According to plan...

[Natebishop3]

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.

 

[hasoos]

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.

 

[Natebishop3]

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.

I don't know.... I'd say Batum, Rudy, and now Claven could qualify.

 

[number 10]

So Bayless didn't slide?

 

[Tince]

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.

 

[Natebishop3]

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.

 

[Tince]

So Bayless didn't slide?

So did Batum...

 

[Idog1976]

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).

 

[SodaPopinski]

I don't know.... I'd say Batum, Rudy, and now Claven could qualify.

Claver > Claven

 

[SodaPopinski]

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.

 

[Natebishop3]

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).

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.

 

[mobes23]

Claver > Claven

Yes, but Cliff Clavin > Claver + Claven

 

[Wheels]

Cliff Harris > Police Officers

 

[SteelBlaze1]

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.

 

[Natebishop3]

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.

 

[OddEnormous]

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.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

None of us know what KP's plan is . . . but packaging a draft pick does not appear to be part of it.

 

[Natebishop3]

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.

What are you talking about? I'm a fucking genius!

 

[OddEnormous]

What are you talking about? I'm a fucking genius!

HEY! I wasn't talking to you

 

[MARIS61]

So Bayless didn't slide?

Judging by his performance, not nearly far enough.

 

[JfizzleBlazer]

bada bing. and Maris comes back and puts Bayless down after crying his eyes out all night about Sergio

 

[MARIS61]

bada bing. and Maris comes back and puts Bayless down after crying his eyes out all night about Sergio

Just the opposite. He's everything I expected. A very solid SG prospect.

Those with unrealistic expectations of him as a PG are the ones who make him look bad when he can't be something he isn't.

 

[azsun67]

Once they did the Sergio and the Dallas trade, that sent a signal to me that it is about clearing enough money to try to get who we want in FA or in a non-salary matching trade. I think KP knows about how much he needs to make his plan work and all the moves are about that and not about adding more rookies that won't play much if his plan is executed on. I still think our plan is Hinrich or Miller AND Hedur b/u power forward will be an inexpensive vet who will be happy with 10-15 minutes and playingfor a contender.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Well it's nice to see everyone coming down off of the ledges today.

I was trying to say it at various points throughout the draft last night, that us shedding salary and not making a big splash in the draft was a good thing ... maybe even a great thing, because it probably meant KP is committed to doing his damage this summer in trades and free agency; which is exactly what a good playoff team should be doing to improve itself.

 

[TripTango]

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.

Uel poot! Kerfin Perchirt iz mai nomminii fur Zerz ginaral manijer uv thuh yir.

 

[Stevenson]

It could be Andre Miller. It could be Hedo Tukoglu. It's hard to say at this point.

Or it could be both. Sign Hedo, sign and trade for Andre.

On the bigger point, you are right on. KP has a plan, has had it for a couple of years, and he's executing it to perfection.

Trading Sergio frees Bayless and frees money. Stashing a Euro frees money. Soon, Pritchard will spend the money and once again a cheer will be herd across the land: "In KP we trust!"

 

[SteelBlaze1]

Or it could be both. Sign Hedo, sign and trade for Andre.

On the bigger point, you are right on. KP has a plan, has had it for a couple of years, and he's executing it to perfection.

Trading Sergio frees Bayless and frees money. Stashing a Euro frees money. Soon, Pritchard will spend the money and once again a cheer will be herd across the land: "In KP we trust!"

Agreed...

 

[UKRAINEFAN]

Well, I agree the team has a plan and that they stuck to their plan on draft day. I am not sure that the plan was not to take on any more rookies. I think they know we do not have a good situation at point guard, now only an average Blake and a backup who has not shown any real indication that he can be a PG (or a shooting guard). And there are not any point guards on the free agent list who are outstanding defensively and with outstanding speed. Given those facts I think the Blazers wanted to get Lawson or at least Collison. (I believe they will be going after a free agent PG but also wanted insurance in case they can't get who they want and/or they want to have someone on the team who can develop into the kind of player they really want).

They hoped that one of them would fall to #22 because they didn't really have the assets to move up any higher. I at first thought that they could have traded a future first to get Lawson (as Denver did) but then read that Denver traded a Charlotte pick that they owned, which of course should be a lot higher pick.

I think this is why the mood was somber, almost depressed (as described or implied by Nate Mc Millan) after the draft. It is true that they got the players they targeted, they just didn't get all of them. And this explains why Claver went at such a high pick; I believe the original plan was to take Lawson/Collison, at 22, Claver at 31, Pendergraph at 32 and either hope Cunningham fell to 55 or make another small trade to try to get him.

 

[gambitnut]

I'd say I was more confused than disappointed, but KP must have had his reasons for picking the players he did, and he's been right so far.

 

[BrianFromWA]

Claver > Claven

Not on Jeopardy.