Why do top players avoid PDX? It’s a boring, grimy town with nothing to do, yet it beats its chest and proclaims itself Nirvana.

Here in Portland, we want our team to contend next year, but it’s not like we’ve been to the conference finals the past two years. We’re in an awkward adolescence between a young, developing team and a contender. As such, we want the same results as the contenders, but the GM’s actions won’t – and shouldn’t – look quite like those of teams like San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, Cleveland, etc.

We still have things to learn about our players. We still have a chemistry that could be damaged by a single rogue player. We still have internal improvement to expect, but don’t know exactly where it will come from. We still could make a big move and then realize in a year or so that we addressed the wrong need.

That said, changes are needed. They may not be major, but they need at least to be significant.

As for KP, he assembled the young team. Then instead of sitting on his arse for several years, which he could have done, he saw a chance to create a salary cap room this year and worked hard to make it happen. The only real loss was his energy and maybe the moral irritation of paying Steve Francis. So while high expectations have been built into this free agency period, KP shouldn’t be blamed for the relatively unpromising appearance of it. He more or less made it out of nothing.

There’s no position where the team is terribly weak. The team is deep. The team is young. The team has good character and chemistry and, for all the talk of toughness, rebounds well and finishes well in crunch time.

Now, I’d like to see some of the same improvements as many of the other commenters (though I still prefer younger vets, like Gerald Wallace). But I’m not surprised or disappointed that the Blazers aren’t the team signing Shaq, Kidd, and Ron Artest.

I’d love Wallace, but if he’s not available he’s not available.

Matt, I’m not much of a football guy but I know the Spurs did a lot of standing pat.

Bill, you could void everyone’s contract, with their permission, except maybe the guys in their first 3 years. Then re-write them identically except for THIS year being bigger than in the original. I think.

Is it necessarily arrogant of Pritchard to get excited about his players? Especially in the case of Oden, where KP basically takes no credit for getting him (thanks, ping pong balls).

Peru, you’re giving up on Telfair already?

Bean: regarding the KP quote, are we sure Canzano isn’t full of shyt?

Whatever your take, it’s too early to call it a loss, or as someone said on another site, a “dumpster fire” of an off-season.

Dont sign people just to sign them.

Talk of Andre Miller.

It’s not looking promising. Even Sarah Palin said she wouldn’t play point guard for the Blazers.

Sounds like we’d lose Batum which is a major drag. That’s a decision that could haunt us big time.

One thing I’m sick of is hearing all these sports guys say, “It was Hedo’s wife, and how many guys out there have to do what their wives want?”

Fine, I’m married. I know that aspect of it. All you have to do is say, “Kevin, I’m really impressed with the offer, I love the team, but before I agree to anything, let me talk it over with my wife.” It’s not that difficult.

I’ll bet Pritchard is trying to, “Just do it,” in an INTELLIGENT rather than a hurried fashion! When the right deal is offered, there will be a ring–ing sound of a slap!

That sounds like a lot of “what if”

elite organizations (spurs, patriots, etc) do not sit on their hands, they make moves.