Well it's no secret that Joel Przybilla was a fan favorite here in Portland, to say the least. For many years, he was without doubt our toughest player and represented any sort of backbone that the Blazers had. Which by the way, wasn't a lot. Trades in the NBA are always a little bittersweet for most casual fans. That was the case on Thursday when the Blazers sent Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham and Sean Marks to the Charlotte Bobcats for All Star forward Gerald Wallace. As Przybilla was flying out late Friday night, more than a few fans met him at the airport to show their appreciation.
The Oregonian's Blazer beat writer Jason Quick apparently showed up as well, and talked to Joel before he boarded his flight to Charlotte. Quick wrote, "Przybilla did not rule out the possibility of having his contract bought out by Charlotte, and he smiled wryly when talking about the Blazers.
"I still think there might be a chance I can come back," Przybilla said late Friday night at Portland International Airport, where he prepared to board a flight to Charlotte. "It may be next year, but I think there’s more. I don’t think it’s over just yet. I just have that hunch."
"When I signed here seven years ago, I had one foot out of the NBA, and I didn’t expect Portland to be like this."
The next day, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reported that while Pryzbilla was very hesitant about his future as a Charlotte Bobcat, coach Paul Silas sat him down and eased his mind about his situation with the Bobcats.
"I still think there might be a chance I can come back," Przybilla said late Friday night at Portland International Airport, where he prepared to board a flight to Charlotte. "It may be next year, but I think there’s more. I don’t think it’s over just yet. I just have that hunch."
"When I signed here seven years ago, I had one foot out of the NBA, and I didn’t expect Portland to be like this."
The next day, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reported that while Pryzbilla was very hesitant about his future as a Charlotte Bobcat, coach Paul Silas sat him down and eased his mind about his situation with the Bobcats.
"So Silas told Przybilla he'd be all right, then spent 20 minutes explaining that wasn't just happy-talk. "I said how good he could make our ball club," Silas said. "How good it could be for him if he wants to play another year or whatever, because people are going to see a lot different (in him here), as they've seen in some other players who've played here."
I call Silas "Coach Feel-Good" for his ability to make players welcome and wanted. Przybilla entered that meeting a hostage. He left it a helper. He's now excited about being a Bobcat because they're excited to have him."
So, it looks as though Przybilla is going to spend the rest of this season with the Bobcats. As a fan, I was hoping that he would get bought out, wait the 30 day waiting period, and come back to Portland. With Marcus Camby as the only true center on the team, and with Camby still coming back from his knee injury, we sure as hell could use his services.
Don't get me wrong, I would make the same trade for Gerald Wallace again 10 times out of 10. But it'd just be fitting to see Przybilla come back to Portland for next year and retire as a Blazer.
[ Silas wins over anxious new center Przybilla ]
[ Joel Przybilla says his Trail Blazers career might have one more chapter ]
