Had Kevin Pritchard believed in Lady Luck, Portland could be bragging about back-to-back number one overall selections come June's NBA Draft.
In Secaucus, New Jersey on Tuesday night the winning numbers didn't exactly go the Blazers way, but Portland does hold a valuable selection with the 13th overall pick.
"We don't make luck our policy," Pritchard said.
"We were happy to get lucky last year, but we're going to have to work hard, make some good moves to take this team to the next level. I do like this draft at 13. I think there really good players – some maybe a little further for making an impact – but I do believe there are some solid players at 13."
But while the Chicago Bulls and Miami HEAT prepare to do battle over Memphis' Derrick Rose and Michael Beasley of Kansas State, Pritchard is open to negotiations with his first round selection and perhaps even the Blazers three second round picks.
"We're going to explore all of those options. We'll explore trading it (the 13th pick) and see what it brings - evaluate that instead of the actual pick itself - so we are going to look at every option we possibly can," Pritchard explained.
This comes as no surprise. And neither does Portland securing the 13th overall pick, a slot Pritchard and those in the Portland media knew would come to fruition. But while Pritchard has said previously that Portland isn't necessarily looking for the Blazers to get any younger, he does believe this year's draft could yield an "impact" player in the mid-first round, particularly at 13.
Pritchard has a list of "seven or eight" players he'd like to see go in that selection at several positions. But even still, don't read between the lines on this draft debate.
Portland will shop the pick, especially knowing their need for a true point guard.
"I'm going to have some discussions with a few NBA people," said Pritchard who believes the interest in the 13th selection falls into two camps.
"It depends on how many teams around the league are truly trying to get young and get better with their youth and go with the youth movement. If there are more of those teams, competition heats up for the 13th pick. If there isn't that many, and teams still think they can be in the championship hunt with what we have, then it's not as much competition.
"But right now I feel it has good value. People know at 13, there's going to be a good player."
Mock draft boards peg anyone from Chris Douglas-Roberts of Memphis, to UCLA's Kevin Love, to fellow Bruin Russell Westbrook being drafted by Portland as the 13th overall selection. But for now – and knowing Pritchard's master plan to build around Greg Oden, LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy - there appears little to no pressure to keep the current first round pick.
"We have to make some good moves to continue to make this team better. But this team does have the ability to grow without anything else right now," Pritchard said.
"We're going to keep adding some pieces. But with Oden, LaMarcus and Brandon as our core right now, as they improve and get more experience, the better off we are going to be."
As for the three second round picks Portland owns (33, 34 and 54 overall picks), Pritchard noted they become even more valuable if they can be used to move up in the draft or become part of a larger deal. Pritchard will explore all options in this instance.
And knowing Pritchard's knack for draft night dramatics – nine draft day trades the past two years - expect anything this time around as well. Either way, it appears Portland is in a win-win situation.
Maybe luck is on their side after all.
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