REPORT: Millsap offer official now. Sent to Utah.

That's not a negative cost, unless Portland plans on simply cutting Przybilla, which would be silly. Being able to trade Przybilla for a player of greater need is, at worst, independent and, at best, a positive development as it leaves Portland stronger at another position while replacing Przybilla with a younger and very good player.

 

That's a fallacy, though. It doesn't matter what Millsap was like as a prospect, because he exceeded expectations. It's like saying "Batum is better as a 20 year old than Pippen was, so I don't see why he can't be as good or better than Pippen in his prime." Blair may be a similar or better prospect to Millsap, but Millsap exceeded expectations. Unless Blair also exceeds expectations, he won't end up as good an NBA player as Millsap.

 

I don't know. What I do know is, if healthy, he'll be beast. I'm assuming Portland realizes this as well. Which is why passing on him, IMO, is very telling that either his long term prognosis isn't good or there was something else that we're unaware (i.e. attitude, work ethic, etc..).

Don't you believe that second-team Big East is nearly, if not completely, equal to first-team any-other conference?

I see what you're saying about his age and how that doesn't bode well for his upside. And, this could very well have more to do with Portland's lack of interest in Blair than interest in Cunningham.

There are those players that are late bloomers though. Cunningham, I feel, is one of those. He really impressed me in the tournament this year. I think his work ethic will take him farther than most as well. I realize this is subjective, but sometimes, you get a feeling about a player. I felt the same way about Roy. I also feel the same way about Frye (we won't go there, ok?).

Maybe Cunningham is a bad bet for you, but not others? Maybe there's info that we're not privy to that could add more weight to the selection of Cunningham or the non-selection of Blair.

Do you have to retain a player for him to turn out to be a good draft pick? Not all players fit all systems. Sergio didn't fit ours. I believe Sergio will turn out to be reserve point guard in the league for a long while. Just not with us.

Portland's consistently passed on seemingly surer players and drafted players that left most scratching their heads. They reach for players with manageable risk. This is reaching to me. I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree.

 

So when is the deadline day where Utah has to sign or lose him?

 

Friday. I would assume Midnight EST on Friday

 

Pritchard has yet to demonstrate an ability or willingness to pull off such a move.

 

Pritchard has yet to have to make such a move.

 

Thank you for rephrasing...

 

The only thing they are similar at is a nose for the ball, Millsap is a much better mid-range shooter and overall offensive player.

 

Well, after the 36th pick - no team passed him. What kind of counting is this?

 

Well, I guess so - but I suspect that people were afraid of picking him not for the duration of summer league/training camp - so the fact that it is not guaranteed does not matter that much - the idea when picking players, even in the 2nd round - is to have ones that might succeed in the league and contribute, hopefully for the long term.

So - overall - the fact that only 6 picks were done before him in the 2nd round does not matter - a lot of teams passed on him, at least that's the way I look at it.

Good luck to him anyway - I do not wish anything bad on the guy. So far, however, Cunningham seems pretty effective in summer league as well.

Do not let my take on it stop you from repeating it again, anyway

 

Cunningham didn't look mediocre tonight. And, this wasn't a fluke. This is what he did in the tournament as well. 'Nova was a well balanced team and each player shared a fairly equal role, but when they needed him to step up, Cunningham did.