This wouldn't be a problem if Pritchard hadn't signed Pendergraph to a guaranteed contract AFTER Pendergraph went down with a season-ending injury. Stooooopid. We'd have 2 vacancies instead of 1.
Compelling arguments from Kenny Vance. If Oden or Joel goes out we still have LMA, Juwan, Travis, Cunninghame and Pendergraph who he says isn't much of a step down from Collins. He pointed out the depth of Centers around the league saying most centers are actually PF's anyway. For Ime, he plays the 2 or 3, in either regard he is probably 4th string. For Mills most teams want 3 PG's the Blazers really only have 2 in Miller and Blake. Blake expires and Miller is old. SO we have a potential depth issue at the Point going forward. But heres' the clincher, Collins and Ime likely wouldn't play much even if our key guys got hurt, and neither has a career going forward more than 1 maybe 2 years. Mills has the talent and physical tools to have a 10-12 year career in the NBA. They say bring him in and let Steve and Andre mentor him so he's ready to step in to some role in 2 or 3 years when Andre is no longer here. I get eh not having young guys anymore, but realistically our young guys aren't so young anymore they are veterans and at the 15th spot on the bench 1 yougn guy with a lot of potential is better than an old guy who has peaked and declining.
This is the philosophy that we need a lot of young projects to keep the coaching staff busy teaching children for years to come. The alternative philosophy is that as a team that has already arrived in the upper echelons, we need experienced players who have learned from several NBA coaches (several systems) and can contribute immediately. This way, the coaches can use their time to make us win right now, instead of being exasperated showing high schoolers the ropes. You see how Juwan Howard and Andre Miller need no handholding. They are leaders from Day 1, completely changing how their teammates view Oden as a scoring option. McMillan didn't try, so the new veterans are making this into Oden's team. That's the value of veterans. Udoka will contribute a lot more than Mills or Collins ever will. A bird in the hand is worth 2 in the Bush of Potential.
I honestly don't get the sentimental attraction to Ime. Not one of those guys will get any burn this season. Only one, Mills, has any future in the NBA or any asset value. If half our team got injured, a player equal to Ime or Collins could be had at any time. Heck, they'll probably still be available. It's a no-brainer. Ideally of course, Mills would be playing overseas for a year or two. But he forced our hand.
Maybe - but you still have to cut somebody to make room. It's a tough call, since Collins is probably the least talented of the 3 - but is also the one most likely to be needed.
