OK, this is not intended to be a bitch fest, but a serious discusion of KP's philosophy. I noticed today that the Cavs signed Powe. On the down side - he is a low ceiling guy who is out until Feb. On the up side - he is a blue collar banger with play-off experience, who is signed for the league minimum and only guaranteed for the first year. This is a classic example of a minor move that carries no risk and might give a modest reward. Is it just me, or does KP seem to eschew this kind of move? Does it sometimes seem that KP wants to always hit a homerun - or is content to just not play? I have to admit, I find this a bit worrisome. Good GMs work *all* the angles - and I don't see KP doing that.
I hear ya... Traded the draft rights to guard Nick Calathes to the Dallas Mavericks for a future second-round pick. Traded forward Ike Diogu to the Sacramento Kings for forward Michael Ruffin. Signed forward Shavlik Randolph. Waived guard Luke Jackson and center Steven Hill. Traded guard Taurean Green to the Denver Nuggets for guard Von Wafer. Signed guard Danilo Pinnock and forwards Chris Ellis and Brent Petway. Waived guard Danilo Pinnock and forwards Chris Ellis and Brent Petway. Huge moves all... Not to make too much fun of you, but people have a tendency to remember BIG moves and not forget the small stuff. My guess is that one of two things happened with Powe. A) the Blazers don't like him much, because of his injury. B) he didn't want to sign here because he was afraid he wouldn't play. Maybe there's a C) he didn't want to play here because he thinks Cleveland can get a ring next year. No matter what, I don't think Pritchard is neglecting the small moves.
It's also possible that the blazers don't like him much personally. For better or worse, KP is walking the tightrope of avoiding jailblazers. I have no proof, but my wild ass guess is that he's turned down a bunch of minor trades/signings that would have made some basketball sense but would have brought a bad actor to town. If he has to sign a rapist he will, but he'd rather use that chip on Kobe than Powe (and I don't mean Powe is a rapist, I know nothing about him and he might be a fine guy and I'd be proud to have him stand up at my wedding and I'm sure he's the salt of the earth and very likely our next President and the church will probably declare him a saint after he passes). barfo
Pritchard also acquired James Jones, who was a modest addition but a useful one. Or maybe "modest" isn't the word, as he was acclaimed. But you know what I mean. I hope.
You are trying to turn it into a bitch session. However, there are 30 teams in the league and KP just isn't going to get every deal that comes along. We have plenty of talent to move along. One thing I do like is that he had several plans for improving the team. He never stops working.
KP does NOT have to sign a rapist. Leon Powe is not, to the best of anyone's knowledge, a rapist and (remember, he did go to Cal so he's local) I've heard nothing reprehensible about him as a person. Most likely the injury and lack of PT were deciding factors. KP is not going to sign Kobe Bryant. KP is a very smart man. He knows what signing Kobe Bryant would do to team chemistry and to the fans. He also knows that Kobe Bryant would never sign in Portland because he wants bright lights and big cities and he wants to always be #1.
Grandpa Joe Smith might be the target I wanted Powe but to add on to A,B and C of the above poster. D. We cannot offer him a decent contract until the season starts and the Euros come off the books. I am sure that he was not willing to wait that long. Cleveland is clearly looked at as a much more serious title contender at this time. E. In Cleveland he gets to face and compete directly with his old team and he might feel that he owes them one (or at least owes KG and Rondo) some payback!
KP can do NO wrong please stop. For his next trick he will convince all blazers fans he has never made a mistake...........oh wait.
Unlike other GMs KP thinks about chemistry A LOT. Every move he makes, or doesn't make, is done with an eye to how it's going to affect our chemistry. Shuffling guys in and out of the team for the sake of not losing out on an opportunity probably wouldn't help chemistry. So it makes sense that KP doesn't make many of those types of moves.
Chemistry! The most overrated crap in teams sports!!!!!!!!!! Does it matter? yes a little bit, but not much!
How about we agree to disagree, and save the back and forth? Even if I grant you the Chicago example you gave, I would say those teams had the right "chemistry" on the court, even if they didn't have it off the court. And chemistry does not necessarily mean all the guys are all lovey dovey. A little volatility on a team can be a good thing. But forget "chemistry." I don't think KP is a chemistry major, either. I don't believe you can manufacture "chemistry." I think KP is pretty well on record that his bigger concern has to do with players' individual and group personality traits and the psychological profiles that the team works up. I don't believe that is the only thing they consider in evaluating who to go after, but I think it plays a large role and that certain players that might look good to us fans on paper do not cut the mustard in terms of the personality traits KP wants on the team.
If KP is not bringing in major talent because of chemistry then he is the worst GM in the league! This is Pro sports not your t-ball team. Here's another example you think that lakers team that 3 peated had a lot of chemistry? FAIL!
Let's take a minute to assume that KP may have offered Powe the same exact deal, because that very well could have occurred. Now you are Powe and you see that the Blazers have LMA at starting PF with Travis Outlaw probably getting the minutes at backup PF. Factor in Gred Oden and Joel at center. Meanwhile in Cleveland you have Varejao and JJ Hickson at the PF. You have two older centers that tend to get injured as well in Cleveland. Brandon Roy looks pretty good, but then you have LBJ standing next to him and you start to think twice about Roy. Did KP really have a chance?
