Yahoo! Sports -- Winners/Losers of the draft

[Fez Hammersticks]

LOSER: Portland Trail Blazers

Say what you want about Kevin Pritchard – and there have been a few unkind things said about him – but the Blazers’ decision to formally fire their general manager on the night of the draft was both demeaning and classless.

The Blazers told Pritchard about his firing, which had been widely expected, an hour before the draft. Pritchard stayed to work the draft.

“The process was more public and took longer than any of us would have liked, but that was indicative of how critical a decision this was for our franchise,” Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen said in a statement.

And the Blazers wonder why they have such bad luck.

LOSER: Luke Babbitt

The Golden State Warriors actually liked the Nevada star enough to give him some consideration with the sixth pick. In the end, Babbitt had to wait until the Minnesota Timberwolves took him 16th and sent him to the Blazers. Babbitt joins a crowded stable of small forwards on Portland’s roster that includes Ryan Gomes, Nicolas Batum, Dante Cunningham and Rudy Fernandez, who figures to be traded. Welcome to Portland.

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[Nikolokolus]

Rudy and Gomes are almost certainly goners by trading camp, and Dante still has a ways to go before I'd call him a swingman ... but it does look like an unholy mess on paper.

 

[BrianFromWA]

In truth, though, Babbitt's gotta love his chances. He gets, basically, Travis' old spot if he can handle it, and if he can take minutes from Dante. Which, if he puts the 3-ball in from the corner like he's supposed to, won't take too long.

 

[Rhal]

Rudy is a shooting guard not a small forward.

 

[Nikolokolus]

Rudy is a shooting guard not a small forward.

I'm not so sure. Did you watch him in the playoffs? I'd say he's more of a standing guard.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

In truth, though, Babbitt's gotta love his chances. He gets, basically, Travis' old spot if he can handle it, and if he can take minutes from Dante. Which, if he puts the 3-ball in from the corner like he's supposed to, won't take too long.

IF Babbitt can consistently make the 3, he will garner some playing time, but he still will the #4 SF unless we make a trade or two. And when Nate tightens up his rotations late in the year he'll be out all together.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

2010 NBA Draft Day Steals

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16603

Some people make a scene when they get fired.

After being terminated on the eve of this NBA Draft, former Portland Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard made one of the best decisions of his career on the way out the door.

The Blazers ranked 13th in the NBA with a 35.4% mark from the 3-point line this year. But by sending Martell Webster to Timberwolves for No. 16 overall pick Luke Babbitt, the former Blazer GM may have turned Portland into one of the better shooting teams in the league. Pritchard's robbery made him the Willie Sutton of the 2010 NBA Draft.

Hey, if he can't be an NBA executive, maybe he can be a full-time thief.

Here's a list at some of the draft day steals:

Luke Babbitt, Forward, Portland Trail Blazers – Nobody appreciates half-court basketball more than Blazers coach Nate McMillan. Portland averaged 90.2 possessions per game last season, which ranked last in the NBA. The Blazers like to slow the pace, set up an offensive rotation and work the ball for the most efficient shot.

But halfcourt offenses need someone who can space the floor, and with Rudy Fernandez likely to follow Travis Outlaw, Steve Blake and Martell Webster out the door, Babbitt is the perfect player to pull defenders away from LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy.

Babbitt sank 41.6% of his 3-pointers with Nevada this year and an even 50% of his field goals. He's also a 90% free throw shooter who got to the line nearly seven times per game. Sure, the Blazers ranked third in free throw shooting this season, but every team can always get better.

But what will really impress Portland fans is Babbitt's passing skills and surprising athleticism. He isn't just a shooter. Babbitt is a solid basketball player who happens to be an exceptional shooter.


Read more NBA news and insight: http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=16603#ixzz0rtSdTqg8

 

[Ed O]

Yahoo is saying Portland is a loser because of firing KP, or because of the thing that the grade should be based on: how they drafted.

It seems like the former, given that they seem to like Babbitt as a prospect.

Ed O.

 

[handiman]

The Blazers told Pritchard about his firing, which had been widely expected, an hour before the draft.

Is this correct? My understanding was that he had been notified earlier (last week?) of it being his last day, but that the news was leaked an hour before the draft.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

Incompetent analysis by Spears. He obviously knows nothing about the Blazers. It's too bad too because I was looking for some intelligent insight.

 

[barfo]

Is this correct? My understanding was that he had been notified earlier (last week?) of it being his last day, but that the news was leaked an hour before the draft.

It's correct if you believe Pritchard and/or the Blazers.

barfo

 

[handiman]

It's correct if you believe Pritchard and/or the Blazers.

Was it ever reported from Pritchard's perspective that he was notified only an hour before the draft? I didn't think that aspect was part of the "he said she said" disconnect...

 

[barfo]

Was it ever reported from Pritchard's perspective that he was notified only an hour before the draft? I didn't think that aspect was part of the "he said she said" disconnect...

Not specifically, but it was reported that he told people close to him just before the draft that he'd been fired. Hard to imagine why he'd hold that information back and and then release it when he did.

barfo

 

[handiman]

That fits what I recall hearing. It actually makes sense to me in a couple ways: 1) keeping a stern upper lip and doing his job to the end, as promised, and 2) what better time to reveal it and create a frenzy of fan/media support for his plight? It would have worked brilliantly if not for Steve Patterson hitting the airwaves.

 

[barfo]

That fits what I recall hearing. It actually makes sense to me in a couple ways: 1) keeping a stern upper lip and doing his job to the end, as promised, and 2) what better time to reveal it and create a frenzy of fan/media support for his plight? It would have worked brilliantly if not for Steve Patterson hitting the airwaves.

But let's suppose it were true that he was fired a couple days back and decided to release it as if it happened just before the draft. Why would the Blazers then back up his lie? Why would they say specifically that it happened just before the draft? Here KP is allegedly doing his best to make them look bad, and they lie to help him do that? Doesn't seem likely.

barfo

 

[BGrantFan]

Larry Miller confirmed that Pritchard was notified an hour before the draft during his press conference last night. Whether or not Pritchard knew, the offical Blazer story is that Pritchard was not formally notified until 4pm or so yesterday.

Unless, of course, Larry Miller was lying, which woud be shocking!

 

[BGrantFan]

But let's suppose it were true that he was fired a couple days back and decided to release it as if it happened just before the draft. Why would the Blazers then back up his lie? Why would they say specifically that it happened just before the draft? Here KP is allegedly doing his best to make them look bad, and they lie to help him do that? Doesn't seem likely.

barfo

Ditto. What's going on when I agree with barfo AND learn from him?

 

[RoyToy]

Larry Miller confirmed that Pritchard was notified an hour before the draft during his press conference last night. Whether or not Pritchard knew, the offical Blazer story is that Pritchard was not formally notified until 4pm or so yesterday.

Unless, of course, Larry Miller was lying, which woud be shocking!

I buy that they didn't tell Pritchard 1 hour before the draft. I don't buy that they hadn't already made up their mind. Firing a search firm pretty much confirms this, and I hate no one brought this up at the PC yesterday. Would have loved to seen the stupid look on Larry's face.

 

[BGrantFan]

I buy that they didn't tell Pritchard 1 hour before the draft. I don't buy that they hadn't already made up their mind. Firing a search firm pretty much confirms this, and I hate no one brought this up at the PC yesterday. Would have loved to seen the stupid look on Larry's face.

The idiots in the Portland media couldn't think of that question. Quick and Freeman are too interested in becoming buddies with the players, the Fan sent Travis What's His Name, and The Game is full of Yes Men who were musing about Dante Cunningham's trade value.

Fuck, somebody should have asked a question about the search. Repped.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

Chad Ford's grade:

Analysis: I love Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard, as do most Blazers fans, in part because he's given us a number of exciting draft moments over the past few years. But nothing tops what happened on Thursday when Blazers owner Paul Allen fired Pritchard immediately before the draft and yet, in a bizarre twist, asked Pritchard to conduct the draft for the Blazers before leaving.

Even on his way out the door, Pritchard was his characteristically aggressive self. He swapped Martell Webster to Minnesota for the draft rights of No. 16 pick Luke Babbitt and Wolves forward Ryan Gomes. Not only did the move save the Blazers money, it also gave them a player in Babbitt that Pritchard had coveted for months.

With their other first-round pick, Pritchard made a more debatable decision. Williams is an excellent talent, but there are conflicting reports about his health. If he has to miss significant time in his rookie year, his selection here looks like too much of a gamble.

Johnson is a solid second-round pick in Pritchard's never-ending quest to find Portland its point guard of the future.

It seems strange to say farewell to Pritchard, but I have a feeling we'll be seeing him in a different draft war room by this time next year.

Grade: B​

 

[handiman]

But let's suppose it were true that he was fired a couple days back and decided to release it as if it happened just before the draft. Why would the Blazers then back up his lie? Why would they say specifically that it happened just before the draft?

I guess I missed that... That's the part I was asking about.

 

[Masbee]

LINK​

Babbitt joins a crowded stable of small forwards on Portland’s roster that includes Ryan Gomes, Nicolas Batum, Dante Cunningham and Rudy Fernandez, who figures to be traded.

I am late to this thread, and I am sure others have already caught this, but I will pile on:

Gomes is likely cut.
Batum is the would-be starter so doesn't impact a reserve quality draft picks playing opportunity.
Cunningham is a backup 4.
Rudy is a 2 - never a 3. And besides is on the block.

The "crowded stable of small forwards" on the Portland roster may yet materialize, but whoever wrote the blurb above doesn't know what they are talking about.

Babbitt can fill it up. If he can manage to adjust to the NBA speed (not all prospects can make that transition) and if he can learn how to play passable team defense so he isn't a horrible liability on that end, we are going to love his scoring ability off the bench.

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

I thought Portland had another productive night in acquiring Luke Babbitt, but I was more impressed when they stole Armon Johnson in the second round. Johnson isn't much of an outside threat, but he was one of the few point guards in the draft, and could be an excellent backup to an aging Andre Miller, as Jerryd Bayless is more of a combo guard. Too bad GM Kevin Prichard won't be around to see all of his excellent picks develop. The Blazers unceremoniously told him this would be his last evening of employment, but please go out and get us some good picks! He did.

-NBAdraft.net