Hoopsworld: Wark to PDX 75% chance of happening

[Norm2953]

Kenny Vance on Wheels show today said he thought the decision to drop KP
has been made and will happen some time after the draft. Vance thought
Larry Miller will assume more of a management level and KP along with his
personnel staff will get canned and perhaps something that has not come to
the surface is a large part of the problems with KP. Apparently Nate is safe
for he's under contract for another season unless he quits.

If its indeed Warkentin returning to Portland after August 1, perhaps the
changes will lead to a hard look at the current makeup of the team. PA
has got to be upset with the failure of the cap space plan and the failure
to move Rudy last season when his value was at an all time high.

[monopoman]

Really I think Rudy will turn it around I mean seriously acting like a guy is ridiculously useless after 1 bad season is a joke.

Plenty of good players have had a bad season now and again it doesn't mean they suck. If he has a breakout 3rd season his value will be right back to what it was in his rookie year.

[DaVoiceMaster]

I think Rudy can turn it around rather easily, but I don't know if he can do it all that successfully in Portland. He's not gonna be happy period because he's behind Roy and currently, he may even be behind Bayless and Webster. Hopefully he comes into camp next season with a newfound confidence and can get back to his game, but unless the system changes, I don't know if we can expect a whole lot out of Rudy.

[farzi]

It'd suck to lose KP (imo), but if they do let him go, what Kenny said made sense. KP and his guys got paid on the Blazer's dollar to scout, and he's best known as a draft day genius, so keep him through the draft, and if you're going to fire him, do it after. Otherwise he could go somewhere else, possibly even in division and work that magic to hurt you.

[DaVoiceMaster]

Is the writing on the wall? If it is, would KP try and stick it to the Blazers and not do a good draft?

[LA12]

Is the writing on the wall? If it is, would KP try and stick it to the Blazers and not do a good draft?

KP is a professional. No way he 'tanks' a draft. The thought is ridiculous.

[JD45]

Is the writing on the wall? If it is, would KP try and stick it to the Blazers and not do a good draft?

KP is a professional. No way he 'tanks' a draft. The thought is ridiculous.

Maybe not "tank" the draft, but it would be human nature not to put forth any special effort.

Paul Allen seems to be a big draft fan, so I bet he makes the final decision on the pick.

[mojomarc]

Is the writing on the wall? If it is, would KP try and stick it to the Blazers and not do a good draft?

KP is a professional. No way he 'tanks' a draft. The thought is ridiculous.

Maybe not "tank" the draft, but it would be human nature not to put forth any special effort.

Paul Allen seems to be a big draft fan, so I bet he makes the final decision on the pick.

If the writing really is on the wall, then this will be about as much of a KP draft as Patterson's last draft was a Patterson draft.

[JasonStern]

Is the writing on the wall? If it is, would KP try and stick it to the Blazers and not do a good draft?

KP is a professional. No way he 'tanks' a draft. The thought is ridiculous.

Maybe not "tank" the draft, but it would be human nature not to put forth any special effort.

even if pritchard didn't want to remain a blazer, a strong result from the draft is in his best interest. we're presuming another team is going to jump on giving him a GM spot. this might not be the case. even if it is, a larger track record of success would definitely help his cause when it comes to contract negotiations...

[LicketyBrindle]

Keeping KP through the draft and then letting him go would be bad karma for POR. Either let him go now or keep him permanently. Also, giving Larry Miller more power and control is definitely not a good thing IMO. I am not impressed with him at all, and he is too much like PA's Vulcans.

[ebott]

Is the writing on the wall? If it is, would KP try and stick it to the Blazers and not do a good draft?

Maybe he saw the writing was on the wall and tanked the draft last year.

[Butter]

Keeping KP through the draft and then letting him go would be bad karma for POR. Either let him go now or keep him permanently. Also, giving Larry Miller more power and control is definitely not a good thing IMO. I am not impressed with him at all, and he is too much like PA's Vulcans.

I totally agree. Very poor business move IMHO. The Blazers have already had a major PR hit with the Miles "warning letter". No reason to add more negative. We might get a whole new derogatory nick name, from the "Jail Blazers" to the "Fail Blazers".

[DusterBuster]

Keeping KP through the draft and then letting him go would be bad karma for POR. Either let him go now or keep him permanently. Also, giving Larry Miller more power and control is definitely not a good thing IMO. I am not impressed with him at all, and he is too much like PA's Vulcans.

When was the last time the Vulcans were worried about "bad karma"?

[DusterBuster]

even if pritchard didn't want to remain a blazer, a strong result from the draft is in his best interest. we're presuming another team is going to jump on giving him a GM spot. this might not be the case. even if it is, a larger track record of success would definitely help his cause when it comes to contract negotiations...

Very good point. Seeing KP "tank" a draft when he's on the way out definitely would hurt his reputation at a time when he needs as much good publicity as possible. Other teams will think of him as a potential hazard to their franchise if things go south if they see him screwing Portland over in his last few months in the job.

[Vega]

It sounds like Larry Miller wants to play GM. Which is a little concerning since I keep hearing that Miller was the mastermind behind such shrewd moves as the Miles lawsuit threats etc.

[farzi]

It was Vulcan, not Miller.