In Memory of Kevin Pritchard's Tenure: Top 10

Though the end of general manager Kevin Pritchard's tenure with the Blazers left many fans unhappy with how he was treated, there will still be many fond memories of KP.

The Blazers will reap the benefits of his time as an executive for a long time. Whether it was stealing Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge, forcing other teams' hands, or adding the needed vets, Pritchard was constantly "Pritch-slapping" other teams to benefit Portland.

Here are 10 of the best of his moves.

10. Forcing Utah to Spend on Paul Millsap

I couldn't resist putting this one on here. The management and ownership probably use Pritchard's name as a curse for this.

Last offseason, Pritchard signed Paul Millsap to an expensive deal, including $10.3 million up front.

Utah was forced to match and pay a lot more than it likely would have. This forced the Jazz deeper into the luxury tax and took away their flexibility in trades and free agency. It also helped to force them to trade role player Ronnie Brewer midseason.

This move didn't directly help the Blazers, but it sure hurt division rival Utah.

9. Signing Andre Miller

This might be higher on the list, except for the fact that he was the third player Portland went after in free agency last year.

Though many thought he wouldn't be a good fit in Portland, at the end he turned out to be likely the best free agent signing of last year.

Miller once scored 52 points in a game, provided steady leadership and playmaking, he kept up his habit of not missing any games while most of the rest of the team had significant injuries, and he led the team in + points.

A great move by Portland and Pritchard.

8. Trading up for Jerryd Bayless

In the 2008 draft, Pritchard continued his habit of draft day dealing, and sent pick Brandon Rush, G Jarret Jack, and F Josh McRoberts to Indiana for Bayless and F Ike Diogu.

Rush has been inconsistent and Jack left Indiana in free agency. Bayless went on to be a huge spark for the Blazers this year, occasionally starting and once scoring 31 point in a game.

He was also perhaps the most consistent Blazer during the playoff series against the Suns.

7. Getting Rudy Fernandez for....Nothing

Poor Phoenix fans. They have lost out on Rajon Rondo and Rudy Fernandez on draft day due to cost-cutting, and now may lose Amar'e Stoudemire to free agency.

Pritchard used a trade-exception (which was acquired in another great move that barely missed this list; getting rid of Zach Randolph) to acquire Fernandez and F James Jones. Jones helped the Blazers a lot for one season with his shooting before he left.

Fernandez didn't play terribly well this season, but had a great rookie season, breaking a record for threes made by a rookie, and is very popular.

He should help bring Portland a good player when he is traded.

6. Salvaging the Season With Marcus Camby

The Blazers valiantly fought on after losing both their centers, Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden, to injuries.

Juwan Hoard put up a good fight as the starting center, despite being way undersized and past his prime. But the Blazers obviously couldn't go far in that position without good shot blocking or rebounding. Then Pritchard worked his magic and grabbed Camby, the second leading rebounder and sixth leading shot-blocker, for expiring contracts.

The Blazers had a much improved record with Camby in the lineup, and probably would've upset the Suns in the first round if Brandon Roy hadn't been injured.

5. Trading up for Nic Batum

Nicolas Batum wasn't hyped much going into the draft in 2008. He was picked up late in the first round by Houston. Portland traded picks Darrel Arthur and Joey Dorsey for the rights to Batum.

Batum had a surprisingly good rookie year, and got much better his second year, adding a decent offense to his already stellar defense and shooting. Batum still has lots of potential to get even better. Arthur and Dorsey?

Neither stayed on the Rockets long, Arthur is currently backing up an All-Star on the Grizzlies, while Dorsey is fighting just to stay in the NBA.

4. Drafting Chris Paul

In the 2005 NBA draft, general manager Kevin Pritchard of the Blazers drafted G Chris Paul. Oh shoot, he just advised that but he wasn't in charge. Pritchard was suggesting the Blazers draft Chris Paul with the third pick.

Instead GM Steve Patterson traded it to Utah for two lower picks. Utah picked up Deron Williams, setting them up as a top Western Conference team for years, while Portland missed out on one of the top guards in the league. Imagine a Greg Oden, Aldridge, Batum, Roy, Paul lineup.

Probably wouldn't have happened anyway, but it is too bad Pritchard wasn't in charge to pick up Paul.

3. Grabbing the Seventh Pick in 2006

In the 2006 draft, Pritchard stole the show. It began when he traded G Sebastian Telfair and C Theo Ratliff for the seventh pick and others from the Celtics.

That deal didn't turn out badly for Boston, who used Ratliff and Telfair to help get Kevin Garnett, but it turned out great for Portland, as you will see.

2. Trading Thomas for Aldridge

With the fourth pick in the 2006 NBA draft the Blazers picked Tyrus Thomas. Soon though, Thomas, along with F Viktor Khryapa, was traded to Chicago for LaMarcus Aldridge, the second pick.

Khryapa no longer plays in the NBA and Thomas hasn't lived up to his potential, and was sacrificed by the Bulls for more cap space. Aldridge has become a top young power forward and a huge piece of the pie for Portland.

One part where the Blazers were wrong though, they thought Aldridge would be their star and that they would get another guy to be his sidekick...

1. Foye for Roy

The next big move in the exciting 2006 draft, and the crown jewel of all Pritch-slaps was when Portland traded the rights to G Randy Foye and some of Paul Allen's spare change to the Timberwolves for Brandon Roy.

Roy is now the Blazers' franchise player, and perhaps a top 10 player in the league. Foye became a combo guard who wasn't ever much more than a role player. Had it not been for this trade, Portland and Minnesota may have reversed roles now.

The Roy-Alridge tandem built in the 2006 draft will probably help keep the Blazers in the playoffs for years to come.