Could this tear a team and a town apart?
If there really is a split between Nate McMillan and Kevin Pritchard, who will the fans side with? What about the players? How much damage could this do?
Here’s the lead:
As the rejections and criticisms mounted lately, NBA executives and agents described Portland Trail Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard as “agitated” and “panicked” and even “desperate.” He kept returning to teams with the same proposals, only to be dismissed again and again. All his plans had imploded.
Pritchard has long liked to talk about never laying up on the golf course and burning through cell batteries and the way that the Blazers had outworked and outsmarted the NBA. Few have been terribly impressed with how Pritchard handled the highs of the job, and now there are doubts about how he’s handling its lows.
After the first 10 days of free agency, so far Pritchard stands as the summer’s biggest loser.
Hedo Turkoglu humiliated him with an 11th-hour dash for Toronto. By then, Trevor Ariza had already taken the Houston Rockets’ money. Pritchard couldn’t pry Detroit Pistons forward Tayshaun Prince nor Chicago Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich. The job wasn’t as hard when owner Paul Allen gave him tens of millions to buy up draft picks, but free agency is a far more level playing field. Truth be told, Pritchard has failed.
And here’s more:
Multiple league sources believe there’s a wedge between Pritchard and McMillan, but both general manager and coach have long denied it. Even so, it makes league officials wonder how deeply McMillan believes in his boss’ blueprint that he refuses to commit long-term to it.
Let me say that it’s not at all uncommon for a coach and a general manager to not be on the same page. And I think both men leave themselves open for criticism at times — Pritchard for what seems to be an overinflated ego and McMillan for his style of play, and a perception that he was outcoached in the Houston playoff series last spring.
And I’d also say if McMillan decides at some point to take a hike, there will be no problem finding another qualified coach — just as he will have no trouble finding another good coaching job.
But I remain unconvinced there’s a real problem here. I will tell you this, Wojnarowski is a beat writer’s worst nightmare. Either he just beat you on a story you should have had yourself or he’s exaggerating something way out of proportion and now you’ve got to deal with it. Neither is pleasant for the hometown guy covering the team.
This column, by the way, is vicious toward Pritchard — way more than is necessary. Come on, he didn’t sign Hedo Turkoglu or Trevor Ariza or Lamar Odom? He may be better off for it. And just being able to get LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy in the same draft ought to have bought him enough credibility to get through a summer where the free agent crop isn’t exactly filled with all-stars.
NBA, Trail Blazers | Dwight Jaynes | July 11, 2009
Adrian Wojnarowski, Dwight Jaynes, Kevin Pritchard, Nate McMillan, Portland Trail Blazers, Yahoo sports
Wojnarowski has had it in for Pritchard ever since that email went out to the league about Darius Miles. I don’t put any stock into anything he writes. If I hear it from somebody local, I’ll start to listen a bit more, but right now, I’m not concerned too much.
this is not the first time adrian wojnarowski has lashed out at kevin pritchard, he has done this on several different occasions. On a different note, it seems like some fans have become paranoid, thinking at some point paul allen will try and move the blazers to seattle. What do you think godfather
The fact that there appears to be a ‘problem’ brewing between management and Brandon only adds more credibility to the idea that KP is a problem. There is no way that Pritchard should be jerking Brandon’s chain. You screw this up and the entire city will frog march his egotistical ass right out of town.
Huge Rick Adelman fan!
Bring him home. Pound for pound, he was the best coach in the playoffs last year.
I respect what Nate has done for this franchise, especially back in 2005/2006 when he was walking into a toxic situation. That said, he’s a solid, not great coach. I wouldn’t be heart-broken to see him leave.
I wouldn’t expect any of the leagues GM’s and executives to say anything other than what Woj reported. What are they going to say? This is a league full of psychological one-upmanship.
I agree about Pritchards ego…this episode will be very good for him and for Portland…if he learns from it.
You never know, maybe we are on the verge of a mild meltdown and the cracks are showing. My feeling though is that at the worst we get a new coach in a year and at the best we get to the Conference finals in a year.
This media is just taking cheap shots left and right on the Blazers. I wonder who the Blazers pissed off for it to become open season in July. The Blazers have a pretty damned good team and the youngest team in the NBA if they pick up Milsap, after dumping worthless Raef Lafrenz and Michael Ruffin.
The season starts in November for crying out loud. I also recall people saying Mitch Kupchac (sp) was the worse GM in the history of the Lakers not to long ago.
Let KP do his job!
You have to love the beloved press. They love to build you up cause later they can sell some more by tearing you down.
So easy to call it all from their computer screen. Many of these so called professional writers were never really good enough to directly participate, and you can see the envy in their writings.
Just remember reporters aren’t interested in anything more than selling. The actual truth is often way down the list
The thing that gets me is all the inconsistency. One day Franklin loves Kevin Pritchard, then the next day he’s mad at him again.
I like Wojnarowski’s column most of the time, he gets a ton of scoops, he’s well sourced and he’s usually a good read and fairly unbiased in his reporting and commentating … unless it involves KP; he’s been on his jock for almost a year now and you almost wonder what it is that has him so committed to taking him down, maybe it is KP’s ego and tendency to spout a lot of pollyana rubbish, but on the other hand it’s coming off kind of unprofessionally and it certainly appears personal.
I’d love to hear whatever it was that set him off (it couldn’t be just the Miles situation could it?)
Which Messiah is the bigger boob? Obama or Pritchard?
Neither man is a messiah, but people who call them are boobs?
lol @ripcity peru. excellent retort.
It does seem like something is awry in Portland.
Between the Vulcan statements about subsidizing the Blazers “to be in Portland,” Quick’s reports that Paul Allen is behind the problems in the contract negotiations with Roy, and now the reports that there may be conflict between Nate and Kevin, there’s a lot more intrigue in the front office than we’ve seen in the last couple of years.
Where there’s smoke…
Adrian doesn’t know the Blazers. He’s obviously in love with Odom but ignorant regarding his possible fit with Portland (or lack thereof). He’s like a blogger with a favorite player who’s constantly mad at his team for not getting THAT guy.
It’s childish and unprofessional. Adrian Wojnawhatever, go get an Odom jersey, get it autographed, and leave Portland alone.
Dwight,
Serious question here. I’m NOT asking you to rip on KP, but just asking you to report. Where does this consensus about KP’s ego come from? Whenever I hear him speak he seems very engaging and humble. I saw him go down to the court shake hands and chat with Juan Dixon when Dixon had moved on to be a total journeyman, in WA I think. I’m not saying my perception destroys the “ego” rumors; what I’m asking is, what incidents or quotes or actions led to this perception? I hear it all the time but I truly have no idea.
What’s up with the whole Jerryd Bayless working with Greg Oden buisness? I keep hearing people like Bill Bayno and Bobby medina say they have been working together, but Jerryd Bayless has denied it on several occasions. Who’s telling the truth on anything anymore?
Woj is easily the biggest girl in sports journalism right now. He has a personal vendetta against KP for some unknown reason that is incredibly laughable. He’s like a scorned girl left at the prom. It’s fascinating to watch a national journalist totally implode over one guy.
Billy McD,
I’ve NEVER once stated that I am a KP fan.
bluetwinbill,
The are BOTH boobs. The difference is that KP has much less impact on all of our lives.
Step right up ladies and gentlemen. Who will be the next sports writer to use Kevin Prichard’s reputation in order to make a name for himself ? As far as I am concerned this whole Blazer bashing thing has taken on the feel of a political campaign that has degenerated into smear tactics.
What angle will they come at this from next? I know, maybe they could try playing the race card some how, or maybe even the nationalism card. What about a sexual harassment deal? Maybe Hedo’s wife felt slighted because they did not invite her to Portland. Oh, how stupid and irresponsible the PTB management team has been. And worst of all, Paul Allen is running out of money: Oops, I forgot, they have already used that one! Sheesh!
In Obama we trust.Leave it to some right wing nuts to bring up politics in a discussion about sports. Seriously can’t you bozos stop obsessing about our president for two seconds? Get over it your “idea” of a candidate didn’t win the election. Besides,for messiah worship,see how some on the right go agog over the bufoon Palin….PHALEEEZE!
Now,back to the team. How can anyone rue the loss of Ariza when we have Batum here,a very similar player at a lower cost and age? Odom isn’t worth more than 7 million a year (much less than the 10 million a year he seeks), and just isn’t a good fit psychologically with this team anyway. As foe Hedo? I’m glad they didn’t aquire him as he is being overpaid at his age. Toronto will be terrible and they will regret that contract. He never had any intention of signing with Portland unless Toronto didn’t step up. He didn’t want to be in Portland(and nice move of him to blame it on his wife…very upstanding of him)and whom wants him if he doesn’t want to be here?
As for Pritch…is he not supposed to be up a bit when he does good and be down some when he’s stymied? That’s just being human and the inherent jealousy and gloating by others that are his adversaries is too. One of the toughest things about writing,sometimes, is having something to write about. Given that, is it any wonder that sometimes(or maybe usually),these things get blown out of proportion?
I,for one, took Nate’s comments about his contract at face value. Even,maybe, as a subtle message to some of these players/owners that get/give contracts that don’t make sense. I’m thinking of the outrageous guarantees that are bestowed allowing someone like Steve Francis to make millions beyond his worth long after he’s playing.This problem exisit,as we’ve recently seen,in corporate america so it’s not just an NBA problem.
If we get Millsap I think that will be a great addition and at a decent price. I expect Utah to match but we will have then put them in a bit of a spot. If we get nothing done in free agency we will be fine. We have a great young team and there will be trade bargains 20-30 games into the season. Be patient.
Wow, that guy is still pretty mad at KP, isn’t he?
Once the only playmaking nonheadcase small forward was off the board, it’s pretty obvious that KP was better off pursuing a guy like Millsap rather than – did he actually say it – Ariza(?????) Or does he think Portland should blow their wad on overpaying an aging point guard (Miller, Bibby, etc.) instead???
Yeah Hedo screwed us over, but the zeal that people are dogpiling onto KP is downright absurd.
Dwight,
I was really surprised you didn’t mention the fact that Wojnarowski has always had an unnatural obsession and hatred for Pritchard; hardly credible.
The KP kool-ade drinkers are out in force here… LMAO !!!!
Like choosing between scylla and charybdis. I like neither McMillan, with his stubbornly dragging style of play & lack of offensive creativity, nor Pritchard, with his toxic arrogance and bungled handling of free agents. In fact, Pritchard reminds me of the way Jerry Krause used to insult and isolate various players & GM’s. Not a good comparison. Ideally they get rid of both of them.
I think this all comes down to Portland getting the better of Chicago in the Aldridge/Tyrus Thomas draft. And then getting Greg Oden the following year was too much for a Chicago boy to take.
Whoa-Jack has never gotten over it.
Yeah, Pritchard’s fallback plan has only resulted in putting one of the Blazers’ biggest division rivals in a financial pickle. Where Portland either ends up with another terrific young player with a reasonable contract, or Utah has to bust the salary cap wide open, and go deep into tax territory, or lose one of their best players for whatever they can trade Boozer for.
And if Millsap is resigned by the Jazz, then the Blazers only have the same core that won 54 games last year, plus a returning Martell Webster (hopefully) and salary cap room to pull off an uneven trade.
Seems like Pritchard has managed to keep calm, cool and collected to me, and keep the team strategically placed to exploit the situation to the best benefit.
@bluetwinbill: keep your politics to yourself, this is a sports blog. Nobody cares that you don’t like Obama.
@kitsune: good point about the success of last season. 54 wins should count for something. People need to lay off KP and Nate.
This fails the initial smell test.
And Nate was outcoached? First time I’ve heard this. Houston was better then us, it’s as simple as that.
KneeJerk,
..and nobody give a damn if shawn equates Obama with God.
Go Blazers!
Pritchard has done an incredible job, while Nate has not yet proved he can coach a team through the pressure of a stretch playoff run. A truly outstanding coach could motivate and use tactics which would get the present roster way past the first round.
Nate’s decision to single-cover Yao in Game 1 of the Houston series was questionable. I don’t know how his coaching could have helped Steve Blake stay in front of Aaron Brooks.
…uhhh, I think that was a joke comparing Obama to God Doofus!!!…in KP we,eerr, Roy we trust.
Pritchard is actually a very good GM — you have to have an ego to be a GM — at least a good one. Free agency has really been going on for two weeks .. And PDx went for the best player and got outbid.
Bfd.
And the last time I checked boobs were something I liked looking at -Obama and Pritchard don’t fall into that category.
The thing that Pritch and Obama gave in common is that there will always be haters (like that walleyed guy from yahoo sports) who will criticize them no matter what. They are both more successful than most of their detractors.
Would have Trader Bob and Nash done any better? No. If we still had Nash and Patterson we’d still be watching Zach randoff and Telfair losing games.
And lastly, if Obama is Pritchard and Patterson/Nash is Bush, I’ll stick with the president and pritch as long as both keep upsetting the ‘die hards’ around here. The summer isn’t even ove yet!