G.O. shouldn’t be a problemPortland GM Kevin Pritchard has the kinds of problems that every NBA general manager wishes they had. In addition to Jerryd Bayless‘ 28-point debut last night and the gushing praise that we’ve heard about Spanish G Rudy Fernandez, there’s another name in Portland’s backcourt that deserves serious consideration. Finnish PG Petteri Koponen was just as impressive last night, netting 19 points on 4-6 shooting from downtown.
But with Koponen, Pritchard will need to make a decision far tougher than whether he gets PT over the other talented guards in the Blazers’ system. If they ink Koponen this season, he’ll fill their last open roster spot. That could be an issue if Greg Oden doesn’t really bounce back from the knee injury and they’re forced to run with Joel Przybilla again at the five.
So what will the Finnish guard have to do to earn his keep?
“I don’t know. I don’t even really want to think about it,” Pritchard said. “I want to watch these games, have fun with that, see if he improves as the week goes on … and if he does, he has a spot.”
You have to imagine that Pritchard will err on the side of signing him, because Koponen could easily follow in the steps of Juan Carlos Navarro and sign a long-term deal overseas. Then Portland would have ended up wasting their 30th selection in the ‘07 draft.
What do you think is the biggest predicament facing the Blazers going into the ‘08-09 season?
Source: Oregon Live
July 15th, 2008 at 11:45 am
Jim says:
Oden’s health, for sure. I mean it’s hard to overstate the importance of his health for the long-term fate of the franchise.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
parker says:
1. I didn’t really think Koppenen played well. How many turnovers can one man have before we start to think that maybe he isn’t nba ready yet?
2. Oden will be a beast whenever he comes back. If its 3 years from now, then just keep stealing dudes like Bayless from the rest of the clueless league and stock the roster until he gets back.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Big Brew says:
They’re reairing last night’s game on NBA Tv right now and Koponen started the game with a three, a sick pass and dish, and then a steal to a layup. I think that they’ve got to lock him up in Portland. Isn’t there someone else on that roster that could go? Isn’t Von Wafer still around, waiting to get cut?
July 15th, 2008 at 12:11 pm
ERIC says:
Its tough because Koponen is a potential stud and if they don’t sign him now, he’ll sign a lucrative long-term contract overseas. They have so many young players they should trade Steve Blake (who is there only ‘veteran’ guard) to open up a spot for Koponen. There will be plenty of takers for Blake.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Logan Light says:
Parker has it right. Oden is going to be a beast… WHENEVER he gets back on the court. Though it does sound sooner than later which is a problem for the western conference.
The Blazers are in a tough spot with their roster right now for sure… but you’ve got to sign your draft picks. To me, the biggest problem for the Blazers is going to be the durability of Oden. We’ve seen the microfacture success and horror stories, but I think as fans of basketball we’re all hoping for more Amare and less C-Webb. And if that is the case, we need to remember that it took Amare a while to get to where he is now. We might be talking another year or two before he hits his stride.
Blazers fans are talking championships. My advice would be to take it slow… let the dynasty happen in its own time.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
ERIC says:
Wafer is playing for the Knicks summerleague squad
July 15th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
SwedishMooze says:
The biggest problem predicament for the Blazers… how about the fact that they needed at least 50 wins to make the playoffs last year and those 8 teams haven’t lost core players.
They’re going to be better, but going from 41 wins to 51 wins requires the Blazers to get 10 wins against some very good teams. They were .500 against the East (15-15) and the West (26-26) last year so to they’ll need to scrap in both conferences. Their season is going to be decided by whether they can swing those 10-12 close games in their favor by making/blocking that last shot.
They’ve definitely improved, but their improvements are still going to be rookies and haven’t had to grind out an 82-game season with every game potentially the difference between the playoffs and the lottery. Look at the guys above them, Melo/AI, Dirk/JH, Nash/Amare, Yao/McGrady, DWilliams/Boozer, Parker/Duncan/Manu, CP3/West, Kobe/Gasol… The shortest resume on that list is the Hornets and they held down 2nd place last year. That means that one of those tried and true veteran combos has to miss the playoffs in order for the Blazers to get in.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
D says:
Front court. Obviously they’re stacked on good guards, but a solid front court is what they’re lacking to get it done. Even if Oden is healthy, there’s no guaranty that he’s the answer at the five. He had issues in college staying out of foul trouble and that will likely be an issue this year as well. His development will probably be slow….so having an able bodied center is going to be a concern.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:22 pm
D says:
oh that and Darius Miles status. hahahahah
July 15th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
Muwu says:
I’m quite optimistic about the Blazers right now, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of teams deeper than them right now. The only problem could be is how to get all those players playing time. Koponen, Fernandez, Roy, Blake, Bayless - all have their uses at guard (Blake can shoot the 3 very well; the others, given). At the SF spot you got a great shooter in Webster, an athlete in Outlaw, and a defender/project in Batum. The bigs are their only real thin spot really, after Aldrige and Oden, all you have is Pryzbilla’s shotblocking, and not much else.
So yeah, I am very high on this team right now. Young or not, bottom line is they’ve got talent, and can keep the pressure on any team for the full 48 minutes.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
hahns says:
trade blake for a big. eddy curry? sheldon williams? nazr mohammed? hermann? no idea. but trade blake no nned for guards.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:42 pm
D.H. says:
How about Blake to the Cavs for a 2nd rounder next year?
July 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
fiyaman says:
u dont have to trade Blake for Curry we’ll give u him for free
July 15th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Jeffrey says:
Making the playoffs
July 15th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
Luigi says:
Blazers have SOOO much Depth. n Youth.
it doesnt matter who’ll play kuz they’ll all operate the same. but what matters is how many min. the ppl get. thats whassup
July 15th, 2008 at 3:27 pm
Big V says:
How can you really justify taking the gamble on Oden without a serviceable backup center? Wack situation for Portland, but I gotta roll with Joel here.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Homeless J says:
There were times last night that Petteri looked extremely good, like the opening sequence Big Brew described. he showed he doesn’t have any problem hitting 3’s and he had a couple of nice passes. but he also had moments where it looks like he might get exposed in the League, like when he got his lunch money stolen on several occasions. and he’ll need to develop some better ball handling.
In my opinion he’s worth signing. Even if he doesn’t pan out this year and ends up being the third or fourth best point on the roster, trading him would be better than letting him sign in Europe and getting nothing in return.
The vanilla gorilla ghostface Przybilla is not that bad of an option in the paint. He had some big games last year, including a 20-rebound game. People act like all he can do is block shots but he’s a very good rebounder. He might not be the best number one option but he’s also not the worst, either… I’d rather run with him than Primoz Brezec, or Darko Milicic, etc.
July 15th, 2008 at 6:18 pm
the mamba says:
I don’t see the blazers keeping all these young dudes. I think pritchard has been stockpiling talent to make a trade for a veteran all star (ala danny ainge last yr) to team w roy and oden for chamipionship runs for the next few yrs. So look 4 some of these guys to end up elsewhere. Maybe miami (4 marion)
July 16th, 2008 at 12:18 am
bill says:
BIGGEST ISSUE:
Like the Blazers with Pippen they are STACKED!
But they do not have that MVP candidate (perhaps Oden oneday but not yet).
Question becomes, do you need a MVP candidate (mr takeover in the playoffs) to be a dynasty?
July 16th, 2008 at 3:32 am
karan says:
brandon roy is gonna be mr. takeover in the playoffs.