Blazers make first deal, move up two spots in draft

TUALATIN, Ore. — He had all the tools to make something big happen four months ago, with an expensive expiring contract and young talent to dangle.

And that is exactly why Kevin Pritchard left so many people stunned in February, when the trade deadline passed and the Portland Trail Blazers general manager was still holding his most valued assets.

He even admitted afterwards that at least one offer was difficult to turn down. But the GM known for his aggressive maneuvering showed that he could also spot when change may not be the answer.

“It’s hard for me to say it’s logical to make a big change,” said after that trade deadline passed.

Now a similar question hangs over the Blazers as tonight’s NBA Draft approaches: With a possible free-agency bonanza just a week away, is this year’s draft the logical time to make changes?

The draft has been Pritchard’s traditional night to make sweeping moves, and rumors are once again running wild, just as they were in February.

But so far only one minor deal has been struck: Portland acquired Dallas’ 22nd pick on Wednesday for the Blazers’ 24th selection and two second rounders —this year’s 56th pick, and their second of two picks next year.

And the type of aggressive move that Pritchard has previously made — such as moving four players with two trades to acquire the draft rights for Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge — might come at the costly price of at least one key member from a team that won 54 games last year. That was already reason enough to hold off on a major move four months ago.

“Those are the coveted picks,” Pritchard said of the top half of the first round. “It takes a lot to get up there. We chose at the trade deadline not to do anything because we liked our core team and we felt like it was the right thing to do. And we’re OK doing that this year as well. I don’t want to limit our scope. I don’t want to limit what we can do, and I’m not saying we’re going to do anything.”

Pritchard took nearly the exact same stance in the days leading up to February’s trade deadline, when Raef Lafrentz’s expiring $12.8 million contract was considered one of the trade market’s hottest commodities. It drew tempting offers for Milwaukee’s Richard Jefferson and New Jersey’s Vince Carter.

But the Blazers backed off and only made a minor deal for Chicago forward Michael Ruffin, instead looking ahead to free agency to plug what holes remain in a team they hope will contend for an NBA title.

When free agency negotiations begin on July 1, the Blazers expect to have around $7 million in cap room and several roster spots with which to work.

But that is also dependent on how they handle tonight’s draft.

For instance, they could gain $1 million in cap room by trading out of the first round entirely.

They could pick up another $1.5 million by releasing previous draft picks Petteri Koponen and Joel Freeland, thereby relieving the cap holds on those players — though Pritchard has said the Blazers have no intention to do that.

But Portland also could reduce its cap and roster space by making an aggressive move up in the draft or using some of its three remaining second-round picks.

And that is where tonight’s drama lies: Will Pritchard play the draft conservatively, like he did at February’s trade deadline? Or will he once again maneuver his way to a headline-grabbing selection?

“Who knows what’s going to happen?” said Chad Buchanan, the Blazers’ director of college scouting. “Kevin’s great at thinking outside the box and looking at every possible scenario that could happen come draft night. So you’ve got to make a snap decision, but it’s something that you’re prepared to make. And Kevin’s great under pressure. ... He thrives in that moment.”