Quote:
Originally Posted by Hector
Which Pritchard do we believe? The Pritchard who got 1st round pick #30 Koponen for our #42 Derrick Byars and cash? Or the Pritchard who is now uninterested?
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I'm not buying your Pritchard is uninterested in PK logic. He knows the Blazers own his rights. He knows Petteri wants to be on the team and will be reporting to summer camp in hopes of making it. Petteri enjoyed his best season after obviously drawing KP's interest last offseason and it's not like the team's future back court rotation is set.
Jack is essentially at the contractual crossroads this offseason, Blake & Sergio arrive there in a year. If KP wants to clear cap space to position the club for a run at the 2009 Free Agent class, all three of those guys could be gone. Being drafted at #30 slates Koponen as the cheapest of those 4 players by far counting less then 1M against the cap. The club not only needs stud starters but quality backups. That PK is supposed to be a gym rat may bode well for him being a good guy to have on the bench going forward.
What would convince me of a lack of interest/belief in Koponen by KP would be if the club traded for a vet guard or went with another PG in this draft... especially if they moved up to do so. My reading of the tea leaves has them looking to solidify their other roster weak spot (the 3) this offseason first, especially as they're trying to entice Rudy to commit. I'm sure that Pritchard will be weighing all of the options and contingencies though.
I'm definitely looking forward to seeing how this plays out
STOMP