Blazers Trade Bayless

Jerryd Bayless has been traded to the New Orleans Hornets for a future first round pick.

He will likely be the backup point guard for his former assistant coach and now head coach of the Hornets, Monty Williams.

The Blazers receive a first round pick with a 1-7 protection the coming year and 1-8 the three following years. This means that the Blazers will get the Hornets first round pick unless it is in the top seven or eight picks of the draft.

Blazers Sign Oberto

The Blazers have signed center Fabricio Oberto to a one year contract.

This likely means that Jeff Pendergraph, who is out for the season and has just this year left on his contract, will be released.

2nd Fantasy Draft

Snake, Rotisserie League

PG - Derrick Rose

SG - Brandon Roy

SF - LeBron James

PF - Kevin Love

C - Brook Lopez

G - Brandon Jennings

F - Paul Millsap

UTL - John Salmons

UTL - Roy Hibbert

UTL - Nicolas Batum

BEN - Corey Maggette

BEN - Yao Ming

BEN - Johnny Flynn

Not feeling as good about this team, but I still like my chances.

1st Fantasy Draft For The New Season

It was an auction style draft, with head to head play.

PG - Derrick Rose

SG - Brandon Roy

SF - Lamar Odom

PF - LaMarcus Aldridge

C - Andrew Bogut

G - Darren Collison

F - Kevin Love

UTL - John Wall

UTL - J.J. Hickson

UTL - Anthony Randolph

BEN - Wesley Johnson

BEN - Evan Turner

BEN - Greg Oden

Feeling good about it, weak at SF and maybe at SG if Evan Turner doesn't do well.

Armon Johnson Signed

Point guard Armon Johnson has been given a contract, filling up the 15th and final roster spot.

This does not necessarily mean the Patty Mills won't be on the Blazers. Rudy Fernandez has requested a trade, which could open up a roster spot for Mills.

I really like the potential Johnson has, and am hoping that they trade Fernandez and Bayless for some draft picks. This would create a scenario where Johnson is the backup point guard, but I still don't think he would play too much.

Brandon Roy could play point when Andre Miller is out, with Wesley Matthews at 2, and Batum at 3.

Andre Miller: 4 More Years

Andre Miller stated that he would like to play in the NBA four more years before retiring.

He is currently in the second year of his contract, the Blazers hold a team option for next year.

If they could re-sign him for around $5 million a year I think he would be a great starter as Armon Johnson develops.

Potential Trade for Chris Paul

Chris Paul

Emeka Okafor

Joel Przybilla

Andre Miller

Dante Cunningham

Jerryd Bayless

1st Round Pick

Adding Chris Paul would instantly put the Blazers among the top 5 teams in the league.

I would love to keep Batum, so Bayless and Cunningham may allow them to do so.

The contracts of Przybilla and Miller would be welcomed by the Hornets as they expire after this season.

The only downside is the contract of Okafor. He is owed around $50 million dollars. He is way overpaid, but he would be a good backup power forward, and can play center.

Blazers' New General Manager

Rich Cho is the new GM.

He has been the assistant general manager for the Sonics and Thunder the last 9 years.

I am very pleased with this hiring, I wish they wouldn't have fired Pritchard, but this is the next best thing.

The Thunder have improved at a similar rate to the Blazers, possibly a little bit quicker, so Cho should be able to continue the Blazers' improvement.

Trade Proposal

Rudy Fernandez

Jerryd Bayless

Future 1st Round Pick

Future 2nd Round Pick

The New York Knicks have expressed interest in Rudy Fernandez and with Armon Johnson being similar to Bayless with more potential and a log jam at guard, I think this trade is possible.

The Knicks will compete for the playoffs so, the draft picks would most likely be mid-round picks.

The Knicks have plenty of cap room after not getting Lebron James, so they would not have to send anyone back to the Blazers.

Summer League Impressions

Patty Mills was very impressive in game 1 when he nearly got a triple-double.

After that he was not as impressive to me. He scored more and showed how well he can shoot, but we already knew that. He did not pass the ball as well and did not look like a true point guard.

Armon Johnson was very impressive, I think he has the potential to be a star. He still needs to work on his passing and shooting, but he can score, is athletic, and can play defense.

Luke Babbitt was solid throughout the summer league. He showed his range in the last three games and showed that he is athletic and can drive, but he needs work on the defensive end.

Dante Cunningham and Jeff Pendergraph were solid, not amazing, but the summer league is a place were guards usually do much better than big men.

Ekene Ibekwe is a very athletic big man who's strength is defense. He has a lot of potential, but will take some time to develop. He can shoot free throws and has some offensive moves. I think he will be on a NBA roster this season.

Mike Green will not get an opportunity from the Blazers, but he impressed me in game 3 by being a true point guard. He can run a team and has some scoring ability. I think he would be a good 3rd string point guard, a guy that could step in and would not hurt you if someone got injured.

If I were to pick between Armon Johnson and Patty Mills, I would choose Johnson. He has more potential and more of an all around game. Patty Mills should be on a NBA roster and I think he would excel in a run and gun system such as New York's.

One other player that impressed me was Pooh Jeter. He is a point guard out of University of Portland. Last year he was on the Blazers' summer league team and played very well. This year he averaged 14.4 points on 48.2% shooting and 5.4 assists.

Matthews a Blazer - All But Official

With Utah signing Raja Bell, it seems they have decided not to match the Blazers' offer, meaning Wes Matthews is a Blazer.

Blazers Sign Wesley Matthews to Offer Sheet

Wes Matthews is set to get $34 million in the next five years, including $9.2 million next year.

The Jazz have a week to match the offer or Matthews will be the newest Blazer.

As a rookie last year, he started 48 games and proved he is one of the better defensive players in the league.

With the Blazers, he would most likely be the backup 2 guard if they manage to trade away Rudy Fernandez.

Kevin Pritchard's Departing Statement

Dear friends,

It's incredibly difficult to find the words to convey just how lucky and grateful I am to have experienced what I have for the past seven years with the Portland Trail Blazers, but I felt it was important to try.

First and foremost, I want to thank and salute Paul Allen. He is being unfairly characterized as a bad guy in all of this and that is completely inaccurate and totally unfair. We do not have Luke Babbitt, Elliot Williams, Armon Johnson and Ryan Gomes without an owner like Paul, just as we wouldn't have Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nic Batum, Rudy Fernandez, Andre Miller or Greg Oden. He is a Blazers fan in every sense of the word and his only mission is to bring another title to Portland. Like any relationship ours has had a few bumps and bruises, but I would not be where I am today without Paul and for that I am eternally grateful and forever indebted to him.

Parting ways is not the end of the world. Ultimately, it may not be a bad thing at all, but right now I know the emotions are pretty raw. But it doesn't serve anyone to bash the Trail Blazers or Paul. It is after all a business of tough decisions. So, for the sake of the players, coaches and everyone who believes in Trail Blazers basketball, let's turn the page, move on and keep our eye on the prize.

None of this is to be taken too seriously. It is just basketball. And, as strange as it may sound, none of the highlights from the past seven years had to do with anything on the court; it was everything off the court that meant the most to me. The little jibs and jabs with my co-workers and the media or enjoying dinner with great NBA friends and counterparts or talking with a passionate fan in the grocery store. In the end, it's all about sticking together and helping each other out.

Portlanders take great pride in their basketball team and it's great to see that love and passion back. I'm glad I was able to play a small part in making that happen, but understand our comeback was a total team effort led by our owner and not me.

Speaking of Portlanders, I want to thank our great fans. Everywhere I went for the past seven years I received nothing but the most positive feedback about how much this city loves its team. I knew every night that we stepped on the court at the Rose Garden that our fans would make the difference and without question having the best fans in the NBA is a huge advantage.

I'll always look back fondly on Portland and the many great memories and all the lasting relationships I made here. Yes, ultimately, I'm tearfully sad to be leaving Portland and incredibly disappointed that I won't be able to help see this thing through to the end. But rest-assured wherever I end up I'll be keeping a close eye on Portland and cheering the team on because I will always consider myself a Trail Blazer.

Thank you, Portland. You're the best. You have a great owner, great players, a great coach, a great team president, a great president emeritus and a great front office. In other words, you have a great team and I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

Keep the faith.

Go Blazers!

Sincerely,
Kevin Pritchard

Yet again Pritchard is taking the high road and showing class.

Even after his remarks about Paul Allen, I don't believe the Blazers' owner is doing the same.

Gomes Released

The Blazers have waived Ryan Gomes, putting them under the luxury tax and freeing up more room at small forward.

This is good news for Batum, which I now expect to get 30+ minutes per game.

Kevin Pritchard Firing

Paul Allen and Vulcan Inc. are being class-less.

Pritchard has been nothing but good for the Blazers. He brought them from the embarrassment of the NBA to an up and coming team.

It seems that Allen's ego has become the main factor in firing Pritchard, because there is no reason basketball wise to fire him. Just because he has become bigger than Allen does not mean he should be fired.

One of the best executives in the league has been let go, it's only a matter of months before he finds a new home.

2010 Draft

Draft Picks:

• Armon Johnson (G)
• Elliot Williams (G)

Trade:

• Luke Babbitt (SF/PF)
• Ryan Gomes (SF/PF)

• Martell Webster (SF)

The Blazers got guys will talent, but besides from Babbitt, I don't see them getting many minutes.

Babbitt will be the backup small forward coming off the bench behind Batum and providing some offense.

I like the trade, Babbitt is one of the best shooters in the draft and Gomes is a solid player who can bang down low, but more importantly has an enticing contract.

It will be interesting to see if they keep him or trade him, one rumor was that Miami was willing to trade Michael Beasley for Gomes, a trade that I would be ecstatic about.

There are now logjams at shooting guard and small forward, while also having three centers.

People are going to have to be traded away.

Offseason Moves

The players I believe the Blazers should target are:

• Ray Allen - all time great shooter, veteran leadership, championship experience
• Nate Robinson - spark off the bench
• Chris Bosh - if they can set up a sign and trade involving Aldridge and someone like Bayless, it would improve the team significantly
• Chris Paul - he is on the trade block and New Orleans is looking for salary cap space, trade Miller (1 year left on contract) along with draft picks and Przybilla (player option) or Gomes (1 year) and they could get one of the elite point guards in the NBA

The Blazers are one or two pieces away from being real contenders, trading away Rudy Fernandez - an inconsistent shooter who is disgruntled, developing the young players and adding someone could put them over the top.

2009-10 Season

With all the injuries (Batum, Cunningham, Pendergraph, Mills, Fernandez, Outlaw, Oden, Przybilla, Aldridge, Roy) last season, the Blazers did exceptionally well.

Pritchard pulled off a trade for Camby, a much needed big man in exchange for Outlaw and Blake. I will admit that I didn't like the trade at first, Outlaw provided a much need spark off the bench and Blake would be a great backup point guard for a contender, but the presence that Camby brings to the defensive end of the court and his leadership cannot be measured.

Nate McMillan deserved strong consideration for coach of the year, getting the team to the playoffs. Yes, it was disappointing when they lost to Phoenix in the first round, but if you look at the big picture, the season was a success. Roy returning in the first round was amazing, Willis Reed esque, but it wasn't enough.

A disappointing end to a season of perseverance.