PORTLAND — The Trail Blazers are standing pat.
The NBA’s trade deadline came and went Thursday without the Blazers making a blockbuster move that some had anticipated.
Rumors swirled that Portland was entertaining possible deals that included New Jersey’s Vince Carter or Milwaukee’s Richard Jefferson. The Blazers had a key bargaining chip, center Raef LaFrentz’s $12.7 million expiring contract.
But in the end, general manager Kevin Pritchard said the Blazers “feel good about where we are.”
“I can’t tell you how many scenarios we went through,” Pritchard told reporters at the team’s practice facility. “But at the end of the day it came down to this: We believe in this team, and I don’t want to give up or give away any of our young players.”
Pritchard said LaFrentz’s expiring contract could allow the Blazers to make moves in the offseason.
On Wednesday the Blazers were involved in a three-way deal with Sacramento and Chicago that sent Portland reserve forward Ike Diogu to the Kings. The Blazers got forward Michael Ruffin from Chicago via Sacramento, as well as a $3 million trade exception.
Pritchard said the Blazers were busy exploring trade proposals right up until the deadline.
“(Team owner) Paul Allen last night at dinner I think summed it up best and that is, ‘Let’s go to war with this team and see what they’re about. We can make adjustments in the future. What we could do is make a huge mistake in giving up on somebody too early,”’ Pritchard said.
The Blazers (33-20) host the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night.
