Know the Prospect *GM EDITION*: Kevin Pritchard
by stingy d on Jun 8, 2011 1:34 PM EDT
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PrintWith the departure of the sure-handed, straight-shooting Donald Walsh, our front office has a Death Star sized crater left in the middle of it. Glen Grunwald was pushed into the oval office in the interim. Thankfully, Donnie is still around for the time being, and will contribute to the draft process. There are many prospects out there and i would like to take some time to look at few of them. My guess is that we will not name a new President/General Manager until after the Collective Bargaining Agreement has been settled or (hashem forbid) the lockout has concluded.
Unfortunately for your reading pleasure, I completely lack enthusiasm in any capacity, and am entirely filled with vitriol. Nevertheless I will attempt to provide a marginally informative -albeit drab and tedious- description of some of the bigger names in the Front Office Free Agent Pool (FOFAP).
I would like to kick off this 47-part series with one of the most notorious characters in the FOFAP-mosphere, Kevin Pritchard. This natural wheeler and dealer spent the majority of his front office decision-making with the Trail Blazers, who are consistently one of the deepest (despite being most injured) teams in the league. He has been out of the league for a bit, and has been seen in the kitchen inspecting the fruit, and showing signs of rust. Despite floating on the perimeter, he has maintained an upbeat resolve, and will get his opportunity sooner (double-entendre alert) or later. It ain't shit wrong with biding your time.
However, you may have a problem...
via a.espncdn.com
Kevin Lee Pritchard was born in Bloomington, Indiana, July 17th, 1967. That was the year of the goat, he's a Cancerian. He started off like many young babies, unable to walk. Before long he was a dumb kid wishing he could one day become a superstar in the NBA. He grew up a bunch and managed to become the starting point guard for the Kansas Jayhawks when they won the NCAA championship in 1988 beating the (1 seed, Southeast) Oklahoma Sooners. The Jayhawks were the 6th seed in the midwest division that year, and were spearheaded by the Demon Coach himself, Lawrence Brown. The assistant coaches were an interesting bunch. Royal Crown Buford (long-heralded San Antonio Spurs General Manager), Alvin Gentry (journeyman coach) and Greg Popazits (the tough as nails, better-when-bearded, head coach of the Santa Anna Spurns). His most notable teammate was Danny Manning. They were in a doo-wop group together, called "Danny and The Miracles". Kevin was a tenor.
Measurements
Height: 6'3"
Guess the Weight: the guy looks reasonably fit, although heavy-limbed, little bit of belly... i'll go with 230
Projected Draft Position: Pritchard always comes out on top at the draft. Every year as the Blazers GM he seemed to have more 2nd round picks than the knicks had in the past decade.
Actually Drafted Position: 34th overall, Golden State Warriors, 1990 NBA Draft
Comparison
This fella is a lot like Sam Presti, the Oklahoma City Thunder GM. Stocks up on picks, makes brutality-laden trades, and develops the team ergonomically. Constantly adding depth, and making wise decisions at all junctures. Not every transaction is perfect (Greg Oden showed his dick, Andre Miller showed his age), but every move has pushed progress on the team, and the Blazers consistently won 50+ games despite having more injuries than Eddy Curry and Jerome James put together!!
The Clyde Factor
I think Clyde will pull this one off. But he might make the "itch" more of an "each". Kevin Preachered. He might slip up, though, and drop a Perchered. Kevin, picking and licking; trading and masquerading.
Cool Stuff
-Kevin was so awesome at making lopsided trades in his favor that his transactions garnered the label "pritch-slap". Like when he traded Randy Foye for Brandon Roy, it went on to be considered a pritch-slap, same thing when he traded that yutz Tyrus Thomas for the ever-budding talent LaMarcus Aldridge.
-Kevin is on the board of directors for the Friends of the Children charity. Which is kind of a silly sounding charity, but they seem to be a group that goes to all corners of the world helping, in various capacities, children that live in struggling communities such as Chernobyl, Myanmar and San Francisco.
-There is a "famous wind-surfer", who shares the same name. I think.
Actual List of Transactions
here's every transaction this fool ever made!
Punk Ass Amateur List of Transactions
-Made the trade that inspired Gus Johnson to pause Spike Lee
-Signed the NBA's first player named "Danilo", Danilo Peacock
-Had the stones to draft Joey Dorsey
-Tried to sign Paul Millsap; got stuck with Andre Miller
-Traded Steve Blake and Travis Outlaw for Marcus Camby... I mean, come on!
Let's go to the video:
Kevin Pritchard Unplugged (via blazersrev)- booooorrriiiiiinnngggg.
1988 NCAA Basketball Championship (via ncaaondemand) -he's in there somewhere.
Kevin Pritchard training in Gran Canaria (via us3kp)- this dude is fuckin rippin it, dude
Things to Take Away
-He knows how to spot truly NBA-worthy talent, no matter where he is selecting in the draft.
-He is criticized as being a front office prima dona.
-He constantly racks up second round draft choices.
-He would garner a ton of respect for the Knicks organization, showing that Dolan truly wants success.
-The guy eats bitches alive in trades.
Final Thoughts
Pritchard is the high profile guy. He will have a job somewhere, and he has clearly been holding out for the perfect opportunity (turned down the Hornets job last year). There are a few openings he may go after/may go after him, including the Trail Blazers. Portland very un-cerimoniously fired him one hour before his last draft. So he might fleece them in a trade for his services. Like a 7-footer who can rebound and block shots, without clogging the lane, he is very adept at providing seemingly unlimited depth to his teams via end of the round picks, and draft day trades. It seems like exactly the type of guy the team needs, someone who can give us a couple Nicolas Batum's and Patty Mills', and really fill out our roster with talent worthy of playing time. I hope James Dolan recognizes this and reaches out to the guy, he fits the bill in every way imaginable. I fear that its too late, and Dolan already knows what he wants to do, and it's wildly unimpressive. Something like hiring Glenn Grunwald for pennies on the dollar and hoping for the best.
More to come...
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Comments
good shit right here
tho I’ve read that the Knicks are pretty much dead set on filling the GM/President/Bee Keeper position with someone already in the organization.
Last night, a comedian died in New York. Somebody knows why. Somebody knows
well, the FOFAP is stacked
you’re probably right. but its a damn shame. this guy, to me, would be so on the money its retarded to think we haven’t already had preliminary discussions on his 5-year contract.
/// aighttho.com \\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\
and do you really not know the answer?
or are you being coy?
/// aighttho.com \/// twitter.com/aighttho \
I already thought he was perfect for the job and I am now doubly convinced
What did the 5 fingers say to the face?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7CBwX1891A
HaHaHaHa!
by Lord Smackington on Jun 8, 2011 2:03 PM EDT reply actions
This is awesome
but I will need some info on his standing reach before I make a decision.
Love it. Especially the videos. "Pritchard Unplugged" lol
And I was enjoying until this line put me on the floor laughing.
Not every transaction is perfect (Greg Oden showed his dick, Andre Miller showed his age),
"Madison Square Garden is the ultimate basketball stage. That's where I belong. That's where I live. That's the home of the New York Knicks." - Amar'e Stoudemire
by Chris Child's Fist on Jun 8, 2011 2:57 PM EDT reply actions
More of these please
Or maybe the Knicks will just grab Pritchard before someone else does… although does he want to go from one of the worst owners in the league to another?
ah crud
i forgot to include the thing that inspired me to do this in the first place!
this post has been edited… there is something just before the videos section now… i plan to do more of these and…. ah shut up
/// aighttho.com \\\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\\
If you look at the transaction list...
It kinda looks like he got fired for trading the 44th pick + cash in the 2010 draft to GS for the 34th pick of the same draft. Like that was the move that made Paul Allen say “Goddamnit Pritchard thats’s enough!! Pack your shit, yer fucking DONE in Portland!”
June 25, 2010
Fired as general manager
June 21, 2010
Traded the 44th overall pick in the 2010 draft and cash to the Golden State Warriors for the 34th overall pick in the 2010 draft.
"Madison Square Garden is the ultimate basketball stage. That's where I belong. That's where I live. That's the home of the New York Knicks." - Amar'e Stoudemire
by Chris Child's Fist on Jun 9, 2011 10:47 AM EDT reply actions
technikeek
he was fired one hour before the draft. but was allowed to conduct it. it was filed days later.
/// aighttho.com \\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\
by stingy d on Jun 9, 2011 3:25 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yeah I was gonna say. Pretty shitty thing to do. Fire a GM literally right before the draft, and then ask him if he'd like to stay long enough to run your draft.
The Blazers have awesome fans, a good team, and one of the shittiest ownerships this side of MSG.
by GAx on Jun 9, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I remember all that
but just strictly looking at the transaction log, it just looks kinda funny.
"Madison Square Garden is the ultimate basketball stage. That's where I belong. That's where I live. That's the home of the New York Knicks." - Amar'e Stoudemire
by Chris Child's Fist on Jun 10, 2011 10:20 AM EDT up reply actions
I would love Pritchard, I can't think of another guy who is better at the draft.
Literally every year he was in charge of Portland, he managed to get many picks and used them wisely to build depth for his injury riddled team. I would be extremely happy with this hire, mainly because it would show Dolan’s commitment to build around this team. Part of his success in Portland was due to Paul Allen’s willingness to spend (mainly by buying picks).
BUT, I see two major flaws:
1. Apparently he had huge ego issues and wanted all the credit when he was with Portland. Also Paul Allen hated how much power he demanded (or something like that). I could that being a HUGE issue with the Knicks, mainly because we know Dolan wouldn’t be happy letting this guy take all the credit and have a bigger ego than him.
2. He almost signed Hedo Turkoglu to like a 5 year $50 mil contract. It wasn’t until Turk out of nowhere negated their agreement and went to Toronto.
dolan actually plays the background
and allowed isaiah thomas so much grandstanding it was insane. but i digress.
as per turkoglu- roy was not injured the way he is now. and batum hadn’t shown the readiness to step in. besides- the real target was paul
millsap.
/// aighttho.com \\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\
by stingy d on Jun 9, 2011 3:29 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It aint the end of the world cuz Donnie left
I like how he got us under the cap, but it aint like he was Jerry West, or even Pat Riley. As long as Dolan cares more about putting a winning team on the floor than having yes men, I think we’ll be fine.
Wait, what has Jerry West or Pat Riley done as executives that you're putting Donnie Walsh under them?
Not saying Donnie’s #1 GM NBA HISTORY FOREVER but when I think of good execs I think of RC Buford or Sam Presti’s financial cap massaging. I can’t think of anything amazing Jerry West’s ever done except say “OK” and trade Vlade Divac when Kobe insisted on the Lakers, and I hope you’re not giving credit for the current Miami team to Pat Riley.
Are you smoking or eating crack?
Jerry West built two Laker dynasties, and Pat Riley drafted D Wade and won a chip. Don’t start.
Jerry West was gifted players or was lucky enough to be in position to get those players often because of the franchise he worked for instead of his actual GM acumen.
Starting two dynasties? You’re giving him credit for getting gifted Kareem who only wanted to be traded to the Lakers? Magic? He didn’t even want to draft Magic. He wanted Moncrief. Kobe? Shaq? Both who wanted to go to the Lakers? See the trend developing here?
As soon as he left the Lakers he suddenly couldn’t do SHIT. Where were the Kareems and Kobes and Shaqs he obtained for Memphis? Where were the amazing deals? I’m not saying he’s a fuck-up of a GM. He’s made some nice moves over the years, but most of the feathers in his cap came from his association with the Lakers, not because he’s that good.
Pat Riley drafted D Wade and won a chip. Right. This is too easy, I won’t even start. I’ll just say stumbling ass backwards into a championship doesn’t catapult you into the pantheon of GM’s.
Listen dude
stop with the, Oh Jerry West and Pat Riley were lucky B.S, it makes you look less intelligent with each stroke of your keyboard. Now tell me, what did walsh build in Indiana? he had the power to make all the decisions without interference from the owners.
I don't have to resist anything you said
because it was nonsense and doesn’t deserve a response. You still can’t tell me what Walsh did in Indiana aside from their brief contending years in the 90’s.
Donnie Walsh is a decent GM with a spotty track record.
I guess when you’ve been starving for ten years saltine crackers taste like filet mignon, in other words, don’t make an okay GM into a legend.
Yes, this guy, this dude right here!
Dammit, this is the effin guy, hire him, don’t wait, just sign the mf to a contract and let him loose.
What?
Dolan says no, he isn’t the @ss kisser he’s looking for…? Wha tha f…?
unnnnnnnhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
We need someone with connections who can run day-to-day operations
Pritchard hasn’t found work since being canned by Portland, and was fired because of his inability to run day-to-day operations.
He doesn’t seem like the kind of guy who wants to finish what someone else started, anyways. He failed (yes, failed) in Portland because he didn’t want to trade HIS young talent and draft picks for established vets. He didn’t trade Rodriguez, Fernandez, or Outlaw (or the rights to Koponen) when their value was high, and that hurt the franchise.
The trades he did make, he made because he had Allen’s money. The trades he DIDN’T make were what hurt the team.
Generally he drafted well, a byproduct of quantity (once again, Allen’s money) but he also made the biggest non-Darko mistake of the decade by not drafting Durant.
Let’s also not forget the Darius Miles fiasco. My guess is that a good amount of players hate the man for the shit he tried to pull with Miles.
"TV pays the bills in the NBA, but it doesn't do the game justice. I wish anyone who doubts the effort level could sit courtside one time, because they would be blown away by the ferocity. The players are just so good, so fluid, it looks effortless on TV." - Bill Walton
very valid points
the only issue i have is that you can’t predict oden exposing his dick like that. if he hadn’t done that- he might have been one of the most dominant centers in the league by now. no doubt about it.
/// aighttho.com \\/// twitter.com/aighttho \\
And you don't think Dolan = Allen?
Have him look at trades and run the draft. Let any of the other stooges (O’Neil/Grunwald) run the day to day operations. Day to day operations???
Hard to have any sympathy for Miles.
If he “failed” in Portland, he’s pretty darn good at it. Contrast his failure to say, our previous 10 years of general managers…
Day to day operations???
Yeah, the “stuff that actually matters, but goes on behind the scenes so fans pretend it doesn’t exist”
Hard to have any sympathy for Miles.
I don’t think you know what the “Darius Miles fiasco” is. Miles suffered a season-long injury and was released by Portland after the season. If Miles had retired, the Blazers would’ve been able to clear him from the cap. However, he was fully healed, and like any healthy player, he tried to find work. (He ultimately signed with Memphis and became a rotation player.)
Upon hearing this, instead of wishing him well, Pritchard sent a memo to all 29 other teams warning them not to sign Miles or else it would be considered an act of sabotage on Portland’s salary cap. Never mind that teams had every right to sign him, just as they would any other usable player. Stern sharply rebuked and fined Pritchard, and his leaguewide reputation for Kahn-esque ineptitude took another blow.
"TV pays the bills in the NBA, but it doesn't do the game justice. I wish anyone who doubts the effort level could sit courtside one time, because they would be blown away by the ferocity. The players are just so good, so fluid, it looks effortless on TV." - Bill Walton
yea i should have put that in my profile
it was grotesque
/// aighttho.com \/// twitter.com/aighttho \
It was.
I remember reading about it as Pritchard threatened the entire rest of the league with legal action if they dared fuck with Portland’s cap space and shaking my head thinking “This dude just poisoned the well with any future dealings with these guys.”
In other news, hey! Look who’s on the short list to get hired by us!
Alot of people seem to have hard ons for this guy!
Great! I just have one question, when did the Portland Trailblazers turn into a Juggernaut? You know the joke is the rest of the West plays 82 games to figure out who gets to eliminate Portland in the first round! Is that what we want? Maybe some guys around here would be happy with playoffs every year and a bunch of first round exists. Hey Pritchard wouldn’t do any harm, but let’s stop crowning kings until they win something!
Let's be fair, Robert...
Just because a guy HASN’T assembled a championship team, doesn’t mean he is incapable.
It’s the same argument against coaches.
Pritchard may not be our guy, fine, but being fired from Portland doesn;’t automatically disqualify him as a good GM. Like every GM, he made good moves and bad ones.
"Madison Square Garden is the ultimate basketball stage. That's where I belong. That's where I live. That's the home of the New York Knicks." - Amar'e Stoudemire
by Chris Child's Fist on Jun 13, 2011 2:14 PM EDT up reply actions
You miss the point CCF
The point is people regard this guy as a genius and I am just not seeing it. I do not think he would be a bad team president, but he is not a genius. I grow tired of our willingness to crown virtually any guy who put a team together with a winning record a genius. So I am being fair. He is about as good a candidate as is available right now, but let’s be objective. First of all given what we have right now is he the right guy for the job, look at his track record in Portland. What were his strengths? How do those strengths translate here. How did he work with coaches? Is he going to be a guy who works with D’Antoni or tries to dictate to him, you saw how Kerr’s dictatorial style worked with D’Antoni in PHX, it didn’t. Can he be content with just getting D’Antoni the type of players who fit his system or is he gonna want to put his own stamp on things by doing it his way. Is he even going to want to work with Pringles or is he going to want to bring in “His Coach,” and if that is the case who might that guy be? And is it going to be a guy who can mesh with our stars. These are fair questions CCF, the guy who replaces Donnie is not just going to make personnel moves but will be Team President which means he runs every aspect of basketball operations, so what the guys agenda is or may be, his personality and communication skills with those who work for him are very important.
by Robert Curre on Jun 13, 2011 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I think the most important question
Is whether or not this will be someone who is just here to entertain the Knicks’ childish owner.
But all of your questions are great once we get past that one! +1 on all of them!
by superturboultra on Jun 14, 2011 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions
Of course those are good questions, RC, and they aren't being ignored.
I’m certainly not jumping on any Genius Boat nor am I hyping Pritchard as “our guy”.
And I don’t think this post was doing that either. But one cannot deny that Pritchard (worthy or not) is a familiar name to a lot of people.
Stingy d expresses his preference for a guy like Pritchard and he gives legit answers to many of your questions. Certainly no guy is without weaknesses, but in discussing Pritchard… his strength is clearly how the draft and he has shown a terrific ability to acquire excellent talent without overpaying. Seeing as the Knicks are going to be working with limited salary cap space, it would seem to me and many others, that we need to take full advantage of the NBA Draft. Is that not a fair assessment of our own??
Is it wrong to think that maybe Pritchard does such a good job drafting and trading that it may offset so-called mistakes he has made in re-signing his players and/or overpaying financially for them? Arguable.
But admittedly, Pritchard did many things well in Portland and we just don’t know how he might react to your questions like “wanting his own coach, etc.” But that isn’t a reason for us NOT to reach out for him. And that is simply what this thread recommends. It doesn’t say “hang on his nuts and beg Pritchard to come to NY.”
"Madison Square Garden is the ultimate basketball stage. That's where I belong. That's where I live. That's the home of the New York Knicks." - Amar'e Stoudemire
by Chris Child's Fist on Jun 14, 2011 12:23 PM EDT up reply actions
Who would you hire then?
Just curious, if not Pritchard then who do you see as a better option?
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
Vince Lombardi
There's got to be
a reason he hasn’t had a job since Portland.
I firmly believe that any man's finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.
Vince Lombardi
Alienating every front office in the league might be part of it
As described above. Otherwise, it appears that he did a very good job.
by superturboultra on Jun 14, 2011 1:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't watch
It’s too bad Cho went to Charlotte. It will be interesting to see if he can fix Charlotte without any money.
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