I Know What the Portland Trail Blazers Didn't Do Last Summer

Early September finds us inching towards the outer-edges of the NBA doldrums.

There still isn’t much happening, but the cooling temperature outside is a sure sign that things will thankfully be starting up soon.

In the post-Turkoglu days of the summer, Portland Trail Blazers' discussion has focused mostly on Andre Miller.

I am among the majority that views this addition as a reasonable roster upgrade, but continuing to give this acquisition the attention usually reserved for mega-moves, is something of a joke.

I’m convinced that Miller himself senses the comedy on some level. What else can explain why he looks more and more like Richard Pryor with each passing day? (Seriously Andre, what are you doing? Does this help?)

It's significant that the offseason moves executed by Portland this summer can be classified as conservative, judicious decisions bordering on obvious. This becomes notable only because it contradicts all perceptions of Portland’s new school front office.

Looking back, it seems like Kevin Pritchard must have came to a cross-roads after Turkoglu backed out. He could have plowed ahead seeking another major change to the roster. Or he could violate his reputation as the brilliant gunslinger GM with a knack for magic.

That he was willing to choose the less sexy path (for the third time really, if you count the team's relative inactivity during last season's trade deadline and their conventional approach to the 2009 NBA Draft) implies that he isn’t as in love with maintaining his reputation as some continue to imply.

KP, Golden Boy has met Mr. Pritchard, tweaker of rosters.

The Universe is still in harmony. The former didn’t attempt to destroy the latter. It appears that the two can effectively co-exist within the man. It isn’t worth hoping that Golden Boy will regain his dominance at this point in the team’s development.

Mr. Pritchard is needed at the helm for the time being. But know that KP is still in there, lurking somewhere underneath that stylish pink shirt sitting court-side. His days of running the show full-time may be over, but he is simply biding his time.

We await his return.

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