Sports Column

Advice to Blazer fans: Hang on to your seat

With wheelin', dealin' Kevin Pritchard, things could get interesting

By dwight jaynes

The Portland Tribune, Jun 26, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (39 Reader comments)

The Trail Blazers Thursday night are supposed to make the No. 13 pick in the NBA draft. And I’m still saying what I said a month ago – they will either trade the pick or make a selection for another team.

As attractive as the Portland management has tried to make some of the prospective picks seem during the workout process over the last couple of weeks, I just don’t see one of these kids becoming a Blazer.

It just doesn’t make sense.

This team has too many young players to develop as it is. And this season, a big share of that development time will be spent with Greg Oden and Rudy Fernandez – two players with huge promise.

They will demand a ton of time with position coaches and more playing time than most rookies usually get. Obviously, particularly in Oden’s case, these are big-time players who are going to be a huge part of the franchise’s future.

There will be enormous focus on their progress. And frankly, there is still developmental time needed for several other Blazer players.

I’m just not sure Portland is going to throw another hungry-for-minutes rookie into the mix.

It makes a lot more sense to get involved with the chase for an experienced player who may be available. The Blazers surely have plenty to sweeten a trade offer – one or two of their youngsters, Raef LaFrentz’s contract and the 13th pick would bring a talented player.

A lot of people are going to say that Portland should sit tight. They’re the ones looking ahead to next summer and all the possible cap room the Blazers would have available to sign an attractive free agent.

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