Nate McMillan sat at the dais looking straight ahead, at times barely nodding or blinking as Kevin Pritchard discussed his draft decisions in what can be aptly described by some as an uneventful draft night for the Portland Trail Blazers.
Needless to say, it was exhausting.
"It's been a long couple of days," Nate McMillan said, drained from pre-draft workouts and the evaluation process.
"I found myself not sleeping the last few days – you know, waking up at 4 o'clock in the morning and just going and going to bed late and just thinking about scenarios and what we want to do."
It was mere minutes after the 2009 NBA Draft, a chance for management to address the confused expressions that faced them in a late night press conference at the Blazers practice facility. And after all the speculation that Portland would drop a draft day bomb, the selections of Victor Claver (22), Jeff Pendergraph (31), Dante Cunningham (33), and Patrick Mills (55) were a bit of a dud to the naysayers.
The Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas trade rumor came and went with no avail. Portland chased Tyler Hansbrough (13 overall to Indiana) but couldn't catch up to him as he went just at the end of the lottery. Yet it was addition by subtraction, as disgruntled reserve point guard Sergio Rodriguez (along with cash considerations) was shipped to Sacramento for the 31st pick.
"Sometimes my eagerness needs to be controlled," Pritchard admitted.
"The things we thought would happen, happened. Usually there is more audible calling. But we feel really good about what we did today."
What Portland did was got younger. Four times.
While Pendergraph, Cunningham and Mills will all compete for roster spots at the Las Vegas Summer League, Pritchard said Claver would remain overseas "for a couple of years," despite being someone the Blazers have targeted for the last two years and are apparently high on. But even as both Pritchard and McMillan applauded the "toughness" Pendergraph and Cunningham bring to the roster – and if Mills makes the roster coming out of summer league – the attention now returns to the open market.
Will free agency help close the doors that were left open from the draft?
That will depend on what the cap number will be set at, a figure which should be announced on July 1st.
It will determine just how much shopping Portland can do.
"We're going to be active in free agency," Pritchard continued.
"There is no doubt about it. We want to add the right pieces. We've talked about it and want to target some guys and will talk to some people and we're going to try and help our team with free agents. But we do feel that we helped ourselves today."
If Thursday's draft provided help, this summer and free agency could be Portland's saving grace. Free agents with lengthy experience actually.
"We need veterans. I know that," confessed Pritchard.
Even still, Portland remains in the hunt for a backup power forward to LaMarcus Aldridge, and will also need to make a decision on what to do at point guard – with the likes of Jason Kidd, Andre Miller and Steve Nash being floated around in trade rumors and signings. McMillan said Bayless will "slide into that role" once filled by the departed Rodriguez, but speculation is ongoing as to what the real plan is at the point.
Reports also continue to surface that Travis Outlaw remains expendable, so look for him to draw interest from around the league as the offseason rolls on.
It's certainly a tiring process Portland will undergo this offseason – trying to tighten-up the pieces of their puzzle. That's for sure.
Hopefully, it will not be as tiring as Thursday night.
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posted By not PY, 26 June 2009 8:30:00 AM
Thanks Maxey, we needed another Portland Article. I'm surpirsed they only got to move up in the 2nd for Sergio. According to the Blazer fans, him and Outlaw was in place to acquire STAT. Now they have to trade outlaw and Frye to get a freak baller.
posted By wmaxey, 26 June 2009 8:43:59 AM
frye is a free agent and he's not likely coming back regardless. but again, portland's m.o. isn't to remain young. know they will be heavy hitters in free agency and the feeling is they need to pull something big off.
posted By AS13, 26 June 2009 9:36:29 AM
Isn't hansbrough at 13 still considered the lottery?
posted By @ not PY, 26 June 2009 11:03:00 AM
your laker homer sarcastic posts aren't needed on a Blazer thread there bucko. Just let it go.
posted By pete, 26 June 2009 11:22:46 AM
this is all just a stepping stone to the real target. Getting rid of Sergio and freeing up that extra little bit of cap space could pay huge dividends. The Pendergraph pick is the only one I can see sticking this year for a roster spot. Cunningham is too small for a PF and Patty Mills will drive Nate crazy. Can't wait for July to role around.
posted By Reaper, 26 June 2009 1:12:06 PM
i think if the blazers add Hedo they might become alot better, but they might have to get him in a sign and trade sending some of their draftees and players to orlando. i think thats truly the easiest way for the blazers to have him esp with the many players they have on their roster and now just drafted.
posted By Jason Fleming, 26 June 2009 3:24:00 PM
I haven't run the numbers myself, but supposedly Portland has about $9 million to spend now after getting rid of Sergio. Claver won't be coming over this year and none of the second round guys are guaranteed anything. If they choose to go after Hedo or Andre Miller or whomever else, they no longer really need to work out a sign-and-trade - and I think that was the main goal last night. Now they can keep what they have and add that one veteran...although, my personal opinion is a trade - maybe just an unequal one, would be better.
posted By Rggns05, 26 June 2009 4:45:31 PM
"Patty Mills will drive Nate crazy"....I'm going to have to disagree since KP said that Mills was Nates pick. Mills slipped because of a wrist injury, potential late 1st round pick to early 2nd. That's like saying Blair is going to drive Popovich crazy. Let's see what these young guys can do and how they mesh with an all around potent lineup.
posted By PY...the real one!, 26 June 2009 4:53:21 PM
Although I am a Laker fan, I didn't write that earlier post. There seems to be a "PY imposture" on the loose. Anyway, Pendergraph does have a little bit of upside to him and can score around the rim. Still, I just don't get why the Blazers didn't pick up Blair, Demarre Carroll, or Ahmad Nivins. All of those guys would have given them that physical presence they are lacking.
posted By pete, 26 June 2009 5:18:02 PM
to be fair about Mills, he was the best player available at #55, and that's really the only reason he was picked. I highly doubt we would have traded up to get him. Granted, with some seasoning he could be a solid back-up, but I just don't see it. Summer league should be a better guage as to where he'll fit this year. If he can hold his own there, then I might be persuaded to think otherwise, but until then I think he's a Euro-stash.
posted By NJ, 27 June 2009 3:44:15 PM
Maybe free agency will be the answer to the team's woes, but my guess is that lopsided trades and balanced trades are going to be where the real action is at.
It's going to be a really interesting summer.
posted By Patty, 28 June 2009 2:45:18 PM
Mills will play in summer league, but KP and McMillan have already said that Bayless will be getting most of the PG minutes. Right now Mills is probably nothing more than insurance - if they don't find another PG through trade or FA then they have Mills as a cheap third-stringer; if they do find one then Mills will be in Europe, Australia, or the D-League.
posted By Brodie, 28 June 2009 9:42:48 PM
Am I the only one who watched the Olympics? Did no one else see Patty Mills score 20 points, 3 assists, 3 steals and 0 turnovers while being guarded by Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Jason Kidd? I know Kidd is getting old, but anyone who consistently blows past Deron Williams and Chris Paul is surely worth a roster spot as a 3rd string PG. I'm biased because I'm Australian but Mills was projected by just about all the experts to go in the 22-37 range. Remember that St. Mary's had only lost 1 game before Mills broke his hand. I really hope he gets the chance to prove that along with Blair, he will be the steal of the draft. This kid is going to surprise some people...and make a lot of teams regret passing him up on draft night.
posted By don, 29 June 2009 12:17:34 AM
The reason Portland passed on Blair was the same reason every other NBA team did. Their doctor's looked at him and said, "don't do it". However, I think I would have probably taken a chance at 33. I think SAS are licking their chops right now with him and Duncan on the front line. I wish the guy the best.
About the Portland PG situation. It seems like we've been talking about this same issue for the last several years.
I like the idea of Hinrich there if we can't find a way to pry away Harris. We don't need a superstar at that spot, especially if Martell and Greg come on this year. We need a guy who can get our scorers the ball while not turning it over, and defend the perimeter. While Harris would take us to another level entirely, Hinrich could fill that need very well. He would be similar to Blake on offense, but superior on defense.
Miller's not a good teammate according to reports, and Kidd is just a bit too old and slow. Hinrich's 28 and could give us 5-6 good years, first as the starter and then as the backup as Bayless emerged (making that assumption). I like Mills, but he's very raw. If he even makes the team this year, he'll be at the end of the bench. 5 years from now he could backup Bayless though.
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