David Aldridge article on Millsap situation

[SodaPopinski]

http://www.nba.com/2009/news/features/david_aldridge/07/13/millsap.offer/index.html

Couple interesting tidbits:

Those who think Portland's going to roll over the Jazz don't know who they're dealing with. Utah isn't flashy or sexy, but the people in the Jazz organization aren't chumps, either. The very stability that allows Jerry Sloan to coach the team his way, year after year, allows O'Connor to do his job, day after day. He has the complete trust of the Miller family to do whatever he thinks is best for the team. There is next to no micromanaging. And while the Miller family doesn't want to pay tax in perpetuity, Larry Miller's, shall we say, hardline approach on salaries has left his team in excellent financial health, relative to other teams around the league.

What is not going to happen is a three-way deal between Utah, Chicago and Portland that was out in the trade winds last week. I don't deal in rumored trades because they're just that -- rumors, and someone else's sources are not mine. I will just say this: two of the three teams mentioned in that potential deal have told me, flat out, that there was never one minute's discussion about that reported deal in their offices. If these guys are lying to me, it's the first time, and while anything is possible during this silly season, it would be terribly disappointing.

The spreading of that rumor has led more than one team to repeat the charge, often heard around the NBA, that potential "deals" that involve the Blazers -- and, pointedly, always seem to favor the Blazers -- are conveniently leaked at optimum times.

"Those guys spend an awful lot of time making sure everyone knows how smart they are," sniffed a rival GM, and how much of that sentiment is jealousy from teams that don't have the wherewithal to buy draft picks at will and stash prospects overseas, the largesse of a billionaire owner at their backs, I leave to your good minds to discern.

For their part, the Blazers are in a no-lose situation with Millsap -- get him, and they add to their already formidable frontcourt depth, with enough potential flexibility (the expiring contracts of Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw) to absorb the deal and still be able to get extensions to Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. If not, the Blazers get their $7 million in room back and will still be the team that anyone looking to do an unbalanced deal will have to call -- and that's a scenario under which they might be able to pry, say, Kirk Hinrich from Chicago. And Portland also has a $2.9 million trade exception available from last year's deal with Sacramento for Ike Diogu. They also have a 54-win team to build on, with Greg Oden looking like he'll be ready to rock.

 

[alex42083]

Again with the f'ing GM being jealous of KP. I wonder if that's the same GM over and over who's willing to talk about that kind of stuff to all the writers. Just reveal yourself, Chris Wallace, you idiot.

 

[Wheels]

Again with the f'ing GM being jealous of KP. I wonder if that's the same GM over and over who's willing to talk about that kind of stuff to all the writers. Just reveal yourself, Chris Wallace, you idiot.

gotta be Presti.. young gun GM rivalry!!!

 

[OddEnormous]

Jesus Christ! How exactly does leaking/floating a trade rumor that benefits the Blazers yet never goes through make Kevin Pritchard look smart?

Fucking Christ.



NBA writers are as dumb as fucking rocks.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I love to hear that KP and the Blazers piss off the rest of the league. I think it helps quiet the "KP will make a move" birds. Teams just don't like us very much.

Also, I don't believe we have our TPE do we? Isn't it either cap space or TPE?

 

[illmatic99]

"Those guys spend an awful lot of time making sure everyone knows how smart they are," sniffed a rival GM, and how much of that sentiment is jealousy from teams that don't have the wherewithal to buy draft picks at will and stash prospects overseas, the largesse of a billionaire owner at their backs, I leave to your good minds to discern.

This is exactly the sentiment AWoj was expressing, and frankly, it bugs the hell out of me. I really hope KP and crew aren't burning bridges and killing relationships with other teams, preventing them from making trades in the future.

On a related note, a poster on a Bucks' forum who apparently is connected said the same thing:

BUT... that somewhat occurred DESPITE Pritchard. He had grander designs than Paul Millsap.

So I do have to chuckle at things not working out like he was sure they would.
The guy is an arrogant prick who has become despised by pretty much everyone working in NBA front offices all around the league. The way he deals with people is horrendous, and his smug sense of self-entitlement rubs everyone the wrong way.

Teams would try and work out deals with him, but after a number of things worked out well for Portland (certainly plenty of credit goes to Pritchard, but as this article points out, he had various advantages via his owner that most GMs can only dream of, yet instead of being humble about that, he acted like all of Portland's success was due to Kevin Pritchard being the greatest and smartest GM in the history of the NBA), Pritchard got real cocky and treated every other GM as his inferior. He basically would laugh at any proposals that didn't have Pritchard dominating that trade. And he'd tell the other GM that they had to realize that if they wanted to make a trade with Portland, they would have to accept that they would need to make sure Portland is "winning" that trade significantly, otherwise Portland had no incentive to do it, because Pritchard could just do a different trade that he'd win significantly. Pritchard really reminds me of a kid in high school who has plenty going for them and not only flaunts it, but rubs people's faces in it and expects their gratitude. Like a popular jock who happens to be a total d-bag that gets an unpopular kid to do all their homework for them.

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=20206307#p20206307

 

[Idog1976]

"Those guys spend an awful lot of time making sure everyone knows how smart they are," sniffed a rival GM, and how much of that sentiment is jealousy from teams that don't have the wherewithal to buy draft picks at will and stash prospects overseas, the largesse of a billionaire owner at their backs, I leave to your good minds to discern.

Is it Jealousy or does our front office play a bit too much hardball? Better put is our front office really more arrogant then the rest of the league?

Seems like more and more that our front office is more disliked then respected or admired. I notice though that team after team is building on our model.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Jesus Christ! How exactly does leaking/floating a trade rumor that benefits the Blazers yet never goes through make Kevin Pritchard look smart?

Fucking Christ.



NBA writers are as dumb as fucking rocks.

It probably helps the Blazers by getting it into the media. Puts pressure on a team by their fans.

Look at what Quick's article did to a lot of people here about Roy's contract situation.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Is it Jealousy or does our front office play a bit too much hardball? Better put is our front office really more arrogant then the rest of the league?

Seems like more and more that our front office is more disliked then respected or admired. I notice though that team after team is building on our model.

Answer it for yourself

"Team Presidents and General Managers,

"The Portland Trail Blazers are aware that certain teams may be contemplating signing Darius Miles to a contract for the purpose of adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers Salary Cap and tax positions. Such conduct from a team would violate its fiduciary duty as an NBA joint venturer. In addition, persons or entities involved in such conduct may be individually liable to the Portland Trail Blazers for tortuously interfering with the Portland Trail Blazers' contract rights and perspective economic opportunities.

"Please be aware that if a team engages in such conduct, the Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation."

 

[Natebishop3]

I was thinking about it, and I honestly think that we fully expect Utah to match the Millsap offer. I think all the incentives and the up-front cash was simply there to make their life harder and stick it to them. They've mentioned twice now that they don't like to be bullied, and I think that's exactly what we did... put together a reasonable offer, albeit one with some nasty incentives, just to screw them over. I'm wondering if, at this point, KP really even has a free agent target he's pursuing.

 

[andalusian]

Until we actually hear from a FO representative that they are disliked - this is questionable at best.

I did hear both Steve Kerr and Morey (The Rockets GM, hope the spelling is right) admire the job he has done.

 

[OddEnormous]

I love to hear that KP and the Blazers piss off the rest of the league. I think it helps quiet the "KP will make a move" birds.

Deleted.

 

[Idog1976]

This is exactly the sentiment AWoj was expressing, and frankly, it bugs the hell out of me. I really hope KP and crew aren't burning bridges and killing relationships with other teams, preventing them from making trades in the future.

On a related note, a poster on a Bucks' forum who apparently is connected said the same thing:

http://www.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=20206307#p20206307

That doesn't sound good. I hope they aren't treating Roy the way they treat other GM's. I also think KP and Penn need to step up to the plate and start offering/accepting reasonable trades. I hope that poster is wrong. You can never tell what is jealousy and what is mistakes on KP's part. Seems odd to me that he would be modest if a bit smug in public and then behind the scenes be a complete jackass.

If it is a couple of GM's poisoning the well I would guess it's Ainge and Wallace.

Sounds like it could just be KP...

 

[Idog1976]

Answer it for yourself

I still think the "memo" was reasonable. We weren't saying don't sign a great talent FA like Turkoglu we were saying don't sign a D-bag broken down locker room jerk just to hose our cap.

People make WAYYYYY to big a deal over that.

 

[OddEnormous]

Sounds like it could just be KP...

Based on hearsay, unsubstantiated cowardly quotes, and message board posts.

HEY! GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!!!

 

[SodaPopinski]

Honestly, I think some of this "resentment" GM's are expressing comes from the fact they don't have the financial backing of a wealthy owner like KP does.

But at the end of the day, they have to look out for themselves, and we have more attractive assets (i.e. cap space) than other teams do in this economy. And if we're the best looking girl at the dance, we're eventually going to be asked to dance. The other GM's might scuff their feet in the corner by the punch bowl waiting for us to ask them to dance, but the closer we get to the last song, the better looking we become and the more desperate they become.

 

[alex42083]

I was thinking about it, and I honestly think that we fully expect Utah to match the Millsap offer. I think all the incentives and the up-front cash was simply there to make their life harder and stick it to them. They've mentioned twice now that they don't like to be bullied, and I think that's exactly what we did... put together a reasonable offer, albeit one with some nasty incentives, just to screw them over. I'm wondering if, at this point, KP really even has a free agent target he's pursuing.

haha.. so KP is just so bitter and pissed off about how the off-season has gone that he just had a plan of bringing some other team down, and might as well be Utah since we hate them.
As amusing as that sounds.. I wouldn't think so.. or hope so.

 

[Wheels]

Arent the teams or guys that are really good the ones that are loved by many, yet hated by more? Its nice to be relevant. and KP has made it happen. I like the guy for that.

 

[Wheels]

Honestly, I think some of this "resentment" GM's are expressing comes from the fact they don't have the financial backing of a wealthy owner like KP does.

But at the end of the day, they have to look out for themselves, and we have more attractive assets (i.e. cap space) than other teams do in this economy. And if we're the best looking girl at the dance, we're eventually going to be asked to dance. The other GM's might scuff their feet in the corner by the punch bowl waiting for us to ask them to dance, but the closer we get to the last song, the better looking we become and the more desperate they become.

kinda like the "Uncle Phil" comments huh.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Deleted.

I'm not sure you are allowed to be so direct.

If a mod is watching, I am very offended, and really don't know how to handle such a bully. Please help me!!!!

 

[Wheels]

I'm not sure you are allowed to be so direct.

If a mod is watching, I am very offended, and really don't know how to handle such a bully. Please help me!!!!

 

[Mediocre Man]

Arent the teams or guys that are really good the ones that are loved by many, yet hated by more? Its nice to be relevant. and KP has made it happen. I like the guy for that.

That's a great point. There are far more people in the world that either love or hate the Cowboys or Raiders than theur are people in the world the love or hate the Titans or Vikings

 

[mook]

Pritchard got real cocky and treated every other GM as his inferior. He basically would laugh at any proposals that didn't have Pritchard dominating that trade. And he'd tell the other GM that they had to realize that if they wanted to make a trade with Portland, they would have to accept that they would need to make sure Portland is "winning" that trade significantly, otherwise Portland had no incentive to do it, because Pritchard could just do a different trade that he'd win significantly.

That's pretty much the truth, though, isn't it? Portland is sitting on a lot of young, talented players who aren't getting paid much. Pritchard has got a roster that nearly any GM would love to play with. And it just won 54 games. On top of that, he's got an owner with deep pockets, and currently one of the most supportive fanbases in the NBA.

Most teams (including us not so long ago) have some serious warts, and so they make deals out of necessity. We really don't have any major warts. There isn't much necessity. Is it really such a bad thing that he doesn't want to make a deal unless it's a huge win for Portland?

I can see how Pritchard's personal style might be grating. But it's a business. I find it hard to believe it's really doing much to hurt us. I work with people all the time I don't really like, but it doesn't affect my job.

Keep being a prick, Pritchard. Don't make a deal unless it's a talent upgrade for us. Even if we have a hole at starting PG and could use a vet at SF, I'd rather us do nothing than do a swap that drops us in overall talent. We've got the youth, the cheap contracts and the cap space. We're probably going to win at least 54 games again if we don't do anything. If another team wants access to our assets, they better pay for it by giving up players who have more realized talent.

 

[OddEnormous]

I'm not sure you are allowed to be so direct.

If a mod is watching, I am very offended, and really don't know how to handle such a bully. Please help me!!!!

Deleted.

 

[e_blazer]

I love to hear that KP and the Blazers piss off the rest of the league. I think it helps quiet the "KP will make a move" birds. Teams just don't like us very much.

Also, I don't believe we have our TPE do we? Isn't it either cap space or TPE?

Yes, the TPE would have to be renounced in order for the Blazers to make a signing using cap space.

As far as teams not liking the Blazers very much...I'm sure that there's some truth to that. The memo sent to league executives about signing Miles had to rub a lot of GMs the wrong way. The fact that the Blazers have an owner who isn't pinching pennies right now and are looking to capitalize on it by prying players away from less affluent owners can't endear them to other GMs. The glowing remarks that KP got for rebuilding the Blazers, along with the "Pritchslap" nonsense, undoubtedly didn't make him any friends. I think KP maybe is learning that there's a price to be paid in the NBA good ol' boy network for those kinds of issues.

But all of that aside, the Blazers remain only one of two teams with cap space. In a down economy, that's a good position to be in. Whether a deal is found this summer or has to wait until sometime before the deadline, there will be a deal to be had that will benefit the Blazers. I know that you don't agree with this, MM, but I'm certain of it.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

I don't see the point in pointing out that he's got a billionaire owner behind him when we're under the luxury tax.

 

[alex42083]

Deleted.

Maybe you should direct this to the GM who keeps whining and moaning about KP and our team.

 

[OddEnormous]

Maybe you should direct this to the GM who keeps whining and moaning about KP and our team.

Do you have his facebook url?

I've got a few things to get off my chest.

 

[Idog1976]

Based on hearsay, unsubstantiated cowardly quotes, and message board posts.

HEY! GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!!!

Well it's starting to be posted by more and more sports writers. Either Ainge and Wallace are working over time or there is something else going on. Jealousy or a bit O'truth lord knows I don't know which it is.

 

[STOMP]

The spreading of that rumor has led more than one team to repeat the charge, often heard around the NBA, that potential "deals" that involve the Blazers -- and, pointedly, always seem to favor the Blazers -- are conveniently leaked at optimum times.

"Those guys spend an awful lot of time making sure everyone knows how smart they are," sniffed a rival GM, and how much of that sentiment is jealousy from teams that don't have the wherewithal to buy draft picks at will and stash prospects overseas, the largesse of a billionaire owner at their backs, I leave to your good minds to discern.

first of all thats a first rate run-on sentence. Second what sort of bizaro world is this? Year after year most of the rumors involving Portland have them getting fleeced. Now Aldridge is trying to convince me that they were not only getting the better of those deals but were leaking the rumors out to make themselves seem smart???

STOMP