Saying “you need evidence” in the light of this analogy-at least if evidence is defined as knowing how Bayless will turn out-is like saying you need to see the cards in order to judge the play. Often that’s true. Sometimes you don’t have to. Sometimes the betting or the opponent mandates a certain move no matter what the cards are.

In this case Pritchard spent minimally to get value for his mediocre-or-worse picks. He moved to the exact spots he needed to in order to get Bayless and Batum and not a spot higher. He gave up no players who were going to impact the future of this team. He acquired players that not only have a chance to play, but should retain flexibility as potential trade pieces in the next couple of years. (Try THAT with Roy Hibbert.) If reports are true about the Blazers looking to acquire Ben Gordon or Leandro Barbosa then he got a young version for free in Bayless instead of gutting the team in a trade. If you believe KP’s post-draft quotes (and he’s generally been pretty straightforward about this kind of stuff) he got the fourth guy on his draft board from the 13th slot in the draft.

All of that points to the right move, regardless of how the pick actually turns out. It’s hard to see how he could have done any better. Given the assets KP had you pretty much have to say he maximized them.

Another way to put it would be that it feels like people are expecting a draft like this to be the all-in move which will win the tournament. The truth is, it probably wasn’t. The truth is, we’re unlikely to have a draft like that again for a long time. But it doesn’t have to be that kind of move to be great. This was a hand where a guy with a K-7 suited read his opponents right and stole the blinds and a raise with a nice bet pre-flop. Whether or not the Blazers win the tournament anytime soon, that doesn’t change the fact that this hand was played really well.

—Dave

We, the PTBs, wanted to upgrade at point. Also, the wisest move was to keep this team mostly intact. Rose was untouchable in that we would have to trade so much of this team and would include at least on of the big three or Rudy. So he’s out. Bayless seemed untouchable because he was 4th in 90# of the mock drafts and was listed as the forth most desirable player in the draft. I think KP was eying any of the top non Rose point guards in Westbrook, DJ, and Bayless and had his move to skip Sacramento, who was sure to take the best point at that point, all ready planned out. When Bayless fell, in part because of KP and the Blazers talking nothing but the other two, KP was ready to strike. He didn’t have to break up the core or weaken the bench to do it. Now we have a probable epic talent coming in for the lowest imaginable price. Trading up to get the forth pick itself would have cost an arm and leg.

I think you’re talking about what Jumbo is talking about, because that’s what I’m talking about. I don’t know what the other guys are talking about. I read each comment and I think I agree. I don’t think they’re discussing the same issues.