Will KP leave in a "Blaze of Glory"?

[Blazinaway]

The Vulcans are idiots, gotta like KP

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/16755/kevin-pritchard-going-out-in-a-blaze-of-glory

 

[maxiep]

I love it. KP takes the high road, making management look like a bunch of idiots. No self-respecting personnel guy would take the job KP's being forced out of because they know eventually they'll be subject to the same treatment. It's a smart way of fucking the people who are going to fire you.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

Love it!

Sources say that Pritchard is expecting to be fired after the draft is over, but has decided that if he's going to be let go, he wants to leave with a bang.

"They're going all out right now, which is pretty much par for the course," a rival GM told ESPN.com. "But it's interesting to see this sort of effort given everything else that's going on. He's had as good of a track record as any executive in the league and management is humiliating him. Lots of guys would've just quit. I'd admire that he's going out swinging."

 

[ABM]

From the comments section:

they need a better sf maybe hedo

 

[Nikolokolus]

Good for Kevin. I'm not as baffled as some that his job might be in jeopardy, but he's really good at the draft and seems to do his best work on that day, and I'm glad he hopes to leave the team in as good of shape as he can ... PA and Vulcan should be a little ashamed for their slipshod handling of this affair after this (even though I know they won't).

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

Well...... I was wrong....the guy is seems like he really has some true character

Congrats KP....

 

[Rastapopoulos]

This is just bewildering. What did Pritchard do? What would he have to have done to make us fans agree with his treatment? Did he take over Qyntel and Zach's dog-fighting operations?

 

[Wheels]

You know other than a Championship, the only thing I think that could bring me more joy, would be whatever team he goes to, I hope they torment us to know end, whether it be a Western team knocking us out, or an Eastern Team winning multiple titles.

 

[craigehlo]

This is just bewildering. What did Pritchard do?

It's what he hasn't done that's getting him fired. Namely building a team that can stay healthy and get to the second round. Plus there's that whole taking Oden over Durant. No GM can survive that, even if fans don't think it's fair. The buck stops with him and he rolled the dice and was unlucky with that pick. It's a cruel business.

It's incredibly embarrassing to keep stringing him along like this though.

 

[BGrantFan]

"They're going all out right now, which is pretty much par for the course," a rival GM told ESPN.com. "But it's interesting to see this sort of effort given everything else that's going on. He's had as good of a track record as any executive in the league and management is humiliating him. Lots of guys would've just quit. I'd admire that he's going out swinging."

This can't possibly be true. I was told on this very board that Pritchard is disliked by other GMs, and that it has impeded his ability to get things done.

I also think that Sam Presti is the 'rival GM' who made this quote, but that's another story.

 

[hasoos]

I love it. KP takes the high road, making management look like a bunch of idiots. No self-respecting personnel guy would take the job KP's being forced out of because they know eventually they'll be subject to the same treatment. It's a smart way of fucking the people who are going to fire you.

What else were you expecting? If KP wants to stay in the basketball business, he has to keep his nose clean until he is out the door. Nobody would bring a guy on who they knew had fucked over his previous team.

 

[maxiep]

What else were you expecting? If KP wants to stay in the basketball business, he has to keep his nose clean until he is out the door. Nobody would bring a guy on who they knew had fucked over his previous team.

If I owned the Blazers and someone fucked over the L*kers, I'd offer that person a job just out of gratitude.

 

[BGrantFan]

What else were you expecting? If KP wants to stay in the basketball business, he has to keep his nose clean until he is out the door. Nobody would bring a guy on who they knew had fucked over his previous team.

Well, they might, if they knew he was a good GM and was only fucking his current team over because he was being treated like shit.

One less rival to worry about in that case.

 

[BGrantFan]

If I owned the Blazers and someone fucked over the L*kers, I'd offer that person a job just out of gratitude.

Pretty much my line of thought that I just posted right after you. Denver may need a GM. Think they could have Portland's future diminished to some degree by a bad draft pick, or by not pulling the trigger on an available trade?

The latter would be my worry if I were Paul Allen, since Pritchard may end up at the team that he was trading with, but something tells me Paul Allen doesn't take any of this very seriously. It's a playtoy for him.

 

[Masbee]

The Vulcans are idiots, gotta like KP

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/16755/kevin-pritchard-going-out-in-a-blaze-of-glory

I'm confused. We are supposed to be surprised that KP is acting like a professional and doing his job. He is still being paid. He hasn't been fired - yet.

If you are a KP supporter, and you make a big deal out of KP doing his job, what does that say really? How is that a reflection on KP's superiors?

How is any of this different than other professionals that are on their way out? Happens all the time. A few are jerks and stop working. Some go through the motions. Some continue to do what they do until the fat lady sings. A few work harder than ever before. How various professionals act gets added to their reputation - the informal resume.

The players are expected to do the same thing. Players that know they won't be returning to a team are expected to go out and ball until the season is over. Do some slack off or disrupt? Sure. And those guys get labeled and earn deservedly bad reps.

KP hopes to have a long career in management or maybe even patch things up with Portland if possible. How he handles himself during this period will go some ways to determining his future.

 

[BGrantFan]

I'm confused. We are supposed to be surprised that KP is acting like a professional and doing his job. He is still being paid. He hasn't been fired - yet.

If you are a KP supporter, and you make a big deal out of KP doing his job, what does that say really? How is that a reflection on KP's superiors?

How is any of this different than other professionals that are on their way out? Happens all the time. A few are jerks and stop working. Some go through the motions. Some continue to do what they do until the fat lady sings. A few work harder than ever before. How various professionals act gets added to their reputation - the informal resume.

The players are expected to do the same thing. Players that know they won't be returning to a team are expected to go out and ball until the season is over. Do some slack off or disrupt? Sure. And those guys get labeled and earn deservedly bad reps.

KP hopes to have a long career in management or maybe even patch things up with Portland if possible. How he handles himself during this period will go some ways to determining his future.

Seems as if at least a few of his peers admire the way he's handled it. I don't see anything wrong with acknowledging that while he could have taken many different roads, he decided to take the high road.

Lots of words, but I'm confused as well ... by your post.

 

[Rastapopoulos]

It's what he hasn't done that's getting him fired. Namely building a team that can stay healthy and get to the second round.

I would have to hope that his "superiors" are not that stupid.

Plus there's that whole taking Oden over Durant.

You mean, like 27+ other GMs would have?

No GM can survive that, even if fans don't think it's fair.

Bullshit. That would be like firing the Celtics GM for taking Len Bias.

The buck stops with him and he rolled the dice and was unlucky with that pick. It's a cruel business.

And you know this because you're an insider?

 

[Rastapopoulos]

There's only one possible explanation:

MIXUM is actually the head of Vulcan.

 

[rocketeer]

It's what he hasn't done that's getting him fired. Namely building a team that can stay healthy and get to the second round. Plus there's that whole taking Oden over Durant. No GM can survive that, even if fans don't think it's fair. The buck stops with him and he rolled the dice and was unlucky with that pick. It's a cruel business.

It's incredibly embarrassing to keep stringing him along like this though.

really? some of the stuff said on this board is just so stupid. it's kp's fault that players get injured? he didn't roll any dice with the oden pick. it was without a doubt the correct pick.

 

[Peaceman]

really? some of the stuff said on this board is just so stupid. it's kp's fault that players get injured? he didn't roll any dice with the oden pick. it was without a doubt the correct pick.

Agreed, anyone thinking injuries have anything to do with a GM is a complete idiot. Joel, great work ethic injured twice last year. Nic, great work ethic, injured for a time, Greg Oden, polled GM's in a landslide would have picked him. Picking Roy with the #7 pick, and LMA with the #2 pick in one draft shows he knows what he is doing. Not perfect, but damn good.

 

[jlprk]

I love it. KP takes the high road, making management look like a bunch of idiots.

When Blazer bosses stay silent on Pritchard and don't attack him, they are criticized for totally mismanaging the situation. When Pritchard stays silent, he is praised for staying dignified and just doing his job to the end. If they ever tell us the reason, they'll be raked over the coals for talking, just like they are now for not talking.

 

[BrianFromWA]

I also think that Sam Presti is the 'rival GM' who made this quote, but that's another story.

This intrigues me. You think he's sticking up for his buddy? Or is that sticking his neck out? It could potentially be Buford, who KP routinely tries to outmaneuver but who basically trained him.

 

[Kaydow]

I'm confused. We are supposed to be surprised that KP is acting like a professional and doing his job. He is still being paid. He hasn't been fired - yet.

If you are a KP supporter, and you make a big deal out of KP doing his job, what does that say really? How is that a reflection on KP's superiors?

How is any of this different than other professionals that are on their way out? Happens all the time. A few are jerks and stop working. Some go through the motions. Some continue to do what they do until the fat lady sings. A few work harder than ever before. How various professionals act gets added to their reputation - the informal resume.

The players are expected to do the same thing. Players that know they won't be returning to a team are expected to go out and ball until the season is over. Do some slack off or disrupt? Sure. And those guys get labeled and earn deservedly bad reps.

KP hopes to have a long career in management or maybe even patch things up with Portland if possible. How he handles himself during this period will go some ways to determining his future.

I AM SURPRISED to read he is trying to go out "in a blaze of glory". If the writing is on the wall, and there is no possible way he could return, is it really in his best interest to get a deal done that COULD (we have no idea what kind of deal he's working on) make the Blazers a Championship Contender? Seems like that would make his next job that much tougher. My question is - is he trying to save his job? Or, does he know his job is done and is he trying to cement his legacy as the Blazers GM? Because the natural assumption is that he would resign, or mail it in (Show up to work and draft the best possible player at #22 and be on his merry way after the draft) if he know for a certainty he was gone no matter what.

 

[Nikolokolus]

When Blazer bosses stay silent on Pritchard and don't attack him, they are criticized for totally mismanaging the situation. When Pritchard stays silent, he is praised for staying dignified and just doing his job to the end. If they ever tell us the reason, they'll be raked over the coals for talking, just like they are now for not talking.

The Blazers' brass silence has helped this PR mess get out of control because people are wont to fill in the blanks when no explanation has been forthcoming (or at the least no decision). KP on the other hand is the employee being left hanging, staying silent and not blasting his bosses for putting him through this makes him look like the bigger man ... but you already knew that didn't you?

 

[Nikolokolus]

I AM SURPRISED to read he is trying to go out "in a blaze of glory". If the writing is on the wall, and there is no possible way he could return, is it really in his best interest to get a deal done that COULD (we have no idea what kind of deal he's working on) make the Blazers a Championship Contender? Seems like that would make his next job that much tougher. My question is - is he trying to save his job? Or, does he know his job is done and is he trying to cement his legacy as the Blazers GM? Because the natural assumption is that he would resign, or mail it in (Show up to work and draft the best possible player at #22 and be on his merry way after the draft) if he know for a certainty he was gone no matter what.

If he builds a championship contender before he gets the boot, people in power around the league will notice who was responsible and they'll remember the architect when it comes time to find the replacement for their own underachieving manager. Having to face his former team is no consideration at all.

 

[Kaydow]

If he builds a championship contender before he gets the boot, people in power around the league will notice who was responsible and they'll remember the architect when it comes time to find the replacement for their own underachieving manager. Having to face his former team is no consideration at all.

I disagree 100%. Think about if you were in that position. Let's say he does pull off some blockbuster deal (that does for the Blazers what Gasol has done for the Lakers). KP is shown the door after the deal and winds up the GM for some other team, and proceeds to watch Portland have a tremendous amount of success. Do you really think there will be satisfaction for him at that point, knowing he was the "architect"? Would you rather be known as the "architect" who put together a winning roster but wasn't able to hold on to his job long enough to see it flourish, or be able to move on to another job and stick it to Portland every chance you get?

I don't think KP needs "People in Power around the league" to notice him. He's already established himself. He took a 20 win team with major personnel issues into a back-to-back playoff team with a roster of solid character guys - he's already established himself. It's not like he needs this last "Blaze of Glory" deal to prove his doubters wrong. If this were John Nash I might buy that theory, but not for KP - he doesn't need to pull something off to be considered a success.

 

[Trader Ed]

KP gets fired he gets paid
KP quits, he does not get paid

Go KP...

 

[MARIS61]

Everyone from Jerry West to Mark Warkentein have been mentioned in the search.

Actually, those are the only 2 I've heard mentioned.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I disagree 100%. Think about if you were in that position. Let's say he does pull off some blockbuster deal (that does for the Blazers what Gasol has done for the Lakers). KP is shown the door after the deal and winds up the GM for some other team, and proceeds to watch Portland have a tremendous amount of success. Do you really think there will be satisfaction for him at that point, knowing he was the "architect"? Would you rather be known as the "architect" who put together a winning roster but wasn't able to hold on to his job long enough to see it flourish, or be able to move on to another job and stick it to Portland every chance you get?

I don't think KP needs "People in Power around the league" to notice him. He's already established himself. He took a 20 win team with major personnel issues into a back-to-back playoff team with a roster of solid character guys - he's already established himself. It's not like he needs this last "Blaze of Glory" deal to prove his doubters wrong. If this were John Nash I might buy that theory, but not for KP - he doesn't need to pull something off to be considered a success.

First of all if he miraculously pulls off some Gasol-type deal then it might actually be possible that he keeps his job, barring some kind of miracle like that, this draft is part of his resume', the better that resume' looks the better his chances of getting another gig and the more in demand he will be. These players here in Portland are not going to play forever and if he takes the helm of a rebuilding team their window is unlikely to coincide much with this Blazers squad -- unless you are one of the few that think Brandon has another ten years in the tank of peak performance or that somehow this Blazers team is poised for a decade long run of dominance.

 

[maxiep]

When Blazer bosses stay silent on Pritchard and don't attack him, they are criticized for totally mismanaging the situation. When Pritchard stays silent, he is praised for staying dignified and just doing his job to the end. If they ever tell us the reason, they'll be raked over the coals for talking, just like they are now for not talking.

Wait, you don't think management hasn't been hanging him out to dry? It's what has been leaked and not been said that humiliating Pritchard. It's a passive/aggressive way of trying to get him to quit, and it's a chickenshit strategy.