Here is I as I assume he is tanned and rested and feeling great Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard in my right about that. Number and the actor as he has seen that's much happier than last time I -- was when we are sketchy right after the trade deadline and you are just. You know exhausted. Or TM what did you do after the season's over. Went to command big games.
watched some film. I cut I think -- got away from basketball for about two hours.
we get -- hobby Betty I you know on correct dollars.
I'll have time for golf what about yachts. Jockey Edgar could -- all aren't that monopoly one -- Now monopoly club in Portland's we -- out perfect.
I it to be the resource. If if if there is a down time for you is it now right after the the playoffs or is that a misnomer.
Now now there's a down time because we give pretty wrapped up for the draft. Which is the 25 June and then not free agency which starts July Warren. And then after you get your team basically. Ready for a the next year than he could take some time off in September for a couple weeks getaway but I. Can't stay pretty busy W around.
Is the draft as big a deal for you this year as it has been in the years past. All right well said now I know you know.
I don't I don't know that yet. To be perfectly honest. -- meeting this week with the coaches to go over. This past season we want to identify our strengths weaknesses. And then look. At the best ways to a to match that up weather be free agent. With the draft with. Trades. And try to improve --
I you know is just one series but I think it that the Rockets series taught us a lot about what you have how much did you learn about your team. In just those few games.
I think what we've learned is that first game. You have to be prepared. Does play at a higher level or at least the highest -- you can get to. He immediately because we win that first game I think it's a whole different series I think we won the series to be honest but it but it becomes. Home and home right. And that chain. -- we had to go down. To Houston and winning game which game three we had a chance we're down big that really stormed back and and about to lose -- three or so. And in the fourth came up are we -- can. Control of it fourth quarter we were up. And they were just barely able to a squeaker out. So I think if if we run that series back again knowing what we know right now pick we'd be in good shape. That being I still think that. The tremendous amount of education in terms of our own guys and Brandon Allen knows what it it is to go against two for. Physical defenders LaMarcus knows what it is to -- can't say a guy who's just a tricky player who now. And that -- education of -- team we have basically two guys had been a playoff series before that and they weren't major factors in those series. On other teams and now now we have some we have some experience in the playoffs.
Steve Blake on right after game six in and asked him what his thoughts were you know because everyone around the city -- disappointed -- says it's a great year but. You know what's in that situation he said he wasn't ready be here that yet. A week after that playoff series where words your head -- we -- disappointed. An appeal with the way it went did you look back is a positive thing on the way this season was.
Well they say success can only view. Complacent. Complacency is the greatest enemy of success. So old. One thing that I think -- I have been fully on board on this year and in and the future is not becoming complacent. How were moving in the right direction we haven't accomplished everything. We haven't patted ourselves on the back. We're proud of what we've done but know that there's a lot more. To go and were pretty hard charging people. And sometimes that's good for me and they sometimes we bump heads that we we all know that. At least for him and myself we we we understand who we are where we want to go so. I think we congratulated ourselves. And in which really actually want to give back to Blake here for second because. I remember addressing the team right after the game. Not solid in his -- exactly how he felt he was pissed yeah and he was not ready for the thing to be done. And you know. That's what you want to see out of your players. And I give a give the got a lot of credit he took it took accountability he felt like he could play and -- all our guys did you know I thought it was a collective responsibility. From our whole team saying you know we all could've played better.
Which side it would Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard here on the fan. Us the last time I totti you use to buy low sell high analogy saying he could've been a -- trade deadline -- thought the market was going to continue to get they need to get. More down the road as other owners got in you know that that you know financial trouble in the market that -- in just in general. Where is it now is it flattened out as it's still dipping as a potential buyer where's the market.
Well I I don't think you really know yet. I think as we get you know. I say in the NBA not going to happen still deadlines put in place right and and our next deadline has the draft. So. Has that gets closer you'll see see the real deal come out -- he's really want to get off contracts are they really want to make. -- changes. In until you really know that. Point decimating that I I think there's a chance that we can improve our team. By draft and then you know will will have some cap space. Not a lot but some men. We're we're trying to analyze right now which which is the best way to attack that.
Let party analyzed before you end. I I gotta go out there yet you need to find a way to do it and you can't comment on players. In sought to sake it if you remain silent. Your degree it's with me that what this team needs. Is a steady dose of Brian Scalabrine -- back to -- minimum eight.
We know there's a brain doctor out there have you guys ever heard of the guys he he works for a couple NBA teams and call on the brain doctor. And Brian Scalabrine was. Rain typed. From the Myers Briggs test as same as Michael Jordan so you're you're I think you're on the --
Then what's let's start the grassroots effort that right here right now on this program. Give Richard you need to find a way to get bright Scalabrine important.
Why officially can't talk about other teams players but I hear you allowed where.
Brain types do you say you study brain types how many guys match up with Michael Jordan's bring Brian Scalabrine he.
Yeah definitely no there there -- I think Durham and many others. And I right now strategy by the way guys that that yes you are -- pom pom -- Allowing you guys don't understand that there are a lot of ways to evacuate players.
Indeed indeed Kevin Pritchard our guests on the stand what are your top three offseason priorities.
But I you know we we don't we're not talking about positions well we're talking about his. You know the one thing we learned. Series was that. It was a very tough physical series and has. The regular season came to a close -- first game. He realized it's going to be called a little bit differently it's going to be tough for your allowed the banging and bumping and -- picked if I was that they want and that's that you know most important thing in that is what gets some toughness and I think we have some guys can step up. And help us that way but. We made it need to go -- to free agency and look at some liked.
What happened in that playoff series with with Greg he came off the the injury and really. Towards the end of the year Kevin really like progress has been made in we saw the old Greg start to come back in he was smiling and laughing joking around to reporters in. And really was a factor at the end of the year for you guys. And then Kim play -- time. Not to to pound on the guy or whatever but I I just I really was disappointed in in the way he played in that playoff series what happened there.
Well if you look at history. It would you have big stick a little longer to adapt to the of the game the game got better obviously. Couple -- gay guys really were able to adapt to Brandon and LaMarcus. Dole. But if you go back union look. He's going against Yao Ming one of the best senators and most difficult guys to guard and partly. Because of his -- and size and his skill level and he ran into a -- their first and second ball. You know Joe was playing so well. Jolt understand. The tricks of the trade so to speak. Implant a guy like -- That have forced us to play jolt as much and you know when Greg got in there. It wasn't for extended period of times and you gotta give them credit -- day did a great job of exploiting us. In ways to hurt -- hurt us when Greg was on the floor.
Yeah I think -- his mistakes the only positive thing is is mistakes to correct a bull but if you had to do all over again Kevin would you downplay your enthusiasm for how good Greg Oden would be going all the way back to when you were saying. You know. I've thought he does things have never seen before back at that initial work -- coming off surgery.
He still does those things that stuff the hard thing. -- always see it. We don't -- I personally feel like Craig has to make a commitment to get in the best shape of his life I think that's that's. What we have to have what I do know is this. Is one great placed twenty minutes or more. We win at a much higher level. He was. Top five in minutes per rebound. Our power rebounds per minute and then. You know when you look at -- First as -- Dwight Howard in their rookie years and -- 36 minute. It's pretty close I mean the white did some better things. But I don't think we should get. Too caught up -- saying hey listen this time to time to move on that's that's the last they were sent. Came -- came off of neat neat you know surgery and I'm very bullish on Greg Oden.
Kevin Pritchard Blazers GM. As he is committed as he should be.
Craig committed are we is Greg Oden as committed as he should be coming into our contract perished in should be. Are you -- he'd -- he does it matter if he's in a higher fees here working on the Nazis -- he's doing the right.
Lakers tonight it's.
What -- Nuggets. Yeah I think they got amazing firepower. They do is a minute if -- cook and there's good as anybody offensively that we've seen in. 510 years -- and they've got amazing firepower. And journalist Chauncey Billups kid is change and change and thank you know he's he's making all those guys accountable. And while planned at the best basketball he's played. Maybe ever.
We were talking about Carmelo Anthony before hand didn't you -- said that the guy has top five talent in the league in yet. I don't think he'd be amongst my top fifteen. If I was starting a team. Where do you put Carmelo Anthony in the realm of great MBA players.
I liked the way you you put it. But when he gets going he's as good of a score that as there is in this league. Maybe say coping. He can really get it on. And he's a guy that. As as as the game goes on he can become better and better and better is Mick shots because it. He's always that threat to be a driver he's a great post up player and there's really nothing he can't do it just a matter get -- consistent but he's he's one heck of a player.
I never got trailer offseason priorities two and three toughness was one right -- months two and three. Our guys.
Well that's that's -- now what story.
Develop our -- guys. You know we've we've got a good score in no. With adjustments need to be made we always know that Mobil makes adjustments but really liked at the core. One don't really get tougher now we we felt like. Against Houston that was the physical in this of that series early exploited us so we're apt get tougher we would well.
One word Scalabrine. -- I can't and attack me thank you don't try to do it the by Kevin Pritchard is the general manager of your Portland trailblazers here on. ESPN Sports Radio ten -- ended any.
