, 2014 15:43:56 GMT -6
Ron Jermey from the tl;dr network. Are you starting to feel the "Heat" rising as Gary Payton's tenure gets longer an longer with litter success ? Are you Asian?
Will Maukie of the Milwaukee Tribune: Earlier in the off-season, there were talks of Rex Chapman being on the move; have those talks slowed or are you still actively shopping him?
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logpmess
Junior Member
Miami Heat
Posts: 557
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Post by logpmess on Jul 2, 2014 16:48:02 GMT -6
Ron Jermey from the tl;dr network. Are you starting to feel the "Heat" rising as Gary Payton's tenure gets longer an longer with litter success ? Are you Asian?
Will Maukie of the Milwaukee Tribune: Earlier in the off-season, there were talks of Rex Chapman being on the move; have those talks slowed or are you still actively shopping him?
We are always looking to better our team. Should the right opportunity arrive, nobody is untouchable. Every position will be earned.
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Post by gmessi2 on Jul 2, 2014 20:44:04 GMT -6
Are you Asian?
Will Maukie of the Milwaukee Tribune: Earlier in the off-season, there were talks of Rex Chapman being on the move; have those talks slowed or are you still actively shopping him?
We are always looking to better our team. Should the right opportunity arrive, nobody is untouchable. Every position will be earned. No one is untouchable.....polynice and Campbell for Payton? Think about it Mr GM.
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Post by IamQuailman on Jul 5, 2014 17:01:31 GMT -6
Awarded 5 Pts (to Preseason presser pts)! THANKS FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTION!
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