-He's in Oakland watching a bunch of prospects -He doesn't want to reveal much about the player he was baiting Canzano on. "He's a definite NBA player". Said his idea of something great might not be someone else's idea of something great, but he also hinted at capspace. Also mentioned being opportunistic when teams are having financial issues. -Also mentioned that with the pick, and 2nd round picks "we can improve our team". Doesn't really mean one way or the other. Very generic as KP usually is. -"Are you willing to trade a popular player to make the team better?" "Of course." -Ballpark on capspace "6.5-7 million. we could do a couple more things to get more, but we'll see." -About getting the team tougher, and the idea of if one guy coming in can make a difference...thinks that the team getting older will help improve, that and mentioned Greg as someone who can be a big help there. -If LaMarcus is untouchable. "LaMarcus isn't going anywhere. He's part of our foundation. No one is untouchable, like if you could get a LeBron or a Kobe, but LaMarcus isn't going anywhere." -Harder to pick two guys like LMA and Roy in the same draft, or to make a big move in free agency? Draft day is tough. -Referencing the Jailblazers era...At what point do you get interested in someone like Ron Artest? "For us to do that, I would have to know it takes us way over the edge in terms of a championship run. Because we're already getting close. Does the player absolutely get us there? Secondarily and probably more importantly, our youth is growing up. Brandon, LaMarcus, Joel, Greg, they're growing up." Talks about how as they grow older they're going to have more of a voice, and saying "When they're able to control that locker room, I'll be willing to take that chance." -Any chance Greg comes back lighter? "I hope so." Still very confident on Greg. Mentions PER. -Do you see LeBron staying in Cleveland? "All this 2010 free agency jumping all over the place, I'll believe it when I see it." Thinks some of secondary guys will get moved, but not primary.
That would all describe Ramon Sessions. There are plenty of people who would be unimpressed by Sessions, as a free agent pick-up. Not me, though. I'd love it.
I'm not sold on Sessions yet. The kids got definite talent, and he's gonna get better. However, I would feel uncomfortable giving up on Bayless that quick for a not entirely proven young PG.
How would it be a giving up? Sessions is a free agent. Restricted, but Milwaukee can't afford to match. They're at the luxury tax line, have stated they won't go into the luxury tax and also have Charlie Villanueva as a free agent. Sessions and Bayless seems like a nice cache of talent. Sessions is already above average, so the chances of mining a star from those two is decent.
It has to be somebody Canzano would have heard of. I don't think he knows enough about the NBA to have heard of Sessions.
How did you get that out of the interview? KP just gave a super general answer saying that the person he was talking about was definitely an NBA player; by that definition he could have been talking about Brian Cardinal.
Isn't it against the CBA to be talking to free-agents right now? Has free agency even started? I'm guessing KP had to be talking to a team or the agent of a draft prospect.
Can't talk to FA's until July 1. Can't sign them until after the moratorium (usually a week or so...this year it ends July 8).
1. Nik, you seriously need to put me on your ignore list. You're picking at every post I make. 2. It's not in the interview. Cast your mind back: the original story is Canzano sees KP talking on his 'phone and KP says to Canzano "you won't believe who I was talking about". This implies that KP knows Canzano knows the player he's talking about. Geddit?
I didn't see anything in the Pritchard quotes that suggests he was talking directly to the player in question. He just said "If only you knew which player we're talking about" as I recall. The blurb LameR gave about Pritchard's comments today could easily describe Sessions. Not that it is Sessions, of course, but it could be.
True, but why would he be talking about a team regarding Sessions? Call Milwaukee's bluff and sign him to a contract. No need to negotiate with Milwaukee prior to that point as far as I can tell.
if KP does a S&T with say one of his SFs for a resigned Sessions, he doesn't give up all his wiggle room on capspace. STOMP
Hmm. I'm not sure where you're seeing that he was talking to a team. From my reading of Pritchard's comments, he was teasing Canzano about if only he (Canzano) knew which player they (the Blazers) were discussing internally. I didn't see a reference to talking to a player, agent or team.
