If he knows they are going to get rid of him, why would they "keep him on" for an entire season to find out? The play here, pretending that Vance knows what the fuck he's talking about, is to let Pritchard go immediately and start looking for a new GM. If you don't like the work he's done for you, why would you keep him on during the draft and the FA period that begins a week or so later? Even if there is no sign and trade, there is the MLE, which will fetch a solid player in this economy.
This x's 1000. Said it my post earlier. Why would they keep him to continue to do the work that they allegedly are firing him for? In addition, his "next employer" won't have a clue if he drafted smart until years down the road. And as if Kevin Pritchard has a magic book of notes on each draft pick that someone they brought in now couldn't match.
I guess the maybe the real reason you'd keep him through the draft is because Mark Warkentien's contract doesn't run out until August or September. I can't remember when, but he's still under contract I believe until after the draft.
So, you want Pritchard drafting and working the FA class for you when you know that you have an injury-plagued center, an All-Star with knee issues, and a new GM who allegedly has been smearing Pritchard through the media? Even I don't think that Paul Allen is that inept.
On his radio show, Canzano (I know, you all hate him) said he thinks that KP is done after the draft as well. He didn't cite any source though, just his opinion. Hopefully KV's source is Canzano, who is just taking his best guess at what happens.
I simply do not understand leaving Pritchard as GM during the draft, and de facto GM during the FA period, if the idea is to win a title next season yet fire him this summer. What is going on here? I think my Seattle conspiracies aren't so far-fetched. Allen has alienated the Portland fanbase once before. Why not do it again, but get it right this time?
My source says KP is getting re-sign for 2 years, but was fuzzy on if it was before or after the draft.
So your guess is that he's only guessing, so we shouldn't take him seriously because he's guessing, but we should believe your guess.
Q: If he's gone, why keep him through the draft? A: He's under contract next year, so if he's fired either before or after the draft, he can't go and hurt us for a year. His duties have already been reduced because he was so bad at contract negotiations with Roy and Aldridge, so he might continue on next year as GM in name only (Face of the Franchise to please the Oregonian) while his true duties are reduced to those of the Chief Scout. Some in this thread say they don't understand why he's in trouble. To review... http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-trailblazers032210
Correct except for the part where you think I want (or care) anyone to believe what I write. I don't think you should believe what anyone writes. Because yes it is all a guess. I put as much credibility on what Vance says or writes as I do with what you write. None. Having said that........I think most people (With or without a source) believe he will be let go after the draft. KP will do his job. Present his findings to Blazer Management, and then they will make the decision as a group. I don't expect a lot of wheeling and dealing for the Blazers on draft day. IMHO Paul Allen still values KP's insight. Unfortunately for some reason their friendship has soured. So he is ready to go in another direction after the draft. It's too bad as KP was a good "face" for Blazer management.
Former Portland Police Chief Rozie Sizer situation reinforces the idea that it really doesn't matter if you are doing a good job, if you piss off the boss, you are gone. Allen may be a quiet spoken person, but he is still a boss with a big ego (like most bosses) . . . . . sources tell me KP is next.
I think Kenny is right. KP and his staff stay until after the draft or until the initial free agent signing is completed and then they re-sign and are picked up en masse by another team. BTW, Tom Penn joins that group as well. We've managed once again to turn an embarrassment of riches into a plain embarrassment. It just seems that like when he took the team over in 1988, PA just couldn't leave a good situation alone.
I am still waiting for these guys with all these sources to actually verify what the hell went down that pissed PA off. I know their is a lot of speculation, but facts would be nice. It's hard to judge Paul or KP without knowing for sure. We probably won't know until after he is gone. Maybe never
My sources tell me Kenny Vance is KP in disguise and is spreading this rumor in order to show the Blazers how well liked KP is amongst the fanbase. I also heard that it was Paul Allen's personal assistant that convinced the team to trade for Brandon Roy.
From reading the Yahoo article above, it seems like KP is dying from 1000 self-inflicted cuts, not just one major incident. Complaining about his pay to peers, botching the negotiations with with Roy and LMA and misrepresnting Penn's contract offer seem to be at the top of the list. add to that going after Hedo and botching the #1 pick certainly don't help matters much in the eyes of Vulcan.
