Wonderboy Kevin Pritchard may be a draft genius, but Woj is unimpressed with his efforts this offseason:
They need a small forward, but he refused to make a bid for the most talented one on the market – the Los Angeles Lakers’ Lamar Odom.
Odom could’ve been had for the Blazers, but Pritchard has, for now, committed his money to a backup power forward. He could’ve dented the Lakers and met his most pressing need with Odom’s length, athleticism and versatility…
Beyond that, Pritchard has a problem with one of the most well-regarded coaches in the NBA: Nate McMillan doesn’t want to sign a contract extension. He’s tried to explain his desire for one-year contracts as some kind of self-motivational tool, but no one buys it. It’s clear that McMillan wants to be a free agent in 2011.
If Utah decides to match Portland’s offer to Paul Millsap, Pritchard will look even worse. Five years for $45M might have scared off Utah, but four years for $32M? Aside from the large bonus up front, it’s an eminently reasonable contract. What’s Pritchard’s backup plan - send a letter to the other 29 teams, threatening to sue if no one trades with him?
Pritchard has some Billy Beane in him, in that sometimes he seems more concerned with cleverness and financial efficiency than winning. It cannot be said enough: You win by having the best team, not the least overpaid players.
