Portland Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard said Friday morning, despite a report in a Spanish newspaper that Sergio Rodriguez and his Spanish agent, Jose Ortiz, are demanding a trade, that Rodriguez is not on his way out of Portland.
"We like Sergio, and we are not in any discussions,'' Pritchard said. "We want to see this team, and we want to see this team grow. It's awfully early to be even talking about this stuff.''
Friday's online edition of Marca.com published a story that included Ortiz saying Blazers coach Nate McMillan does not afford Rodriguez the playing time or leeway he does with other young players. As a result, the agent said he wants Rodriguez to be traded.
Pritchard said this is an "old story" and that internally the issue has "passed". He said he chooses not to deal with Ortiz, instead opting to talk with Rodriguez's American agent, Herb Rudoy. Rudoy has a long history with the Blazers, dating back to when he represented Arvydas Sabonis. Pritchard said he spoke with Rudoy about Rodriguez "a couple weeks ago".
Pritchard said he is disappointed that Ortiz is making an issue.
