| Moving Patterson Removes Stigma Authored by Billy Ray - March 2, 2006 - 8:03 pm
Ruben Patterson was well known for hustle, energy and a vibrant enthusiasm that could light the home crowd on fire. But Patterson was also well known for causing strife in the locker room, abandoning plays, and hazing rookies to the extreme. It was the latter actions in conjunction with the Blazers interest in cleaning up the teams off-court reputation that caused the Blazers to be able to finally find a suitable trade for Patterson.
It isn't like the team hasn't been trying. If a list of priorities existed from Nash's hiring in 2003, close to the top would have to be finding a new home for Ruben Patterson.
The two never got off on the right foot with Nash proclaiming that Ruben would receive little to know playing time before the start of the 2003 season only to see Patterson rocket up the depth charts and proving Nash wrong.
From that point on the two never got along. Word is that the two eventually only talked through intermediaries and rarely exchanged pleasantries in passing. Nash made it very clear from the beginning of his tenure that he did not like Patterson as a player, and Patterson made it very clear he wanted to be traded.
Both men finally got their wish when the Trail Blazers took part in a complicated 4-team deal that saw Portland part with Patterson and little used guard Charles Smith to Denver and Sergei Monia to Sacramento. In return the Trail Blazers received Brian Skinner from Sacramento and Voshon Lenard from Denver.
The move immediately helps Portland talent wise as Skinner immediately provides Portland with the backup power forward that was so desperately needed. In only Skinners third game with the team he started in place of injured centers Joel Przybilla and Theo Ratliff—recording 9 points, 10 rebounds and 2 assists. Since the trade Skinner has averaged 11.7 points per game and 8.3 rebounds.
Lenard will most likely play out the season on the active roster and not be retained as a free agent. By choosing to not retain Lenard the Blazers will reduce the salary commitment for next season. In the mean time, Lenard is an upgrade from Charles Smith with a deadly three point range. Two seasons ago Lenard won the three point shooting contest during all-star weekend and recorded his second highest scoring total of his career of 14.2 points per game, only a tenth of a percentage off of his highest total he recorded during the 2002-2003 season with the Toronto Raptor's.
The player that was a bit of a surprise to be traded was Monia who was a last hour addition to the trade that eventually added the Kings into the mix. Kevin Pritchard the Trail Blazers director of player personnel worked the phones and was able to divert Vitaly Potopenko from the Sonics to the Kings in exchange for Brian Skinner. The result was losing Monia and losing increased cap flexibility as Potopenko is in the last year of his contract. But in return for that sacrafice, the Trail Blazers secured a player that at only 29 years old still has plenty of basketball left in him, and provides the tough inside presence that the team has lacked all season coming off the bench.
When it comes down to it, the Trail Blazers were able to accomplish more than simply addition by subtraction. While it was thought that the only way the Trail Blazers would be able to move the volatile Patterson was by taking on a bloated contract or a player with bad off court problems, declining skills or all of the above, the Blazers were instead able to land two players that can help in the present while adding some flexibility.
It wasn't a blockbuster, but in terms of improving the Blazers image it may have been just as good. |
