Kenny Vance On KP

[EL PRESIDENTE]

RLEC was not traded in order to have that sweet, sweet imaginary cap space.

 

[Sug]

I wonder if any of the same posters who are justifying KP's job by the Blazer team record are also saying that Nate should be fired?

I do not think if KP is fired it is because he didn't take the team to the next level. If KP gets fired, it is because behind the scene he pissed off the boss, IMO. Personally I don't have a difficult time believing that KP was complaining about his salary or questioning PA. KP has never been bashful to take credit, talk to the media and build himself up. I don´t think badly of KP, but he is a young GM who up until the time of the Penn firing seemed a bit full of himself (understandably so). If KP gets fired, he will survive. He has skills and I suspect will mature and learn from this experience to use in his next GM job (speak softly but carry a big wallet)

As for the Blazers, they too will survive as KP is not the only good GM out there . . . but PA is one of the few owners willing to spend whatever it takes to win a championship. So give me PA over KP any day.

Hope KP stays, but I for one don´t need an explanation when a boss decides to fire one his staff. In fact it would be in bad taste to talk shit about a GM when firing them. Just stay professional and leave it at professional differnces.

This is not a chicken or egg situation. The GM has a much greater impact on what the coach can do, than the coach does on the GM.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I don't think it is about RLEC becauae that goes into an analysis of how is doing overall with his job. he has made some mistakes, but the overall product he has put into place is a good one and not worthy of being fired, IMO. I'm convinced it was something behind the scene that KP did or said that rubbed PA the wrong way.

 

[craigehlo]

Last summer was KP's downfall.

Gave LaMarcus $65m

Full court press for Hedo Turkoglu

Rocky negotiations with Roy and his agent over extension.

I think Oden's graham cracker knees were the the final nail in the coffin for KP. Fair or not, someone had to pay for passing on Durant. If this team could make it deep into the playoffs, he might have been spared. But the team he built couldn't save him ultimately.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I don't think it is about RLEC becauae that goes into an analysis of how is doing overall with his job. he has made some mistakes, but the overall product he has put into place is a good one and not worthy of being fired, IMO. I'm convinced it was something behind the scene that KP did or said that rubbed PA the wrong way.

Regardless of whether this was a personal conflict or a job performance problem, the guy is gone (or almost certainly so). Time to move on and hope his replacement is capable and talented.

 

[BGrantFan]

Regardless of whether this was a personal conflict or a job performance problem, the guy is gone (or almost certainly so). Time to move on and hope his replacement is capable and talented.

If Seattle gets the #1 pick in 2007 ... what a different vibe this team would have right now. Oden needs to be healthy this year. I don't care if he needs a fucking knee replacement to stay on the court.

 

[Blaze01]

Overestimating the worth of Rudy, bayless and some of the other young prospects has to hurt KP as well.....Rudy's drop in value from last year to this year makes dealing him now, selling him low, or otherwise keep him for another year where he complains\sulks about his role....He waited too long...

 

[Draco]

Last summer was KP's downfall.

Gave LaMarcus $65m

Full court press for Hedo Turkoglu

Rocky negotiations with Roy and his agent over extension.

Exactly! The LaMarcus extension was a joke, the team had all the bargaining power but wilted under the tiniest bit of pressure from fans and the media.

This team would be much better off if Brandon and LaMarcus were currently going to be restricted free agents this summer. But no they are both locked up under massive long term deals that harm the strategic position of the franchise just as the summer when Zach/Darius/Theo were given massive contracts.

 

[BGrantFan]

Overestimating the worth of Rudy, bayless and some of the other young prospects has to hurt KP as well.....Rudy's drop in value from last year to this year makes dealing him now, selling him low, or otherwise keep him for another year where he complains\sulks about his role....He waited too long...

With Rudy's low contract, what exactly would you think you could receive for him? Plus, were you here advocating trading Rudy after the 2008-09 season? If you weren't, then your opinion seems to be based in hindsight. If you can link me to you advocating a trade of Rudy after his rooike year, I'll take your opinion as more than just criticism.

 

[BlazerCaravan]

RLEC was not traded in order to have that sweet, sweet imaginary cap space.

RLEC saved Paul Allen money. Say what you want about cap space; Allen also wanted to run a lean ship, and this is one way of doing that.

 

[OddEnormous]

Paul likes basketball to be exciting

Then why does McDillon still have a job?

 

[1 Eye Jack]

Well said! Repped

 

[Stevenson]

I still don't buy it....Nothing KP has done (or not done) would deserve his canning, IMO.

/rant re-run

I like KP a lot too, but let me try and make the devil's advocate case against him -

Spent $6 million of the owners $ to buy two draft picks that were a waste of money - Rudy and Sergio

Drafted an injury prone big guy

Almost completely wasted the cap space on Hedo and lucked out with Andre

Wasted the LaFrenz opportunity

Ball hog, publicity-wise

And the unknown incident, whatever it is

I'm sure I am missing something...

 

[ppilot]

I like KP a lot too, but let me try and make the devil's advocate case against him -

Spent $6 million of the owners $ to buy two draft picks that were a waste of money - Rudy and Sergio

Drafted an injury prone big guy

Almost completely wasted the cap space on Hedo and lucked out with Andre

Wasted the LaFrenz opportunity

Ball hog, publicity-wise

And the unknown incident, whatever it is

I'm sure I am missing something...

Has been from all accounts instrumental restablishing the connection with community.
Dinging him for drafting Oden over Durant makes not sense since Oden was almost a unanimous selection for #1. Unfortunately predicting future injuries is not one of KP's strong Points
Overall his draft successes have greatly exceeded his failures - Roy, LMA, Batum, Cunningham, and I would even put Rudy in there because he was a late first round pick and Fernandez can change a game when his head is right.
RLEC - We have absolutely no idea what was available at the time - the name being thrown around - Carter, Jefferson, Wallace would not have helped the team based on what was given up.

The problem I have is that even a skeptical person would have to admit that Job Performance is definitely not the cause. The new Hat Man idea being thrown out there makes more sense or some other internal struggle originating from Seattle. This has been the general consensus from most of the media besides Woj.

 

[maxiep]

For some reason, I have an uncomfortable feeling about him. Can't place my finger on it but he kind of reminds me of Whitsitt Lite.

If you've ever met Warkentien, he's more like Whitsitt Heavy.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I'm firmly of the opinion that if there was a problem with the team KP constructed, or how much of PA's money he spent, then he's be gone right now.
I don't know what exactly it was (and we'll never know--for legal, HR reasons, etc.) but there was a problem with Penn, and he was fired immediately. KP did something non-basketball-related (over and above his arrogance, want for more cash and "pritch-slapping", which would've been evident to his bosses from almost Day One) that got on the wrong side of the owner.
I've been among those who've questioned KP's moves/non-moves, but this isn't going to be a basketball firing. This is going to be personal. And we won't get a sniff, except from a leak from Mr. LeGarie to someone other than Wojo.

 

[Sug]

Has been from all accounts instrumental restablishing the connection with community.
Dinging him for drafting Oden over Durant makes not sense since Oden was almost a unanimous selection for #1. Unfortunately predicting future injuries is not one of KP's strong Points
Overall his draft successes have greatly exceeded his failures - Roy, LMA, Batum, Cunningham, and I would even put Rudy in there because he was a late first round pick and Fernandez can change a game when his head is right.
RLEC - We have absolutely no idea what was available at the time - the name being thrown around - Carter, Jefferson, Wallace would not have helped the team based on what was given up.

The problem I have is that even a skeptical person would have to admit that Job Performance is definitely not the cause. The new Hat Man idea being thrown out there makes more sense or some other internal struggle originating from Seattle. This has been the general consensus from most of the media besides Woj.

The team winning is all that matters when it comes to the Blazer fans loving the team, it has always been that way. The culture thing is cute, but it is bullshit. The general tolerance for knuckleheads rises and falls with the number of wins. Heck even when this team had some tough times people were down on Brandon Roy, who is perhaps one of the best culture guys this city has ever seen. We have some crazy fans that make up a very vocal minority, I would guess around 95% of Blazer nation only really care about the wins. The other 5% posts their views here and at other sites. I mean how many users do we have here? Maybe 50 or so regular posters? That is bug shit on a window, it is visible but it doesn't really dominate the whole picture.

 

[Draco]

If you've ever met Warkentien, he's more like Whitsitt Heavy.

No doubt! He loves beer, BBQ and basketball.

 

[Tince]

If you've ever met Warkentien, he's more like Whitsitt Heavy.

You think? I don't think he's more extreme than Trader Bob by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[maxiep]

You think? I don't think he's more extreme than Trader Bob by any stretch of the imagination.

Warkentien weighs at least three bills.

 

[Wheels]

If you've ever met Warkentien, he's more like Whitsitt Heavy.

 

[Blaze01]

With Rudy's low contract, what exactly would you think you could receive for him? Plus, were you here advocating trading Rudy after the 2008-09 season? If you weren't, then your opinion seems to be based in hindsight. If you can link me to you advocating a trade of Rudy after his rooike year, I'll take your opinion as more than just criticism.

His trade value was higher last year and that is a fact....

I wasn't advocating trading him, I think he has been grossly underutilized for the most part....

I was extremely dissapointed at his play in the playoffs however, no excuses there for him IMO...he just flat out dissapeared....

But I am not paid GM, Kevin Pritchard is, he is the guy that has to recognize these issues before they become a bigger problem.....Rudy complained about his role last year, and wasn't happy with the way Nate utilized him...and what? Pritchard just thought that everything would blow over? He is paid to be GM, not #1 fan.....He either didn't recognize the problem and\or he greatly overvalued Rudy's potential\value to this team....

Like I said before, taken as a whole I think KP has done a good job, certainly good enough to KEEP the job, but it is not like he hasn't made mistakes....Not trading Rudy last year was a mistake....

Stop being a homer and least try to look at things objectively...I want KP to stay, I think Allen is showing a complete lack of professionalism in the way this is being handled...but Pritchard hasn't done everything right either....

 

[jlprk]

Plus, were you here advocating trading Rudy after the 2008-09 season? If you weren't, then your opinion seems to be based in hindsight. If you can link me to you advocating a trade of Rudy after his rooike year, I'll take your opinion as more than just criticism.

You're saying that fans should recognize when a player's value peaks before the GM does. But he's the paid expert. He's supposed to be ahead of the curve that we laymen are on.

It's similar to someone saying in response to LaFrentz criticism, can you figure out a good player we could have gotten for LaFrentz? That defense of Pritchard assumes it's the fans' responsibility to do the GM's job. He's supposed to be smarter than we are.

 

[BGrantFan]

You're saying that fans should recognize when a player's value peaks before the GM does. But he's the paid expert. He's supposed to be ahead of the curve that we laymen are on.

It's similar to someone saying in response to LaFrentz criticism, can you figure out a good player we could have gotten for LaFrentz? That defense of Pritchard assumes it's the fans' responsibility to do the GM's job. He's supposed to be smarter than we are.

As I said, 20/20 hindsight manifested as criticism. We can do that with everybody in every instance. It's a sign of a lazy mind, IMO. We all do it, to some degree. Plus, you just admitted that you are a layman. I'll be sure to remember that the next time you ramble on about what's wrong with the Blazers.