this should put an end to the argument...

[drexlersdad]

that the randolph trade did/did not get us rudy.

But the real key in that move was that new assistant GM Tom Penn quickly realized that the trade created a $3 million trade exception for the Blazers because they had sent more salary to New York than they received. The exception allowed the Blazers to take on a contract with nothing in return despite being over the salary cap (normally they would have to match the salary with that of another player in return). This was vital, Pritchard said, because none of the teams in the late first round were willing to sell their picks directly. The Blazers had to be willing to take on a contract.

"If we don't get that exception, we don't get that trade completed, and Tom was a huge part of that," Pritchard said. "So Tom's working with the league, getting that trade done. ... And he goes, 'Kevin, you got the trade exception.' And that's when I went, 'phew,' on my way to work with any team I could get to take on a contract and take their pick, and give them a little bit of cash. So once we got that, I mean, it was done."

Pritchard found the deal during the middle of the first round, somewhere around the time that the 13th or 14th picks were being made: Phoenix, which was in cost-cutting mode, was willing to sell the No. 24 pick, so long as the Blazers were willing to take on the contract of James Jones, which was a little more than $3 million. The Blazers could acquire Jones' contract with the trade exception. All they needed was the willingness of owner Paul Allen to spend $3 million for the draft pick.

but i think we can all agree on this

"I remember Paul Allen, we said, "Paul, can we do this?'" Pritchard said. "'We've got to use some of the resources to go and get the pick.' Mr. Allen's the greatest in the draft room. If it feels like it makes us better, we do it. And that's why, get it in your article, he is the best owner ever. Rudy would not be on our team without Paul Allen."

Allen agreed to do the deal, which was contingent on Fernandez being available at No. 24.

link

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

More spin by the MSM. Rudy could have been bought, as we did with Sergio the previous year with the same team!

 

[drexlersdad]

haha i guess they are all just lying.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

haha i guess they are all just lying.

They did then, they are now. Just like the myth of Pritchard pushing for CP3 when in fact he was ecstatic to get Jack + Webster!

 

[maxiep]

I do agree with KP that we have the best owner in the league. I don't think PA gets enough credit.

 

[AgentDrazenPetrovic]

I do agree with KP that we have the best owner in the league. I don't think PA gets enough credit.

Paul Allen = Streetz

 

[Jack RamsaysPants]

It won't end the argument because obviously people will choose to believe what they want to believe.

 

[maxiep]

Truth be told, if we would have pushed the Knicks harder, we likely could have gotten the #23 pick from them as well. That means we don't even deal with Phoenix and we still get Rudy.

My beef wasn't trading Randolph, it was not forcing the Knicks to take Miles for Malik Rose or to give us the #1 pick in exchange for a few of our 2nd round picks.