Blazers' next move is crucial
Monday, July 31, 2006
The Oregonian
O n Sunday, there were two vehicles in the parking lot at the Trail Blazers' practice facility. One of them belonged to Jarrett Jack, the point guard. The other to Kevin Pritchard, the Blazers' player personnel director.
So the guy charged with cleaning up the lot walked by and asked, "Are the Blazers done yet?"
Funny.
It's become the question to ask.
Portland's seventh trade of the summer will become official today, resulting in the acquisition of a potential starter (Jamaal Magloire) from Milwaukee for a handful of players (Steve Blake, Brian Skinner and Ha Seung Jin) who were expected to be non-starters.
But it's trade No. 8 that we need to discuss today.
That's the trade that changes the entire future of the franchise, gets the team back into the playoffs, and it's one that conceivably could happen if Pritchard and team President Steve Patterson are willing to go to the mattresses to get it done.
Trade for Allen Iverson.
The 76ers point guard is on the block. And after landing Magloire, who could easily play power forward as well as center, the Blazers are staring down at the opportunity of an offseason.
Jack has lost 10 pounds of muscle rehabilitating after his ankle surgery. I like Jack's game and his leadership qualities, but I can't see the Blazers starting the season with him as their main option at point guard.
Portland's other point guards are Dan au, who is hurt and couldn't play if the season started today, and rookie Brandon Roy, who could end up starting at shooting guard. Reserve shooting guard Juan Dixon also could play at the point, but he's not in the long-term plans.
Get Iverson.
Magloire, Joel Przybilla, Raef LaFrentz and LaMarcus Aldridge give Portland frontcourt depth. It's tempting to see what Zach Randolph might do while looking over his shoulder, but Philadelphia would do this trade. And Portland should, too.
Blazers coach Nate McMillan asks his team to play with abandon. But it's the front office that needs that message today. Fellas, there's a right time to go conservative, but this is a time to trade as if you've never been burned.
T wo seasons ago, the Blazers drafted a do ent led "Enterprise Level Business Plan Summary." It was the franchise's internal plan to shave payroll, "become one of the top four teams in the Western Conference" and break even financially by June 30, 2007. Those things won't happen with management sitting around, wishing people would buy more tickets.
I keep hearing Morris Buttermaker, Walter Matthau's character in the film "The Bad News Bears" saying, "You want to win, dontcha?"
Well, dontcha?
Iverson ($18.3 million next season) is one of the 10 best players in the league. And Randolph, who makes $12 million, is not. Portland is going to have to get creative to make the salaries match. But that should be less difficult than making six trades on draft day or convincing Przybilla that signing in Portland is more attractive than playing alongside Tim Duncan in San Antonio.
Portland has full "Bird rights" on Magloire, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. That's a valuable sign-and-trade option they just picked up as a bonus.
If Randolph hasn't already figured it out, it's him -- not Przybilla -- who is most affected by trade No. 7. If Randolph doesn't come to play, Magloire, a center with great feet, is going to start at power forward. If you want the real risk, there it is.
If the two amigos left in the front office don't see the opportunity they've created here, the support staff at One Center Court should spend the week walking around the office with the word "Ocho" painted on their foreheads.
Why mince words?
John Canzano: 503-294-5065; [email protected]; to read his Web log, go to www.oregonlive.com/canzano Catch him on the radio on "The Bald-Faced Truth," KFXX (1080), weekdays at 5:25 p.m.
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It's an interesting scenario with one major problem.
Any deal for Iverson would have to include Brandon Roy for sure. I think the Sixers would want a good potential 2 guard for the future and Roy fits the bill. I don't see Portland giving him up, thus, killing any potential deal.
bucks really got robbed on that trade,
magloire for skinner (scrub), HA (not even nba ready), blake .....
shouldve traded for future pics instead of skinner+HA
That was a GREAT trade for the Blazers. I think we have a shot at the playoffs now.
I would NOT do that. Roy is going to be a star.
Actually, Skinner, like Magloire, becomes a UFA at the end of the year. That's about 5 million coming off the books. Joe Smith also comes off the books at the end of next season, so the Bucks will chop off even more cap room.
Blake is definitely the centerpiece from the Bucks end of the trade. Magloire wasn't needed since Andrew Bogut will be the full time center and Charlie Villaneuva will start at PF. Skinner is a decent back-up.
So much for the Bucks owner saying he wouldn't give Magloire away or trading him to a contending ballclub.
I hope you make the playoffs. Portland has such great fans...they deserve a compe ive team.
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