Blazers won't take free agency lying down

“For us to go to the next level, we need to add some veterans.” — Kevin Pritchard, Blazers general manager

TUALATIN, Ore. — Kevin Pritchard has talked about this summer for two years, and carefully orchestrating his decisions during that period to maximize his flexibility and options.

So when the Portland Trail Blazers general manager played Thursday’s NBA Draft conservatively to the point of turning draft parties into slumber parties, it only reinforced the belief that the real drama of this offseason will soon be played out on the free agent market.

The Blazers believe they could take as much as $8 million in salary cap room onto the market next month, depending on where the league sets the cap. They could use it to lure a veteran point guard like Philadelphia’s Andre Miller, or add to their versatile frontcourt by grabbing Orlando’s Hedo Turkoglu.

But however they choose to play it, Pritchard made it clear that the Blazers will not be quiet in free agency like they were on draft night.

"We’re going to be active in free agency, no doubt about it," Pritchard said. "I know I need to help this team by bringing in veterans. For us to go to the next level, we need to add some veterans."

That has been the plan since Pritchard was named the team’s general manager two years ago: Establish the core by developing young players while steadily shedding salary, then polish it off with strategic free-agency decisions. And with the core set with Brandon Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, Greg Oden and a host of young complements, many of Portland’s key decisions in recent months have focused on preserving that free agency buying power.

They could have brought in Milwaukee’s Richard Jefferson or New Jersey’s Vince Carter last winter in exchange for Raef LaFrentz’s expiring $12.8 million expiring contract. But that contract was the key component to opening up the Blazers’ cap room, so team officials chose to hold off.

They traded point guard Sergio Rodriguez on Thursday to open an extra roster spot and shed another $1.5 million off the payroll. And later that night, Portland used its first-round draft pick to acquire Spanish forward Victor Claver, whom they plan to stash overseas.

Pritchard said those decisions were in part made with free agency in mind.

"It’s important," Pritchard said of balancing draft decisions against free agency opportunity. "If you, say, neglect it, then you may not get some of the free agents you’re targeting."

The Blazers now must wait for the NBA to release their salary-cap figures — likely around the July 8 end of the free agency moratorium — to determine the extent of their buying power. NBA officials said during the season that they expected league revenues to fall, which in turn would cause the salary cap on which they are based to be reduced as well.

Portland’s free agency buying power will be dependent on where the cap is set.

If it remains the same as last year’s $58.7 million, the Blazers would have approximately $8 million to spend. And there are enticing names to consider.

Among this year’s unrestricted free agents: Atlanta point guard Mike Bibby; Dallas point guard Jason Kidd; Turkoglu; Miller; Toronto forward Shawn Marion; and Utah forwards Kyle Korver — if he opts out of the final year of his contract — Mehmet Okur and Carlos Boozer.

The Blazers are thinnest at point guard — after trading Rodriguez — and power forward, where a backup for LaMarcus Aldridge remains up for debate. But the depth chart could change if Portland uses its cap space to work an uneven trade — where they bring in more salary in a deal than they send out — rather than directly sign a free agent, a possibility that Pritchard said will be considered.

Pritchard hedged when asked if he was more likely to sign a free agent or pursue an uneven trade, which he can seek up until next season’s trade deadline. But Pritchard made clear that he had no intention of being a free-agency bystander while cap room is available.

"We want to add the right pieces, not just be out there," Pritchard said. "We’ve talked a lot about it. We’re going to target some guys, we’re going to talk to people and we’re going to try to help our team with free agents."