in the 2nd round. He’s not going to make jump shots or spread the floor, but he plays defense, has crazy athleticism, and can most definitely be paired with Derrick Rose.

And he shot only 41 3-pointers (making 11), less than a third the number he attempted as a sophomore.

"In Huggins’ system, you have guys who shoot 3s, but he needed me to do other things," Alexander said. "I can (shoot 3s), dependent upon what my team needs."

That quote alone puts him ahead of Nocioni. Noce shoots them whether you need them or not.

if they indeed want Noc, pawning off him AND Hinrich could be major 2010 savings.

Then again, they likely know they can get similar production for 40% of the price with the 13th pick.

And of course, I can only assume that this will be the tip of the iceberg when it comes to extrapolating from this quote :)

with the great Kevin Pritchard.

He talks about some prospects and mentions the value of a ‘spread 4’. He totally wants Nocioni, I’m convinced :)

Also, he exudes many of the windbag traits that Paxson does. Talks about how he passed up on more talented guys because they didn’t fit into Blazers culture. gag. I guess we’ll have to wait and see what happens when they want contract extensions and Nate McMillan bails on them. Maybe even the Oregonian blog will say a not-so-nice word…then we’ll see character! ha!

Oh, wait, now I remember. Right. I had forgotten the time Nocioni dunked and hung on the rim from his elbow. Yes, yes. They are quite similar. Very white, very difficult-to-define facial hair. And, of course, the incredible hops.

It’s the hair, he was so much more clean cut in 2005. Get a hair cut ya hippie!

How does this say Pritchard wants Nocioni? This is just basic post-workout blabbering.

Everyone who comes in for a workout gets a few good things said about them to the media, a basic comparison, and we’re on our way. I wouldn’t take this quote for anything other than that.

Does he even say he really likes Alexander? KP keeps his cards close to his magnificent chest, and the most positive thing I remember him saying about Alexander is that KP doesn’t think he’ll be available at #13.

Good lord, I hope he doesn’t like Annoycioni. I can’t stand that guy.

KP harps on “culture” a lot, but coming from the Jail Blazer days I understand. If ya listen to a KP interview, when he is tired or isn’t sure what to say he says “culture” or he goes “and you know what the fun thing is? The fun thing is (blank)”, like “and, uh, you know, you know what the fun thing about this is Chad, is that we get to really know who the player as a person is”. It’s always “you know what the fun thing is” with this guy!

By a ‘spread 4’, I think he’s referring to LMA, Outlaw, and Frye, the most spreadiest 4’s you can get. Together they average 6 rebounds per 40.

And just in case it wasn’t a joke… contract extensions? Whose gonna want a contract extension and not get it? Paul Allen is RICH, he don’t care. He has BILLIONS. Everyone a max deal, what’s it to him? He had 100 million plus salaries before the Knicks did even, in the ‘90s. Nate McMillan ain’t goin’ nowhere anytime soon, he loves KP as much as us Blazer fans do. Nate makes like 6 million a year, and if we keep doing well Paul Allen will pay him more.

I wish you guys read the Oregonian page before KP took over. Those guys HATED the Blazers, and for good reasons. The old Blazers regime had the stupidest “war” with the media I’ve ever seen, started recording and posting every recording online of every encounter with the beat writers and columnists, firing people they accused of leaking info to the media, etc. They were like the Knicks in their dysfunction and idiocy.

So coming from that, coming from the Jail Blazer days, you got KP who the media loves and who fans love and who has actually turned the team from a joke to a future for-sure contendor in less than two years… I think the positivity is understandable.

Also understandable is the other teams’ fans wishing the Blazers were still like the old Blazers. If you got a smart guy who knows HOW to spend Paul Allen’s limitless money, it can go a long way.

Please Jesus, no Nocioni.

Mortimer