Where KP's head is at: Today is not the day.

[KingSpeed]

http://www.iamatrailblazersfan.com/ArticleDisplayPlaceholder/tabid/192/ItemID/1122/Default.aspx

I'm sure many of you already saw that interview but two passages bear analysis:

"I’ve had players come to me and say ‘Listen, I know you guys could be looking to do things.’ I’ve had guys come to me and say ‘Let’s keep this team together. Let’s look at what this team can do. We’re playing as hard as we can, so don’t we deserve the benefit of the doubt?’ I’ve got to take that into account."

So who are those players? I'm thinking Juwan Howard and maybe Brandon Roy.

"We don’t know what Brandon, Oden, LaMarcus looks like after 50 games. It takes 50 games, in my mind, to get even a comfort level. Then you throw Andre in there and now Bayless, who has really played well, and now we have Batum back. What are we with our full complement? I don’t think anybody knows. No one could even predict that."

Interesting. So there's your core in KP's mind. No mention of Travis, Rudy, or Martell.

 

[MIXUM]

rudy cant even hit a three as of late.

websters too streaky

outlaw wont be resigned

 

[oldmangrouch]

http://www.iamatrailblazersfan.com/ArticleDisplayPlaceholder/tabid/192/ItemID/1122/Default.aspx

I'm sure many of you already saw that interview but two passages bear analysis:

"I’ve had players come to me and say ‘Listen, I know you guys could be looking to do things.’ I’ve had guys come to me and say ‘Let’s keep this team together. Let’s look at what this team can do. We’re playing as hard as we can, so don’t we deserve the benefit of the doubt?’ I’ve got to take that into account."

So who are those players? I'm thinking Juwan Howard and maybe Brandon Roy.

"We don’t know what Brandon, Oden, LaMarcus looks like after 50 games. It takes 50 games, in my mind, to get even a comfort level. Then you throw Andre in there and now Bayless, who has really played well, and now we have Batum back. What are we with our full complement? I don’t think anybody knows. No one could even predict that."

Interesting. So there's your core in KP's mind. No mention of Travis, Rudy, or Martell.

The short answer: no, you don't get the benefit of the doubt - this is a business. No, you don't know what the team would look like if everybody was healthy. I don't know how fast my one dog could run if he had 4 legs instead of 3. What's your point?

 

[ABM]

The short answer: no, you don't get the benefit of the doubt....

Conversely, based upon past performances, I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt.............unless/until he proves me otherwise. To me, it's the prudent/reasonable thing to do.

 

[oldmangrouch]

Conversely, based upon past performances, I'm gonna give him the benefit of the doubt.............unless/until he proves me otherwise. To me, it's the prudent/reasonable thing to do.

I think you misread the original quote. It is the *players* who are asking KP for the benefit of the doubt. Outside of Roy, which of them have actually earned it?

 

[ABM]

I think you misread the original quote. It is the *players* who are asking KP for the benefit of the doubt. Outside of Roy, which of them have actually earned it?

They haven't yet received the benefit of playing together as an entire team.............the way it was envisioned when pieced together. I can agree with their laments.

 

[Sug]

I wonder if KP thinks his cock is still going to grow at his age?

KPs view of the Blazers can be summed up in one word: Potential. This can work out really well, or it never develops.

 

[Ed O]

Listening to the players in terms of personnel decisions is ridiculous.

I don't mind KP not making a deal, but if he's passing up deals that he would otherwise make because of players' input... that's stupid. And if he's not passing up deals he'd otherwise make, why mention player input at all?

Dumb dumb dumb.

Ed O.

 

[julius]

I'm serious when I ask this question.

Of the players that Portland could've traded the RLEC for last year, who has turned out to turn their team around, or is having a career year?

Outside of Jason Kidd (who was not a player we could've traded the RLEC for, but was one who KP "passed on"...despite him apparently not wanting to come to Portland), I don't think there are many players out there who we fans think we should've traded for, that has done good enough to warrant the amount of insane bitching certain posters do.

So when Butler and Haywood don't help Dallas go any further in the playoffs, are we still going ot hear about it?

Or when the Cavs make it o the finals (as if Amare' all the sudden would be the reason why), are we going to hear about how KP didn't trade players for Amare?

I did a quick checker, http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=yhmqaoy, and if Phoenix is truly looking for expiring contracts, that's probably the best we could do.

Not sure us trading 3 PG's, Joel and Juwan would be a wise thing.

But hey, we'd get Amar'e!!! Who would then have to play PF, and move LmA to C, until next year when Greg comes back and returns to C. Then we could trade LaMarcus and people would start bitching about how poor of a rebounder Amare is!

hooray!

 

[barfo]

The short answer: no, you don't get the benefit of the doubt - this is a business. No, you don't know what the team would look like if everybody was healthy. I don't know how fast my one dog could run if he had 4 legs instead of 3. What's your point?

So are you gonna trade the dog for a 4-legged one?

barfo

 

[Ed O]

I'm serious when I ask this question.

Of the players that Portland could've traded the RLEC for last year, who has turned out to turn their team around, or is having a career year?

Who won the Nobel prize who we could've traded the RLEC for?

Who cares?

A player doesn't need to have a career year or to "turn a team around" to be worth acquiring.

In any case, that's not relevant to this thread, which involves KP seemingly not making deals he otherwise would based on the players' input.

Ed O.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Listening to the players in terms of personnel decisions is ridiculous.

I don't mind KP not making a deal, but if he's passing up deals that he would otherwise make because of players' input... that's stupid. And if he's not passing up deals he'd otherwise make, why mention player input at all?

Dumb dumb dumb.

Ed O.

KP strikes me as an emotional thinker, hearing stuff like this only reinforces that suspicion. Making moves (or not) based on player input tells me he's either too close to them, or too emotionally attached to step back and look at the bigger picture -- which for an NBA GM should ALWAYS be about the ultimate goal of winning a championship, not creating a basketball family -- I don't have a problem if he's holding onto his players because he legitimately thinks they are part of that puzzle, but when people say stuff like,

"I’ve had players come to me and say ‘Listen, I know you guys could be looking to do things.’ I’ve had guys come to me and say ‘Let’s keep this team together. Let’s look at what this team can do. We’re playing as hard as we can, so don’t we deserve the benefit of the doubt?’ I’ve got to take that into account."

I think it's fair to start questioning his objectivity and decision making process.

 

[barfo]

KP strikes me as an emotional thinker, hearing stuff like this only reinforces that suspicion. Making moves (or not) based on player input tells me he's either too close to them, or too emotionally attached to step back and look at the bigger picture -- which for an NBA GM should ALWAYS be about the ultimate goal of winning a championship, not creating a basketball family -- I don't have a problem if he's holding onto his players because he legitimately thinks they are part of that puzzle, but when people say stuff like, I think it's fair to start questioning his objectivity and decision making process.

Or, he's just talking. If you were KP, would you tell the press the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

barfo

 

[Nikolokolus]

Or, he's just talking. If you were KP, would you tell the press the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

barfo

If he's going to 'just talk' wouldn't it make more sense to say, "There just haven't been any good offers?"

 

[e_blazer]

KP strikes me as an emotional thinker, hearing stuff like this only reinforces that suspicion. Making moves (or not) based on player input tells me he's either too close to them, or too emotionally attached to step back and look at the bigger picture -- which for an NBA GM should ALWAYS be about the ultimate goal of winning a championship, not creating a basketball family -- I don't have a problem if he's holding onto his players because he legitimately thinks they are part of that puzzle, but when people say stuff like, I think it's fair to start questioning his objectivity and decision making process.

If you read the entire interview, it's clear that KP is looking at the bigger picture. He's looking at winning a title and he knows that this is not the year that's going to happen. The team has too many injuries to key players and not enough experience to have a realistic shot at winning this year. Couple that with the fact that the contracts of his younger players are too small to make a trade for a name player viable without giving up 3-4 players, he's apparently making the decision that this is not the time to look for the homerun trade. That doesn't mean that he won't make a deal, just that it won't be the blockbuster that it seems so many people around here are expecting. Something along the lines of getting someone like Bass or Thomas for Blake or Outlaw may be a reasonable move to add another big body and thin out the guard/SF logjam. I think there's a good chance he'll pull something like that off.

It seems to me that KP is pretty well grounded in his thinking. The nonsense that I read here so often about him being afraid to make a move or too much in love with his players is just that...total nonsense. Like all things in life, the timing has to be right and it just isn't right now for the Blazers.

 

[barfo]

If he's going to 'just talk' wouldn't it make more sense to say, "There just haven't been any good offers?"

Maybe. If there weren't any good offers, and the players asked you not to make a trade, wouldn't it be in your interest to attribute the lack of a trade to the player request? Makes the players feel like you got their back, and costs you nothing.

barfo

 

[MIXUM]

WHERES KPEES HEAD AT????????????

THATS EASY.... UP TOM PENNS ASS

 

[drexlersdad]

WHERES KPEES HEAD AT????????????

THATS EASY.... UP TOM PENNS ASS

you have strange fantasies.

 

[Public Defender]

If he's going to 'just talk' wouldn't it make more sense to say, "There just haven't been any good offers?"

I think KP has numerous ways he could equivocate over possible trade action. The most important thing to do, like in any negotiation, is not to let the other person know what your boundaries are. All he's telling anyone else is that he's happy with what he has. Whether that's because of the players' opinions, or something else, doesn't really matter. He's simply trying to reinforce a strong negotiating position. If he truly does want to make a move, there's still no harm in waxing lyrical about your players.

Much ado about nada, if you ask me.

How do you know when KP is lying? His lips are moving. How do you know beyond a doubt that he's lying? His lips are moving, and so is a reporter's pen.

 

[oldmangrouch]

So are you gonna trade the dog for a 4-legged one?

barfo

Fair question, actually.

No, I am not going to trade my dog. He is my companion, not a business asset. NBA players, OTOH, are business assets.

To put it another way - I am allowed to be attached to my dog. An NBA GM isn't allowed to get emotionally attached to individual players.

 

[drexlersdad]

I think KP has numerous ways he could equivocate over possible trade action. The most important thing to do, like in any negotiation, is not to let the other person know what your boundaries are. All he's telling anyone else is that he's happy with what he has. Whether that's because of the players' opinions, or something else, doesn't really matter. He's simply trying to reinforce a strong negotiating position. If he truly does want to make a move, there's still no harm in waxing lyrical about your players.

Much ado about nada, if you ask me.

How do you know when KP is lying? His lips are moving. How do you know beyond a doubt that he's lying? His lips are moving, and so is a reporter's pen.

i remember the day before zbo was traded kp was on jim rome talking about "we like zbo, he is a great player, blah blah"

 

[oldmangrouch]

How do you know when KP is lying? His lips are moving. How do you know beyond a doubt that he's lying? His lips are moving, and so is a reporter's pen.

OK, can't argue with that.

 

[drexlersdad]

Fair question, actually.

No, I am not going to trade my dog. He is my companion, not a business asset. NBA players, OTOH, are business assets.

To put it another way - I am allowed to be attached to my dog. An NBA GM isn't allowed to get emotionally attached to individual players.

i think he can and maybe should, a great work environment starts from the top. on the flip side, that attachment shouldnt hinder him from improving the team.

 

[BGrantFan]

My thought is that it is difficult for Pritchard to assess where his roster is at this point. It's still a young, improving team that has suffered a ton of injuries this year. That being the case, how do you know which sort of trade to make? I hope that the front office still sees Oden as a key to the future. His play this year was off the charts (a 23.4 PER??? Are you kidding me???) So, assuming Oden will still be a centerpiece to the future (excuse my obvious pun), what type of contract do you bring into Portland, and who do you get rid of at this point? I realize that Blake and Outlaw are obvious, but they alone aren't going to bring back much of value.

Could it be that the team is just waiting to see if something falls into their laps, and then they regroup this summer, give Oden one last shot next year, and if that fails, then it's on to the major Plan B?

 

[jlprk]

Listening to the players in terms of personnel decisions is ridiculous. I don't mind KP not making a deal, but if he's passing up deals that he would otherwise make because of players' input... that's stupid. And if he's not passing up deals he'd otherwise make, why mention player input at all?

I agree with you on a lot of basketball issues, Ed. It's bad enough that Weak Pritchard takes advice from his players, when he's supposed to be their boss and stay arms-length from them, so he can freely dispose of them at will.

But it's REALLY bad when he publicly uses the player's whines, begging him not to disrupt their easy lives, as his excuse for not clearing out the deadwood.

It's bad enough to do it secretly, but it's worse to do it publicly, so publicly that he uses it as his excuse!

In the second quote, Weak Pritchard says, no one knows what the team would be like after 50 games. Well who's the expert around here? Isn't he supposed to know? If he can't evaluate a team and pick out its weak points and clear them out every year, why don't we hire someone who can, such as any other GM in the NBA?

Nate was totally confused early in the season by having way too many similar players. Pritchard caused the problem. Can't wait till it repeats next Fall because Pritchard says he can't decide.

Note to Vulcan: When you replace this mental weakling, insert this into the job description so the next guy will know: "It is standard in the NBA to get rid of about 5-9 of the 15 players each year. New blood is what energizes a team and fans on any level in any sport. If you feel so helpless when you try to surmise who the debris is, that you publicly rely upon players whining to you, do not bother to apply."

 

[Buzz Killington]

WHERES KPEES HEAD AT????????????

THATS EASY.... UP TOM PENNS ASS

+1. Penn was heralded as some super cap space genius. Most overrated bullshit ever. What has he done so far to get him some cred?

 

[Buzz Killington]

50 games is bullshit.

I've always had a 10 game theory for good players to get acclimated to the system after a major trade or signing.

 

[WillG]

I think KP is suffering from the "Don't sign Darius Miles" memo that was sent out to execs around the league.

If a memo like that was sent to me (as a GM), irregardless of who within the organization penned it, I would shun the Blazers deeming them too arrogant for their own good.

That really was poor form from the Blazers and, possibly, is coming back to bite them in the ass.

 

[Buzz Killington]

He fucked up on the Zach Trade AND the fallacy of Imaginary Cap Space (tm). I stated it was a warning sign to his infallibility. But no one believed me.

 

[MARIS61]

http://www.iamatrailblazersfan.com/ArticleDisplayPlaceholder/tabid/192/ItemID/1122/Default.aspx

I'm sure many of you already saw that interview but two passages bear analysis:

"I’ve had players come to me and say ‘Listen, I know you guys could be looking to do things.’ I’ve had guys come to me and say ‘Let’s keep this team together. Let’s look at what this team can do. We’re playing as hard as we can, so don’t we deserve the benefit of the doubt?’ I’ve got to take that into account."

So who are those players? I'm thinking Juwan Howard and maybe Brandon Roy.

"We don’t know what Brandon, Oden, LaMarcus looks like after 50 games. It takes 50 games, in my mind, to get even a comfort level. Then you throw Andre in there and now Bayless, who has really played well, and now we have Batum back. What are we with our full complement? I don’t think anybody knows. No one could even predict that."

Interesting. So there's your core in KP's mind. No mention of Travis, Rudy, or Martell.

Or Steve.

All four can play multiple positions and are obviously keepers needing no mention, but the rest are question marks due to injuries, egos, and lack of consistency playing together.