"I made one guarantee back then, and I still make the same guarantee," Kevin Pritchard, the Blazers' general manager, said in his office at the team's practice facility on Sunday. "I don't know how many wins we're going to have, I don't know if we're going to win a championship, but I do know one thing: I guarantee we're going to make this community proud of this team. I'm not saying that's right for everybody, it's just what works for us. We want to be a team that is built around character; so if you don't fit that, you're immediately eliminated. We have a shorter list and a harder list. Basketball is potentially a very selfish game. There's only one ball, and there's nine other people on the court at one time. But if you're willing to give up for the organization, we will reward you. We will take care of you. And we did that with Steve Blake, we did that with Joel Przybilla, we did that with Travis Outlaw, we'll do it with LaMarcus and Brandon this summer if we can. I think we've identified, and the players know, if you do right for this organization, you're going to be rewarded."
