Pritchard takes the fun out of it.

by begottenson on Apr 23, 2008 11:25 AM PDT

I used to really enjoy speculating about who the Blazers could trade for to make us an unstoppable juggernaut of a team. Now that's kind of gone. I think Calderon would fit nicely. But then again, I know KP probably has something better in mind. Also, I never would have thought of it, and it's going to make sense in every way a basketball deal can. He's got time-lines and contingencies all mapped out, and he knows things I don't. He know who he wants, how to get them, who he doesn't want, and why.

So now when I'm trying to enjoy some good-old-fashioned "what if" scenarios on this site, it feels like that base is covered. We don't think outside of the box, he does. We come up with wildly implausible scenarios and then argue about their plausibility. It's like we all bring our little volcanoes to the science fair and KP is already there talking about his solution to global warming, oh and to cancer too. With Nash and Whitsitt it felt like my drunk uncles were driving the car maniacally through pedestrian crosswalks. With Pritch I can push the seat back and take a nap till we get home.

It's actually kind of lame, I felt smarter before.

BTW, it is my firm belief that Chris Paul is in New Orleans to stay, that if we'd drafted him we wouldn't have Oden, that you can't trade 4 of our scrubs + a lottery pick for a superstar, and that Rudy Fernandez is going to have to have to adjust to teams actually guarding his alley-oops with players who can jump as high as he can.

- and that we should enjoy the ride because this is awesome

PS - Hey KP, need a protégé?

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KP does ruin it for everyone

but I love that he is on our side :)

Woof

by Charles Barkley McLovin on Apr 23, 2008 11:36 AM PDT reply actions

Draft day

will always be fun with Pritch, lottery or not

Blazermania: back and better than ever

by CMCWizard on Apr 23, 2008 11:45 AM PDT reply actions

I love the fact...

...That KP is as open and honest about his methodology as he can be, and at the same time, the moves he makes come as complete shockers out of left field that don’t even seem to make sense at the time he makes them.

The move for LaMarcus, for example. Why did we have to did up Vicktor? Oh. Two years later, now that suddenly makes sense.

The move for Zach. Couldn’t we have gotten more than just Channing and a Massive Bonehead in Steve Francis? Oh. Wait. We did. Here’s Jones and Rudy. And Stevey never even suited up.

Huh.

This guy has got the big picture seriously nailed. We are most fortunate indeed to have him as our GM.

Giving up a bit of our fun in random speculation is a very small price to pay.

Wherever you go, there you are.

by Majikj0n on Apr 23, 2008 12:17 PM PDT reply actions

I will admit that I was pissed after the Z-Bo trade

We had developed that guy for years and turned him into the 20-10 machine that he was. KP just gave him away. The man has patience and a crystal ball. We are lucky to have a GM who makes fans like me look dumb.

by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 23, 2008 12:40 PM PDT up reply actions

ZBO Trade

I wasn’t pissed, but I’ll admit it had me scratching my head…..I was all for getting rid of him, I, like others, just thought we’d get more. I’m glad it’s worked out though…....

by iDea on Apr 23, 2008 1:18 PM PDT up reply actions

Consider what we got in return

A backup power forward who could start on several teams, one of the best three point shooters in the league, the best player in Europe who many believe will be as good as Manu Ginobbili, and somewhere between $25-$28 Million in salary saved, as well as cap relief in the near future. Don’t forget the opened up playing time and experience for future all-star LaMarcus Aldridge. The trade isn’t that lopsided when you consider that New York received an offensive black hole, who is a defensive liability, with shady off-court character, and a couple of bench scrubs (one which they just cut anyway)

Can I buy you a fish sandwich?

by silkybrown on Apr 23, 2008 2:25 PM PDT up reply actions

iDea's talking about his initial reaction ...

There’s no need to explain the trade to all of us. We all know it was a good trade now. I shared the same reaction as iDea at the time … “What? That’s all we god? Oka-a-y …. I hope this works out …”

by bfan on Apr 24, 2008 6:44 AM PDT up reply actions

Absolutely

I’m fine with it now and was fine with it then, it just caught me a bit off guard at the time.

I think it’s worked out just fine…...

by iDea on Apr 24, 2008 8:22 AM PDT up reply actions

It's nice to know I'm sometimes right about things

I was ecstatic about this trade. I knew Franics wasn’t going to play. I knew it’d open up for Aldridge. I knew Zbo was a cancer and a black hole me first player. I had hoped Frye would be better, I knew Rudy would be awesome, Jones surprised me as I figured we’d toss him and he was just baggage.

Okay, so I was wrong on Jones, although I still think he’ll be thrown into a trade. We have too many scrubs and need to start thinning the herd/making some room.

"No way. I love this town. We're gonna bring back the glory years. These boys are my boys. This is my team and my town." - Greg Oden when asked about leaving.

by ratbastird on Apr 24, 2008 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions

KP puts the ...

R-A-D in draft (had to jumble it a bit to make it work …).

by bfan on Apr 23, 2008 12:28 PM PDT reply actions

All True

Toro feces ego id.

by Kampeska on Apr 23, 2008 12:58 PM PDT reply actions

Does this mean

that Von Wafer will end up making Green look like small potatoes? :)

by jamon51 on Apr 23, 2008 1:12 PM PDT reply actions

Honestly

It Green looks like small potatoes with or without the Wafer deal.

by iDea on Apr 23, 2008 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions

von Wafer

Has looked pretty good every time I’ve looked at his stats after play. I have a feeling he might explode if actually given playing time.

"No way. I love this town. We're gonna bring back the glory years. These boys are my boys. This is my team and my town." - Greg Oden when asked about leaving.

by ratbastird on Apr 24, 2008 8:35 AM PDT up reply actions

I liked the BTW section

Agree with all points

by porterfan30 on Apr 23, 2008 1:31 PM PDT reply actions

That's Why

I think he’s going to trade for LeBron James.

"We need a live rooster to take the curse off Jose's glove and nobody seems to know what to get Millie or Jimmy for their wedding present."

by tominhawaii on Apr 23, 2008 10:43 PM PDT reply actions

A LeBron acquisition is plausible...

...however unlikely. I believe LeBron wants to go to a major east-coast market, either NY or Brooklyn (with his buddy Jay-Z). It is obvious to everyone including himself that he could win many championships with our team, but I think he honestly believes he can do it without them. The lure of the big city and all of the glory is what drives him. If you want to remain optimistic about it, then you’d better hope he doesn’t have any more significant playoff success. Only championship related hunger / anxiety would drive him into our market.

this has been a message from: "The People's Alliance to Keep Comment Boards Sucka Free"

by bforsythe on Apr 23, 2008 11:04 PM PDT reply actions

Global Icon

Playing in Portland would hurt LeBron in his quest to become a global icon

by tingeyga on Apr 24, 2008 12:41 AM PDT up reply actions

i am sure

Nike and other sponsors want him to play in a big market as well….you can’t blame them.

by Philthyanimal on Apr 24, 2008 2:10 AM PDT up reply actions

Heard Jason Quick

on the radio today claimed that he had inside information that Calderone is gettable and that the blazers have a plan to get him. He wouldn’t give up his sources.

And KP on some comcast thing or other that I caught for a few minutes says pretty clearly that he expects to be busy on draft day…

by raoulduke on Apr 23, 2008 11:20 PM PDT reply actions

If we somehow get a shot at Calderon...

...It will probably mean Travis is gone. And probably most of our draft picks.

However, it would nail down the point, and make it that much more likely that Rudy will be here next season, also.

Two words for that scenario: Los Blazeros!

Wherever you go, there you are.

by Majikj0n on Apr 24, 2008 9:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Travis for Calderone?

Webster/Jack instead

If you dont talk to your cats about catnip, who will?

by bow4meow on Apr 24, 2008 9:53 PM PDT up reply actions

Well, obviously...

...but Toronto isn’t going to go for that. They were in the playoffs this year (albeit in the east), and they need more than a couple of scrubs in exchange for the guy who starts their offense.

Travis, however, might be sweet enough for them to bite on the deal.

If KP is crafty, maybe he could talk them into taking Jack/Webster for Jamrio Moon, then we’d be set at the 3, also.

But I doubt that they’ll go for that one, either.

Wherever you go, there you are.

by Majikj0n on Apr 24, 2008 10:28 PM PDT up reply actions

Don't forget about Raef

Raef’s expiring contract is going to be one of the largest in the league next year, which is going to make him a valuable asset to have. Toronto knows this so they may want to take him as part of any trade for Caulderon.

So if the Blazers give up Raef+Jack+Outlaw+pick for Caulderon+Garbajosa (and any needed filler), it may get the deal done. Plus that would allow the Blazers to trot out 4 Spainards at 1 time. Maybe if they could pry the rights to Fran Vasquez from the Magic and convince him to come to the NBA they could have 2 separate groups: The Americans and the Spainards

by tingeyga on Apr 24, 2008 11:35 PM PDT up reply actions

Moon can dunk

And is a nice surprise for a 27 year old rookie who bounced around in the minors for a while, but he isn’t better than either Jack or Webster by themselves. I watch the Raptors a lot, and he mainly gets playing time because he is one of the few athletes on a team devoid of athletical types (not to imply you DON’T watch the Raptors, of course).

Moon gets attention because of his career path, his high flying dunks, his overall lankiness and hustle, and he has a neat name. Really though, he isn’t that good. He’s average. Martell is a better SF for this team (even if Martell never improves again) because Moon can’t shoot, and Jack is better/younger/SMARTER all around.

We’d be getting Pritchslapped if we traded ANY of our rotation players for Moon, straight up.

As far as Calderon goes, who knows what could be in the works. Toronto SHOULDN’T give him up, but they also should start him as the PG and they don’t. They are very tied to TJ Ford because of his contract and his injurability. Calderon is a team guy, but I can’t imagine he’d want to keep the status quo there—and since they can’t trade TJ Ford, Calderon might want a change. Perhaps Rudy will get Calderon wanting to wear Blazer red and not Raptor maroon?

Yeah, he’s a RFA but players can force their way off a team.

I want Devin Harris though, and I’m gonna hold my breath until we get him for our four 2nd round picks and Von Wafer. Ok, I’m holding my breath now! Oops, I died.

Mortimer

by Mortimer on Apr 25, 2008 2:05 AM PDT up reply actions

Moon sure looked good last night...

...and somebody who attacks the basket is just what we need if we’re going to dump Jack.

I haven’t had much chance to watch the Raptors this season (it’s true), but I did have Moon on my fantasy team, and I liked what he was giving me.

Obviously, numbers alone don’t tell the story. But I can’t help shake the feeling that Travis might just have hit the limit of what he’s going to give us, and there are still some glaring gaps in his game. Moon strikes me as a better fit for us, if we could get him. And he seems like more of a natural “3” than Travis is.

Also, just because Toronto DOESN’T seem to want Calderon, doesn’t mean there aren’t other teams lining up for him with better offers. I think Travis would be needed to make that deal interesting to Toronto at all.

Wherever you go, there you are.

by Majikj0n on Apr 25, 2008 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions