Like many of you, I was unhappy yesterday.... at first. I think we are so conditioned to expecting something in the draft that we were all let down when there wasn't a blockbuster trade bringing in a touted rookie. I find this especially funny, simply because most of us have said that we need veterans. This team doesn't need more youth. This team doesn't need more projects. We had four rookies last season, three of whom were major contributors. The LAST thing the Blazers need right now is another rookie in their rotation. Yes yes, I know it's stupid to pass on a good thing, but I also think Pritchard is being smart. He's pulling a San Antonio. He drafted some projects and Euro's to stash. The Spurs and Kings have been doing this for years, and now Pritchard is taking that model. KP said he was going to do his damage in free agency or trades, and it's pretty clear that's what he's trying to do. The Blazers are clearing cap space any way they can right now, and it's obvious that they are doing it because they have a specific target. Who is that target? We can speculate. It could be Andre Miller. It could be Hedo Tukoglu. It's hard to say at this point. KP might be trying to clear enough space to make a lopsided trade for someone like Steve Nash. The POINT is, he has a plan, that much is clear, and his plan doesn't include adding another rookie.
You know I keep on seeing people say he is drafting like San Antonio would. But here is the difference. San Antonio is playing from a drivers seat position of being contenders, or from many of those years, champions. They can afford to let folks fester in europe before coming over. Secondly, if they drafted like San Antonio, they would be catching the guys who slide. San Antonio constantly collects the guys who slide into the late 1st, early 2nd round and even later and gets them for productive players down the line. KP has a record of missing those sliders year after year.
What major, non-international "sliders" have the Spurs taken? Where were they projected the week of the draft and where were they taken? I can recall some great international draft picks, but that is is.
Just a hypothetical, we could trade Blake and Outlaw for Steve Nash, take a couple million on our cap, and still have 5-6 million left over to spend on someone like Bass or McDyess.
Phoenix wouldn't do it and neither would KP. Nash is basically done and has never been the kind of point we need. That is to say a PG with defensive stopping ability or at least the physical tools to develop into one (Hinrich/Sessions).
Personally I was disappointed we weren't more active ... but not for a rookie. I was hoping we'd make a trade leading up to or on draft day to bring in an impact veteran. Cleveland, San Antonio, Orlando and Golden State all did it, and I was hoping we would too. But now that I've stepped back and realize that it's more prudent to see what the cap number is before we do anything, I'm okay with the approach the organization took. As long as we actually make an impact move during free agency/trade season.
I'm not opposed to Hinrich at all, but Nash was just an example. His salary doesn't match up with Blake and Outlaw, but we have the space to take the hit.
I agree with Natebishop3...I was a little upset after yesterday, but I realize that KP/Penn/Allen know a lot more about this than I do and I am sure they have a plan. We must all be patient and wait until after July 8th and see what happens. If this is the plan (yesterday) and nothing else, then I would be back to being upset.
Well, I think we are all just so conditioned to making a splash on draft day. It's been three years in a row. Before KP and Nash, we were conditioned to expect Trader Bob making a huge trade or free agent acquisition during the offseason. The drafts were usually ho-hum.
The problem here is that you all still think the draft is important for us to make a splash in. The last 5 years the draft has been very important for Portland. We are no longer in that position. You didn't get pretty lights last night and i can understand why you are frustrated. I have a 4 year old. Just because you you dont know what KP is up to doesn't mean he's not up to something. Just remember those of you doubting him... You are not smart. And he is.
