As compared to what? He still has all of the options available to him that any other team has, but he just has more flexibility in making a deal. Obviously, the team's first choice of signing Hedo didn't play out, but that doesn't mean that making a deal on a FA just to make a deal is the smart play. Holding on until a player that does fit becomes available through an unbalanced trade is most likely the fall-back plan. It just takes longer to work out because the Blazers have to find a willing partner.
Your not mentioning the "lopsided trade" option that is relevant until 2/2010 seems to be a questionable move as well if we're going to question Pritchard. Also, what is wrong with winning 54 games with a young team and having cap flexibility for much of the next calendar year? I understand that most "fanatics", as we all are here, aren't very patient by nature, but I really don't see a reason to REALLY start criticizing Pritchard until after the cap space is either used or it expires.
Why not? His boss told him to upgrade the roster. He didn't do so. He did NOT get the job done. Not saying we should crucify the guy, or even get rid of him. I'm saying he did NOT do what he was directed to do by the owner of this team.
Do we need to upgrade before summer league starts? I'm guessing his boss told him to do it before the season starts in November.
As I posted earlier, isn't it possible that outside of Turkoglu, there isn't a FA or player via trade right now that Pritchard feels "upgrades" the roster? Plus, what if he pulls a lopsided deal over the next 8 months for, say, Caron Butler? Will those wasting hour upon hour bashing him then reverse their opinion? Seems more rational in my mind to wait it all out and see what the roster looks like next February. The nonstop whining a week into what could be an 8 month process seems unnecessary and a bit naive.
It could easily stretch into next February and the trade deadline. I imagine by that point half of the posters here will be on suicide watch, and many others will be on some sort of medication.
Actually, his boss told him to do it NOW, during the offseason. http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/06/allen_tells_his_gm_go_for_it.html#more
The season starts in November. It's July 8th. This is the beginning of the offseason. Nowhere did I read in your quote that Paul Allen demanded a roster upgrade by July 8th.
Well we're 1 week into July and only 16 hours into the signing period, and unless you know something I don't, the off season still has several weeks left in it. Am I wrong?
You are absolutely right about that. I am tired of hearing about what we are going to do. I want action, not excuses. I don't want to hear anything about how much we like our guys and how we're going to let the cake bake. Our roster is uneven, and needs adjustments. Outside of Roy, Oden or Aldridge, anyone else on the team could and should be considered as a tradeable asset.
I want an upgrade as well. Not a move, but a true upgrade. I don't think Turkoglu would have been much of an upgrade, and that was an unpopular opinion, so perhaps I have a higher standard of what an "upgrade" is than a lot of other people. That said, if next February comes and nothing is done to address what I believe are the primary problems (a PG who can shoot and defend and/or a SF who can create his own offense), I'll be joining in the chorus who are wondering exactly why the Blazers needed cap space.
With the Blazers standing at 41-8 behind the stellar play of 3 time all-star Brandon Roy and rookie all-star selections LaMarcus Aldridge and Greg Oden - those that are on medication/suicide watch will not have the Blazers to accuse for their predicament
I can tell you I started feeling better as soon as a few months ago I came to the conclusion KP isn't going to make a deal. Once you realize the reality of the situation, and don't expect anything more, it is much easier to just sit back and watch nothing happen.
KP. Isn't he the guy that was blowing smoke up our asses at the tradel deadline about letting the cake bake, and how much better the trade opportunities would be this summer......while letting go of RLEC, which they'd been telling us for a year was a huge asset? Yeah. Same guy.
you must have been a big fan of John Nash. He played his cards face up and wrote fans emails... those were the days STOMP
Yeah, the guy who told us about how Nick Van Exels expiring contract and Damons expiring contract were going to get us something really good.
Yep. That is him. The facts are everything doesn't go like you want it to in life. The facts are the GM controls the team, and we are just along for the ride. So if you are going to hop on the ride, you have to accept the fact you are not in control. Ok so it's not going like a lot of folks want. If it had, the Blazers would have won the last 30 or so world titles. No big whoop. I have been putting up with it since '76, whats another year. At least it's better than when Nash, Bassy, Zbo, Dixon, Miles and Patterson were around.
Apparently some of you geniuses think you are smarter than RC Buford. Richard Jefferson was a great pick up. Antonio McDyess was a great pick up. There is a reason they have won 3 titles in the last decade and we haven't won a sniff. I'm not saying KP is a bad GM. I'm just not ready to suck the guys wad after two seasons of inactivity when we have major space and assets is concerning. I'm also not giving him a free pass for wasting our first round draft pick this year, wasting a draft pick with Sergio, Freeland and Koppenen. He was also player personel director when we drafted Kryhapa and Monia. Thats 5 first first round picks that were stinkers. If we are going to give him credit for the Roy/Aldridge draft he needs to take the blame for those picks as well.
