Let's not make the seven man wait any longer. They need to be we've got Blazers general manager Kevin Pritchard on the line here on 1080 the fan with eyes can sit in his live in Las Vegas. At KP what were your impressions of that Greg Oden today at the US national mini camp.
You know I came -- is in good shape. It is a force on defense they started the the practices what about -- we're up four -- five an hour of defensive drills. And he uses active. -- his team won every single defensive. Drill. Anthony's starters come back presence that he was then you know tight corner of Ohio State you move -- lap early better. We have one block on Iguodala that was above the square and everybody in the old GM went on Curry's so. He -- back he had a lot of positive energy. And we know probably the biggest thing in the biggest key to our success -- four will be his progress and looked good today.
When you say he's moving laterally better I was brought this up lashing during the season it was really talked about too much but. Yeah it takes a long time to come back from micro fracture Sergio a couple of years for you know Morris timers -- often these guys so could -- have been that he is that he was really hampered bothered by that knee was fully healed so -- we didn't see. As much as we thought we would see out -- Greg Oden and that's getting better now.
Well it was fully healed but by hear what you're saying and I agree with you because what happens is let's say you're all for a year and a half. I believe that as long as -- thought is they keep that much and maybe more time. We give back to word you war or at least you know close to that level so. He's -- that that point worries. You know physically strong but he get that timing down and what he's like he's making the jump from college or pro what I really liked about it today was. You know in our league you get exposed for your weaknesses very quickly that just the nature of the beast played two games people see your weakness and go out right. And they've pulled him into pick and roll and I thought today he started the pectoral -- ever seen them play so. Feel good about that there was a bunch of great athletes their budget quick point guard. Devin Harris. And Rose and you know -- OJ Mayo there -- a bunch of really quick guards and powerful. And he did a great job hedging on those pick and rolls and he had this positive energy that we -- college in the early on before he got hurt that he's so he's got that back and that probably more important -- have some fun.
Amy in the sense that if he stays out of -- I was in shape. He's he's going to have a good year and it sounds like for the first time he's getting comfortable in his own skin and like you said that's probably the most important thing.
Of not no question and you know per per grade he he wants to play well I mean we all know that and sometimes it feels the weight of the world. And you know if we keep surrounding him with good people. That it takes some pressure off for him. I don't know -- ever going to be that point five point score he is not in his make up and plot we don't need that we need prominent the deepest the president. And get on top of the board. I do know this one thing that that we practice when he plays X amount of minutes -- come from. Like you know on exactly I think its 22 minutes to me -- we we play at a much higher level. First sustained level because he does so many bank and usually that means he's -- now without trouble right. So wouldn't keep them on the floor. We're going to be more effective in because. He's helped us and so many waited just doesn't show up you know 'cause he can head on out. A pick and roll he can he can intimidate and shots he can run. So we're we're pretty excited about it.
You mentioned that positive energy we're we're to that and go look -- did have some rough spots particularly with the media last year what the source of that.
Well I think it was expectations. That he felt like you know we've we've talked about mentality -- like -- let the Clinton team now. And he he shared that that burden very strongly. And so we lost the kid you know we lost that lovable kid in. Hopefully we'll get it back with hope hope that you know he he enjoys it now they're elected as in the past he'd looked like it today with a you know he had been invited to a bright is what I've told might born -- elect and I looked like he settled finally retired five of and key affected the game today. As much as anybody out there -- twenty player out there today to all were you know future potential all start so. I had a couple dozen Nike that a guy from another king says that the Greg Oden we we we thought we were actually so. I think I everything points. The good.
Is is this the year that we we stop saying. Growth and development and give it time and we say big -- we we need you to produce and enough of enough of the you know hedging the bets you've got to go out and perform or are we still in growth and development mode.
Well probably didn't hurt that way if you don't think that the 21 year old can continue to improve the work done growing and developing. I don't I think we could have articulated to me we wanted before games. We had four rookies on our team playing either significant or limited between. Greg. Rudy the dome and Taylor on a little bit smaller scale. Anecdotes that come back to our team and they improved. The order the better team despised by -- growth and that's you know but the real we're always going to be election you know we're always pushing those guys improved in the summer and and to get better and we -- quote the chance to be really special and they looked at you know at times in the summer league did exactly what we're Ascot back he can really score the ball on he's he's he's looking at party Cameron. You know we know how special Rudy has them any better record than NBA coverage starting at -- record you know you're built up. So what I do believe we have some some growth within our own team but. So you know I don't want to limit to just look for a gourmet brand has got to get better LaMarcus you've got to get better. I thought last year the got a really had a pop -- termed the display it was dusty played up like he had a terrific year lecture.
You look at what you said there and I believe it's never been done before 54 wins from the team playing big minutes from four rookies. And I know -- season hasn't on the way everyone hoped it would go but you still look at youngest team -- 54 wins the four rookies. You're one of two teams that are going to go into the season may be a militia guys -- seventeen with salary cap space in order to make a trade.
As the criticism. Does that -- a little bit mis do you put all those things on paper.
This -- a great positioning yet it seems like all summer this team and end to an extent you have fallen under some criticism that. You know I think you can look at and say it hasn't always been warranted.
Well now I'm a bit businesses out of I love it I mean I'm almost had a heart I make bad decisions. With a group that we have were very clever Torrey where they the coaches. And we enjoyed talking about basketball every day we -- to thank all through with Turkoglu. There were very disappointing. Because what I -- on top and I'm talking a mile work. Where Millsap. We knew we wanted them but there was a huge chance that they were going to match and you know. If you say that. You know you we want to bet that happened I always wanted now. But the whole thing -- were happy -- difficulty. Is that we knew we'd like our team. In the message works and then I guess our team as we believe our -- team. And that we're very very selective in who we thought we don't -- just. Bring on anybody that that doesn't work in this business -- two things. Two goals every single year. Number one is at the end of the year there -- proud of the team. And that that that mostly it is off court stuff that's that's something that at Portland could be proud. The they've played hard that they did everything they could represent the community. And secondly are we still end up positions to to grow and to compete at the highest level. And that hasn't changed that that that's what has changed what I do like about our team has I think we can improve. Without doing anything. But I'm not saying that double that the route we're gonna go we want to improve the team but would be very selective.
Talking -- Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard here on 1080 the fan. You mentioned I -- your man of your word. Hey -- gave you his word and Agassi's agent gave you his word. How much -- in in general. In your line of work do you generally count on any player can you count any in agents' word.
Well I know best I know your reputation. Precedes you at all all at all talks right that. You know if if you don't have a relationship and you don't have a trust with any of these guys. You know it's difficult. I want that reputation and understanding without work and motivated when I tell you something that's going to happen. I can't speak on behalf of them I know as an organization. That's how we feel Larry Miller and I. Nate we we we we choose to make hard decisions but once those decisions are made. We stick to it and for for better or worse when we face something we're going to do it.
Do you feel your reputation is around the league with other GMs.
Good I've not talked all of them all the time. And you know somewhat closer to others that's just natural you know. I've worked worked. You know three or four of them just within the Spurs organization so. We compete against each other there's no doubt about that and and that's part of it but you also out. A working relationship that your comfortable.
What would you change about the Hejduk process if he can go back.
While I don't know you know we talked a lot about that much so sure you could do anything except have a contract ready can't have a contract ready.
Yeah. There's one quite his I mean I don't his -- it they didn't have been reports soundly in censored it. It be in of being injured in reports in his life really Beasley chose trying to report machine come out on the visit did you invite her. Our our our credit.
What I can't tell you is we did everything we could get everybody up here. So. What are the things that we felt like is important that that does that is that everybody was involved agent light. Family everybody. And you know they chose to do it their way and they can't do that that's a third choice they. They sort of setting you make invitation but they said that while what they want to do so fortunately she didn't common. Dealt with stuff.
Kevin Pritchard is our guest where you now in the process of resigning Brandon Roy.
We're still up in the top in every day. We know how important is our our our job is to get a long term deal with -- we're going to continue to work that. And it's complex that these things are just. Rubber stamp it and it is a great kid. Have a personal relationship with the Mighty -- for hit on all the floor. Recorder or about -- to get something done.
Do you do you hear mean going back to the into the criticizing do you hear it. Mean good that the people that have that are critical of viewers say that that the Chinese come offer. But it's been you know this terrible offseason in that they -- or jerking around Brandon do you do you hear that stuff.
You know I've heard it but you know. People have a right to their opinions one thing but I have always always starters. God judged in the summer drugs they're probably doing during this season. And you know I I think we're going to have a good season. We stay healthy start Lotta Lotta good things can have a lot of good things. Could. Good could come into play and we can have a great -- coming just hit the necklace become the first example that he gets better. Get played 1516 minutes a game we think the world -- we think he's a terrific player. Martell Webster comes back he's he's like a free agent acquisitions. -- the -- furthest thing even think someone said the bats today during. Olympics select practices look -- another GM come out to me because they look so I'll know about -- if you want to trade team -- And trying to hit -- right then I'll let you know -- Trade all the kingdoms in Egypt -- Sandberg would -- entity got a good thing. And that hit me yet this is like you know will work maybe back given that team -- chance of we believe the best thing we -- this thing could go. Could go a long way he would fit if they just improve and at some.
Does that make in the class is that change. Everything now the way this -- with that no longer. You know is is -- a young team no longer is -- team this just women to make the playoffs from now -- you'll be judged by play off fronts.
Well you know every team wants to get to a certain point. Is because of how you doing a play every single one and we feel like that make the play out with a huge. Stepped and that -- we have been Duke play out -- what about just making -- play. We feel like we've got a team that can compete -- the teams in the last we were built. The second best record I perspective in the -- with some really good things now. There's an arm draped going on nonetheless there's no doubt about it you know Peter did better. Well we have to do is. We have to get better and we we think -- that happen by the you know -- our young guys getting. Getting better in the summer -- get blocked field exposure you know Nicklaus played on a French team had. Rudy playing on the Spanish team and you know great now planned on this. Electing you they look we're divided but got hurt but. You know I gotta get better at this summer.
That you mentioned did in the Brandan Wright talks. It's complex. -- offered five years did he T he -- And only four years to your star player what what's complex about it I think a lot of fans are gone why why on earth would even be haggling with the sky at this point.
Well first well at a respectable and then the candidate in I can get into the details. Of could contract. What I can't tell you look at -- every day. We certainly want. We give him under contract for a long time to warm to deal -- furlong track.
Aren't what's your message for fans some of them frustrated who and they see other teams making key moves and and perhaps the Blazers can be conceived striking out what what do you say it is to those fans.
I think the big thing is we believe -- Other teams may feel like that they have to make moves we've never felt like we have to make moves we've worked really hard. What are some very difficult time to put this team together. And you know when you have basically the youngest team in the league -- 54 games. If you're you're not in a panic move a panic mode and make a lot of changes. Sure if you can add quality pieces you do that every single time. But we're very selective on who can be a blazer now it's just not like we're going to go after anybody has speed right commercial.
Let's get to the real issue here and ask the tough questions is that the last and he came on the program we had an understanding on how to improve this team. -- here we are mid July and Kevin Pritchard there's no Brian Scalabrine in Portland what the hell. Workers are -- I thought we had come to that understand and embarrass him Brandon is priority number one maybe the markets do. Turkoglu maybe three that Scalabrine fourth line.
What what what in the -- caliber. -- All of the other neat fifty yes they do like if things didn't look alike that regret in order to affect.
this team -- a steady dose of Brian Scalabrine he was the key element to the Celtics championship two years ago and I think he can do that for this blazer team.
Okay well Matt maybe -- be GM per day and try that on.
I don't think so I think I could clearly get that doesn't have a prop eight he had Guitar Hero and Kevin thank you for a call in today procedure time. Rutted dirt -- axiom that's Kevin Pritchard your Portland Trail Blazers general manager live from Las Vegas.
