[TyroberParticipant]

Why on earth is everyone counting them out? I know they have had many health problems but this team is LEGIT. I have saw where a few people havent even got them making the playoffs next year. This absolutely blows my mind. This team is set at EVERY position and they just picked up Luke Babbitt would be a steal in a few years. I am not sure why they fired the best GM in the game. A few sources said that Pritchard was taking all the credit.

1. He traded Randy Foye for Brandon ROY. Amazing trade for Portland

2. Traded Tyrus Thomas for Lamarcus Aldridge.

3. Traded for Nic Batum

4. Traded for Jerryd Bayless

5. Got lucky and got the 1st overall pick and selected Greg Oden. I know he hasnt been healthy but almost every GM would have selected Oden as well.

6. Traded for Luke Babbitt on his last day as GM.

7. Also bought Rudy Fernandez from the Suns

Pritchard did build this team. He should be taking credit. If i was another GM and Pritchard called and wanted my draft pick, I dont think it would be a bit foolish to tell him no way. If Pritchard wants a guy it is usually for a good reason because all his draft picks turn into gold. Now i am sure there are other details about his firing but this trail blazers team is going to be a handful if they can stay healthy. Do not count out this team

[gregoden08Participant]

Never have been…people are just overreacting to good summer league play from other teams. Portland will be a top-3 seed next year.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

You are absolutely right man he deserves to claim all the credit for what he has done for the team, especially for bringing in the franchise’s marquee & most marketable player in Roy. I also love that he knows when to wheel & deal for valuable assets for the ball club, he is a “Master Mind”. I just wish my Nets would have picked him up during this off-season.

[bishopm.dotParticipant]

Portland is a solid team. If health permits and pending this Rudy Fernandez situation they could be a tope 4 seed most definitely. They have to have an all-star year from Aldridge and i would love to see Oden play a full season and some playoffs. He has a tremendous impact on the floor especially on defense. He also showed some signs on his offensive game last year too. I would also like to see Bayless get some more run. This team could be special….but HEALTH is the key.

[mini_marzParticipant]

i think they are also one of the deepest teams in the NBA… the have a guy who can close out games in Roy, IF oden can stay close to healthy there defence will be better and they were already one of the best defensive teams in the NBA.. they have depth everywhere it seems… and pendergraph and cunningham seem to be 2nd round steals as they played well last year and will improve this year… plus they also have great coaching… but the west is tough… so i’m thinking around 4 or MAYBE 3 (if everyone is healthy) in the west

i also think the play of bayless will be huge this year

[PlatypusParticipant]

Fernandez and Pendengraph for Taj

Rose – ???
Fernandez – Korver
Brewer / Deng
Boozer – Pendengraph
Noah – Asik

Miller – Bayless – Johnson
Roy – Williams – Bayless
Batum – Babbit – Cunningham
Aldridge – Gibson – Cunningham
Oden – Camby – Pryz

[Lotto StudParticipant]

Bayless is my favorite on the squad & I wonder why he does not get the minutes he deserves. My whole thing is they traded for him so he has to be in their plans for the future. I question the fact that they keep bringing in more guards to add depth which will cause competition. This may discourage his performance & attitude towards the team this upcoming season because he may be on the block now.

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’m a KP supporter (he’s from Indiana) and he’s a very good GM, but let’s not act like all of his moves have been gold.

He took part in the debacle before the 2005 NBA Draft when Portland traded the third pick to Utah for the 6th pick, 27th pick and a 2006 first round pick. Utah and New Orleans ended up with Deron Williams and Chris Paul, while Portland ended up with Martell Webster and Jarrett Jack.

He has good eye for talent and is tenacious during draft time, but he still needs to prove he can make the necesary moves via free-agency, trades, etc to build a real contender.

Portland’s roster is built for the regular season, but do they have what it takes to beat an elite team in a seven game series? I’m not so sure. I think it all depends on Greg Oden and if he can become that dominate inside presence.

[Lotto StudParticipant]

So basically you’re saying he’s more of a scout, just a draft expert? And you spoke on the fact that he has to make moves as far as trades. Well like TYROBER said he has made all the right moves in the trade department with the biggest addition in Brandon Roy & might I add he robbed Chicago for Aldridge, Chicago wanted Thomas solely off of POTENTIAL even Stevie Wonder could see that Aldridge was the better pick.

1. He traded Randy Foye for Brandon ROY. Amazing trade for Portland

2. Traded Tyrus Thomas for Lamarcus Aldridge.

3. Traded for Nic Batum

4. Traded for Jerryd Bayless

5. Got lucky and got the 1st overall pick and selected Greg Oden. I know he hasnt been healthy but almost every GM would have selected Oden as well.

6. Traded for Luke Babbitt on his last day as GM.

7. Also bought Rudy Fernandez from the Suns

[sacphil_08Participant]

Portland will be in the top 4 i believe this year upcoming. Theyre definitely solid, but they arent better than LA, Dallas, and possibly denver (they just acquired al harrington) or maybe even utah with the acquisition of al jefferson. Also you have to take into consideration their lack of health. I feel like we’ve been saying for too long that portland is up and coming and that they will be contenders and all that kind of stuff. They’re great but i think ultimately lamarcus aldridge’s inconsistent play and their health issues will haunt them. I honestly believe they are cursed. Passing on jordan and even danny manning has cursed them. Call me superstitious if you want but i think theyre cursed

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

@shylo3716

Yes. I think KP’s strengths lie in the scouting and drafting department.

All of those trades you’re refering to happened during the draft for unproven NBA rookies. I’m talking about moves during the regular season like the move he pulled offf for Marcus Camby. Like the move Detroit pulled off for Rasheed Wallace in 2004, etc. I’m talking about trades that push you over the hump. KP was a little too unwilling to move some of Portland’s young talent and pieces stashed away overseas.

He also did absolutely nothing with Raef Lafrentz’s $13 million expiring contract (that was completely covered by insurance) instead just letting it expire and getting nothing in return.

Good GM, but definitely not the best in the league.

[OldSkoolBasketballParticipant]

you guys might not believe this and I don’t either but I heard he wanted to take Adam Morrison instead if he was around the Blazers pick. Also he threw money at Turkoglu which was a bad idea but luckily he didn’t sign here. So he did make mistakes like any other GM would eventually.

[goneParticipant]

Portland wont be a top 3 seed either
LA
Dallas
Utah
Denver
San
OKC
Portland
Houston

[PlatypusParticipant]

I hope that isnt in order because Utah is good but they wont be #3

[goneParticipant]

Say what you want cuz but thats my order your gonna disagree because everyone has there own opinion

[PlatypusParticipant]

Utah is worse than Portland, OKC, and Houston (barring injuries)

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

Not with Al Jefferson. I tell you Utah will be good next year, they have all they need to succeed. Veteran Leadership(Dwill, Jefferson, Bell, Okur, Millsap, and AK) A great PG(Dwill) A good big man(AL Jefferson, and a great coach (Jerry Sloan). They have what it takes and always play hard. Mark my words, CJ will make a run for MIP or 6th man this year. He convinced me of this with his play during the playoffs. I do think 3 is a little high though. Here would be my order
1 LAL
*2 Denver
*3 Dallas
*4 Jazz
*5 OKC
*6 Blazers
7 Rockets
8 Spurs
(Asterisk means close call, tough race)

The Blazers will be tough, but that roster has some holes, Aldridge is good, but he is inconsistent at times. Batum gets hurt a lot, Miller can’t shoot worth crap, and Bayless has no leadership and is very inconsistent, Oden is never healthy. I love Roy but that is about it. The Blazers just have to many unknowns, that’s why I have them at about 6, but if they are healthy, they could definitely challenge for the top 4.

[PlatypusParticipant]

OKC is better and so is better and the Rockets are deep especially up front

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