The Portland Trail Blazers have found the fountain of youth. This season see the Blazers having the youngest line-up in the league (average age 23.9), being assembled by the youngest general manager in the NBA, Kevin Pritchard (40). Most of all, the team, organization and city are jelling. When there is talk of Rip City returning to Portland… well, things have certainly changed.

Pritchard has shuffled the deck, dealt most of the cards that former GM John Nash gave him and in the process, has nearly removed the painful memory of the Bob Whitsitt built “Jail Blazer” teams of the past. Where Nash embodied more of a traditional general manager, Pritchard is new school, using his scouting and player development talents along with, as he says, “extensive” use of statistical analysis, something that Blazers owner, and technology maven, Paul Allen buys into.

Pritchard was hired by the Blazers in 2004 as the Director of Player Personnel after spending a year and a half with the San Antonio Spurs. Prior to that, he spent three years with the Kansas City Knights of the ABA where he served as the team’s general manager, head coach and director of player personnel. During the 2000-2001 season, Pritchard had seven players promoted to the NBA. At the end of the ’04-’05 season, Pritchard was named the interim coach of the Blazers after the firing of Maurice Cheeks. In June of 2006, John Nash was fired as GM after going 21-61; the worst record in the NBA that season, and in March of 2007, Pritchard was named GM.

What has transpired since then is a story of youth, yet maturity. Give Coach Nate McMillan credit for making men out of boys; the team isn’t run-and-gun, they are methodical.

At the beginning of the season, many predicted the Blazers missing the playoffs (again) and faring around the 40 win mark this season, but the team doesn’t seem to be following the script. 40 wins seems a near certainty, and then some. The playoffs — some remote pipedream at the beginning of the season — are a very real possibility. Barring some type of massive collapse, the Blazers will most certainly be better this season, and think, this is without the #1 pick in this year's Draft, Greg Oden. What has been the elixer? Chemistry seems to be the key. This team believes in themselves, with Prtichard and McMillan providing the positive reinforcement.

We had an opportunity to catch up with Pritchard just as Brandon Roy was selected as a reserve to this year’s All-Star Game. The sophomore who won the Rookie of the Year award last year is the first Blazer selected to the ASG since Rasheed Wallace in 2001. This interview looks into the Zen that the Blazers have seemed to capture along with the youth movement; what value Pritchard places on chemistry and team play; how the team will be brighter still when Greg Oden returns; the payroll flexibility coming up in the near future that will allow him to work the free agency market; the status of Oden and Darius Miles in terms of injury, and much more.

Select Read More to see the interview with Blazer GM Kevin Pritchard

Maury Brown for the Business of Sports Network: At this point in the year, the Blazers have been one of, if not the, surprise story of the NBA season. What do you think has been key in the team’s early success?

Kevin Pritchard: I think there are a couple things. Number one is Nate has done a phenomenal job of getting the most out of our talent. That kind of goes into number two, and that is, we really are a team. We are more like a college team than anything I have been around in in the NBA. We do things off the court, and that’s a testament to our leadership, but commitment to play the game the right way and play unselfish. From top to bottom are we the most talented? By no means, are we becoming more talented? Absolutely. But, guys have made a commitment, I’m talking one to fifteen, everybody on our team, has made a commitment to do things the right way. That doesn’t mean were perfect, it just means were trying to do things the right way. That’s a testament of Nate number one, and number two, who we have on our team. It’s a little bit of a testament of we are really careful of who we bring in to be with this team.

Bizball: The Blazer teams in the recent past were high on talent, but exceeding low on cohesiveness. As Bob Whitsitt said during that stretch "I did not take chemistry," a clear sign that he believed that players were hired to do a job, and jelling was overrated. What are your thoughts on team chemistry?

Pritchard: Ultimately in this league, you have to have talent. But you know, misguided talent doesn’t win championships. Our eyes are on the prize. I believe that you can overachieve and get to a higher level if you’re an unselfish team. If you’re a team that your best players are also your best people off the court... We have that. We have the foundation for that. Greg [Oden], LaMarcus [Aldridge] and Brandon [Roy] are very unselfish kids, and they are only going to get better, and our future is very bright. If you were to ask me on where on a scale of unselfishness -- good people, -- where I put that? It goes right to the top; I mean we eliminate a lot of players because they don’t fit our culture.

Bizball: On paper, Portland has the youngest team in the NBA, yet the play on the court shows signs of a high level of maturity… low number of turnovers, pulling it together in the 4th when they’ve been behind coming into the quarter… How much of this is the personal makeup of the team and how much of this is Coach McMillan?

Pritchard: I think it’s been a little bit of a surprise to all of us, first of all. We couldn’t have predicted we’d be such a good team in the fourth quarter. But I think, number one is confidence. Fourth quarter comes, they’ve won in tight ball games, they know they can win close games. We can put it in multiple players’ hands to make a play down the stretch. That’s the luxury we have with this team, were very deep. Guys are willing to step up when they are asked, and we don’t just have one go to guy. We’ve got multiple guys willing to take the last shot, and that’s a dangerous thing.

Bizball: On Nate McMillian… Coach of the Year?

Pritchard: He’s my coach of the year.

Bizball: In the past, the Blazers have been short on a “leadership guy”. Whether it was Rasheed Wallace, or Zach Randolph… there hasn’t been one key guy since possibly the days of Drexler, Buck Williams, and Jerome Kersey. With Brandon Roy being selected to the All-Star Game, you said, “We’re thrilled for Brandon. It’s a great testament to his play and his leadership this season, and a compliment to our entire team.” Is there a player that is being defined as the leader on this team, and if so, is that player Brandon Roy?

Pritchard: You know he’s a quiet leader, but when he says something, everybody listens. I think sometimes we get too caught up in a vocal leader – if he’s not a vocal leader than he’s not a leader. I think Nate McMillian is our leader. When he’s not in the locker room -- it depends on the day -- but as a collective, we have a good group that are lead by each other. That’s the difference. I can tell you many times when Raef Lafrentz, or Jarrett Jack have stepped up and said some things. Or LaMarcus Aldridge has said some things during a practice or after a game, or during off time. That is unique. I think there is a certain level of trust that they have in each other that they are allowed to speak their minds and not be chastised.

Bizball: This year has to be viewed as being ahead of where you thought you might be at this time. You’ve been working closely to give yourself payroll flexibility for the future. The Blazers are in the upper third of the NBA in terms of player payroll, and have most all players under contract after the season. What do things look like for you after the 2008-‘09 season?

Pritchard: We will have flexibility. No doubt about it. We will be able to go after a major free-agent, and maybe multiple free-agents. Right now, we are so focused on what we have to do now, to make sure we’re looking at today and are we getting better. Its all about -- and we reiterate this all the time -- are we improving as a team? Am I improving as a manager? Is Nate improving as a coach? If we’re all improving, in a couple years we’re all going to be very happy with where were at.

Bizball: Given the early success of the team this year, have you altered your plans in terms of how you might approach any player personnel decisions? In other words, is there less of an emphasis now in needing to land a veteran free agent in an effort to get into the playoffs?

Pritchard: Right now, if you look at the team, there’s no need to do anything. Does that mean we won’t do anything? No. But, we’ve got good guys; we’ve got good talent that has a lot of upside. In my mind, were a little bit in the catbird seat in that we don’t have to do anything.

Bizball: What’s the status on Oden and Darius Miles rehabs from microfracture surgery and do you see the style of play changing from what we are seeing now when Oden arrives and is 100%?

Pritchard: That’s a Nate McMillian question. I’d hate to jump in and answer a question for him. The short answer is, obviously we’ll have to make changes. Not personnel, but style. Greg is an enforcer, and a person that we make sure we get at his strengths and minimize his weaknesses, so the style will change. But it doesn’t mean we have to make personnel changes.

Bizball: The prognoses on their rehab… are Darius and Oden both doing well?

Pritchard: Greg is doing very well. His was completely different than what Darius had. His was a pretty simple procedure. Darius’ was much more complex, and more difficult, and there’s a lot longer rehabilitation time, and is much more serious.

Bizball: Is there consideration of having him out for the rest of the season at this point?

Pritchard: I would think so, but you never know with these injuries.

Bizball: Baseball has seen the use of statistical analysis become more common place, and basketball is making in-roads in the use of objective analysis these days. As a former scout, how do you view the use of statistical analysis along with traditional scouting?

Pritchard: We use it on an exhaustive level. I don’t want to tip our hand or anything, but we feel it adds a lot of value in evaluating players.

Bizball: Do you have people doing double duty?

Pritchard: No, we have full-time, multiple people looking at statistical analysis.

Bizball: You know what it’s like to win championships from your time as a player. Be that in ’88 with the Jayhawks, or when you were in the ABA in ’01 with the Kansas City Knights. What did you learn from the likes of Larry Brown, R.C. Buford, and Roy Williams that you hope to pass along in your roll as GM with the Blazers?

Pritchard: I think the biggest thing is, believe it or not, the most successful people I’ve been around don’t look at winning and losing. What they look at is how can we improve. They make that the baseline for their life is, and what their objectives are. Because of that, if you improve everyday, ultimately, you’ll get to the highest level you possible can. That’s what we’ve tried to instill here. Its about today getting better, its about this week getting better. Ultimately, at the end of the line, you hope you accomplish some or all of your goals. That’s our foundation.

Bizball: On a personal level, do you see this as instilling life lessons for the players? You obviously have a very young core. Those are lessons that basically apply to life in general.

Pritchard: No question. We talk about that with players off the court. We don’t look at players as player. We look at players as people. Nate does a phenomenal job of talking with the guys, just about life experiences. I try to share some of the things that are going on in the world, with the players on a one on one experience. I have a very person-to-person relationship with our players. That’s important to me, its important to know that were part of a family, were part of something bigger. That causes the buy in, to say, you know what, I’m going to be unselfish for this team.

Bizball: Finally, many successful businesses have a 10-year plan, and I have to ask you… Do you have a 10 year plan for the Blazers, and what is it?

Pritchard: Id like to say there was a 10-year player. I think we’ve planned and over planned and re planned. It’s not that far out. We look at three year and five year. I think the future looks incredibly bright. We’ll get Greg and Rudy [Fernandez] next year. The following year well have the flexibility to look at some free-agents. Ultimately, well be chasing what we hope to be is a sustainable growth to get a championship.

(For other interviews with the likes of Bob Costas, Marvin Miller, Bob Bowman, David Kahn, Fay Vincent, Billy Beane, and Bowie Kuhn, check our full listing at the Business of Sports Network)

Interview conducted and editied by Maury Brown on 1/30/08

Transcribed by the amazing Nick Kappel