I think you are correct, him being fired probably does not have a direct effect on us getting to the playoffs but I do think it has an indirect affect. You can probably assume that this is a shock to the players as well as some people in the front office. The politics of it all can make the atomsphere tense and cause the players to be more worried about the distraction than game of basketball. There is where i find the indirect effect.
If they fire him, they're doing HIM a favor. 1. He will still be responsible for drafting Oden, but he doesn't have to sit there year-in and year-out accepting that fact. 2. The Blazers have peaked, IMO. Not saying this season is the highest (far from it) but I can't see how much better Roy and Aldridge can be individually and as teammates. Every time it looks like he'll take another step toward elite-status, Roy ends up getting hurt. Every opportunity Aldridge gets to lead the Blazers while Oden and Roy goes down, it's been up and down. Oden, if he comes back like he did last year and the beginning of this year, can still be a player in this league but just look at the rest of their roster: Miller--he's a serviceable point guard going on the wrong side of 30 Rudy--he's a good player not getting burn time actually become a BETTER player or fulfill the potential he had coming into the league. Camby--shell of his former self Bayless--he's literally regressed due to the lack of playing time Webster--he's a question mark every night 3. Miller's contract, Roy's max contract, and whatever Aldridge will be making is going to leave the Blazers (and Pritchard) little wiggle room to do anything else. Tack on the fact that Oden, if he comes back and plays decent, will command some coin and you can't let Rudy go for peanuts. If anything, Pritchard should hope that he gets the can because he'll be alleviated from a potential mess and, if he lands in New Jersey, gets to look like a genius for adding a max contract player.
Their teammates can get better, and they have. Oden and Batum have both emerged. If Camby can be re-signed he solves that softness issue on the bench at PF. They're only held back by their current frontcourt injuries. Miller, Bayless Roy, Fernandez Batum, Webster Aldridge, Camby Oden, Pryzbilla
Being soft was never an issue for their front court players, especially Pryzbilla. He gave them the toughness they need and, while Camby can shore up their front court depth, re-signing him instead of looking at younger options would be a mistake IMO. I agree that Batum looks like he can be a player for them, the same thing was also said about Webster and Outlaw before they traded him. Don't get me wrong, the Blazers have a pretty good team but I don't see this team being in the same conversation with the Lakers or the Nuggets even with a healthy Oden.
Woj Twitters: Many believed Penn was destined to run team, but clearly something caused momentum to change lately and Penn lost favor. And his job. 10:46 PM Mar 16th via web Pritchard helped Penn leverage Port with Minny job, and sources say GM expected he could get new deal too. Ownership declined, emphatically. 10:42 PM Mar 16th via web League sources have been describing unrest in front office for months, centered on Pritchard's inability to get new contract after Penn did. 10:39 PM Mar 16th via web Two officials who spent time in last 10 days with Port GM Kevin Pritchard and fired No 2 guy, Tom Penn, spoke of "awkwardness" and "tension"
So this is what appeared to happen, as I have put together from various sources. - Pritchard and Penn manufactured a fake offer from Minnessota to Penn in order to get a raise from Portland. Penn got his raise and somehow Pritchard expected to get a raise out of this as well. There may have been some confusion between Pritchard and Penn, more than likely I think Penn was probably gunning for the top job and manipulated Pritchard. Penn probably got fired and then told ownership that KP helped with the fake offer. (this is all a guess) What a disaster for Portland. Someone tell KP you shouldnt try to Pritchslap your own management. I imagine he will get fired.
He's not getting fired. The Vulcans are trying to make a power play but Allen won't let it come to this. He might, however, quit if he doesn't get paid.
Personally, i would fire nate. I like nate eventhough he was a rockets killer, but that team should be better defensively and offensively. Even with the injuries, they should be better.
The article said the Minnesotta offer wasn't fake, the Oregonian had managed to get evidence saying the offer was really on the table.
Im not so sure, I have been streaming some various Portland radio spots stations and they seem to think it was fake. Its all heresay, but if you con your own organization like that for more money, you get fired.
I'm guessing Morey is quite giddy about this news. Seems the "Vulcan" are a race of business geeks who now think they can be great at basketball partly because of people like Morey, Pritchard, and Penn. They probably think that "Hey, we are geekier than these guys, we don't need no Pritchard!" I think if the Vulcans get too cocky and think they can run the show. Daryl Morey will gladly take their lunch money. Beginning with Greg Oden. In this business, you can't just have geeks. You have to have basketball geeks.
Updated news says this Penn firing was an isolated incident, and Pritchard is safe. http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/bl...iew-blazers-president-miller-on-pritchard-pe/
What the hell is happening in Portland? Are they completely falling apart? (If so, can we trick them into giving us Brandon Roy?)
Geesh that is twice the Blazers have by passed the better player. Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan Now Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. I can see why Allen is steaming mad... I'd rather have Kevin Durant over Brandon Roy. That's how good Durant is.
