Blazers look into hiring new GM

[tlongII]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ys-blazerssearch060510

The Portland Trail Blazers have empowered a private headhunting firm to research and reach out to potential general manager candidates, league sources told Yahoo! Sports.

The use of the firm is further evidence embattled GM Kevin Pritchard has fallen out of favor with ownership and likely will be replaced before next season.

At least two current NBA front-office executives have been targeted, sources confirmed, and the firm has also made several fact-finding calls about Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti.

Who knows? I think you have to consider the source...

 

[Tince]

Where are all the posters that said people were reading way too into things back in April when all the signs pointed to Pritchard being gone?

I'm really sad he has to go and I hope the real reason comes out, but I don't think it will.

 

[ironcrotch]

Wow. Must be real bad that they want to can him without a legit replacement already in mind.

Sucks for us but KP, I wouldn't be surprised if he has teams trying to poach him already.

Sad that it potentially is going to really come down to this.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

Sources say some potential candidates are uneasy about the ownership dynamic in Portland. Vulcan Inc. has a history of meddlesome behavior, and some established NBA front-office executives are hesitant over a structure where they fear they’ll have little chance to establish and carry out their own philosophies and organizational framework. With Miller and popular coach Nate McMillan, the Blazers have two powerful and entrenched figures firmly in place.

I think this is an epic mistake.

 

[MrSelfDestruct]

Goddammit.

 

[illmatic99]

Fuck you, Vulcan. You pieces of shit know nothing about basketball.

 

[BlazerWookee]

My guess: Vulcan is just trying to strengthen their negotiating position. It's hard to threaten to let someone go if you haven't done your due diligence looking for a replacement. Nothing is a done deal except Wojo's decision to push his own agenda.

 

[barfo]

Sources say some potential candidates are uneasy about the ownership dynamic in Portland. Vulcan Inc. has a history of meddlesome behavior, and some established NBA front-office executives are hesitant over a structure where they fear they’ll have little chance to establish and carry out their own philosophies and organizational framework. With Miller and popular coach Nate McMillan, the Blazers have two powerful and entrenched figures firmly in place.

I think this is an epic mistake.

Agreed, there is no way Miller can be considered a powerful and entrenched figure. Nate, maybe, maybe not.

barfo

 

[julius]

Sources say some potential candidates are uneasy about the ownership dynamic in Portland. Vulcan Inc. has a history of meddlesome behavior, and some established NBA front-office executives are hesitant over a structure where they fear they’ll have little chance to establish and carry out their own philosophies and organizational framework. With Miller and popular coach Nate McMillan, the Blazers have two powerful and entrenched figures firmly in place.

I think this is an epic mistake.

I swear I've heard that before...are we repeating history post Trader Bob? where the only candidates who are willing to apply are the ones who are willing to be puppets? Like Nash and Patterson were?

 

[OddEnormous]

Where are all the posters that said people were reading way too into things back in April when all the signs pointed to Pritchard being gone?

Why?

 

[THE HCP]

This sucks!

 

[ehizzy3]

fuck you vulcan

 

[LOTBfan]

Agreed, there is no way Miller can be considered a powerful and entrenched figure. Nate, maybe, maybe not.

barfo

What criticism of Larry have you ever read to think that he isn't seen as an integral part of the organization? In his third year here he is as entrenched as anyone in the front office.

 

[Sug]

Oh well, it appears the Oden pick is the issue.

 

[Minstrel]

If they really are planning to can Pritchard, I'm pretty concerned that Portland will be headed toward another dark period. There aren't very many GMs better than Pritchard and any who are the caliber of Pritchard are likely to be wary of being beholden to Vulcan.

Essentially, if Allen and Vulcan are saying that Pritchard, with what he's accomplished with this team, was a failure...what kind of unrealistic expectations does the franchise harbor and how many GMs are going to want to embrace unrealistic expectations? I'm sure GMs are competitive and want a challenge, but they're not suicidal.

 

[Nikolokolus]

A-Woj is usually pretty well sourced, but man does that guy have an axe to grind with KP

 

[LOTBfan]

Dumping VPoBBO, losing the Assistant Coach, possibly kicking the GM, and making life for the Head Coach difficult after back to back 50 win seasons is getting into the sort of territory that causes teams to go on 20-30 game setbacks and lose a huge number of STH's. I hope Paul is prepared to can some Vulcans for their poor performance should that end up being the case.

You rebuild after 15 win seasons, not 50 win seasons. Some changes make sense, cleaning house is not one of those changes.

 

[julius]

If they really are planning to can Pritchard, I'm pretty concerned that Portland will be headed toward another dark period. There aren't very many GMs better than Pritchard and any who are the caliber of Pritchard are likely to be wary of being beholden to Vulcan.

Essentially, if Allen and Vulcan are saying that Pritchard, with what he's accomplished with this team, was a failure...what kind of unrealistic expectations does the franchise harbor and how many GMs are going to want to embrace unrealistic expectations? I'm sure GMs are competitive and want a challenge, but they're not suicidal.

Well, at least the fantasies we had about winning an NBA title was nice.

 

[julius]

Dumping VPoBBO, losing the Assistant Coach, possibly kicking the GM, and making life for the Head Coach difficult after back to back 50 win seasons is getting into the sort of territory that causes teams to go on 20-30 game setbacks and lose a huge number of STH's. I hope Paul is prepared to can some Vulcans for their poor performance should that end up being the case.

Nah, just trade LaMarcus and Greg for....let's see....who is this eras Theo Ratliff and Shareef Abdur Rahim?

 

[Mediocre Man]

I think Vance heard correctly incorrect. Bleckerstaff for new GM. It will be Seattle south in Portland because that's what the Vulcans know.



Keep in mind, Bleckerstaff was part of the team that drafted the Stache

 

[RoyToy]

The Cavaliers are waiting.

Hey LeBron, we just hired one of the best GMs in the NBA.

Blazers are such a joke I hate it.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

see my avatar.

 

[Nikolokolus]

I think Vance heard correctly incorrect. Bleckerstaff for new GM. It will be Seattle south in Portland because that's what the Vulcans know.



Keep in mind, Bleckerstaff was part of the team that drafted the Stache

I liked the whole "Warkentien being evil and meddlesome" and "Bickerstaff the assistant coach" story lines a whole lot better.

 

[julius]

You know, sometimes I envy Sonic fans..they don't have to worry about their ownership fucking things up anymore.

 

[RR7]

Walsh is looking for his replacement. KP to NY, Assistant GM for one season, Walsh becomes president after next season, KP becomes GM, with just as much money to spend, and a place people actually want to go to.

 

[RoyToy]

Walsh is looking for his replacement. KP to NY, Assistant GM for one season, Walsh becomes president after next season, KP becomes GM, with just as much money to spend, and a place people actually want to go to.

Yeah, I imagine KP will probably end up getting the better deal out of this. I could see him going to a team and having more success there than whatever poor GM decides to be the GM here.

Paul Allen doesn't know how to win.

 

[ppilot]

If they really are planning to can Pritchard, I'm pretty concerned that Portland will be headed toward another dark period. There aren't very many GMs better than Pritchard and any who are the caliber of Pritchard are likely to be wary of being beholden to Vulcan.

Essentially, if Allen and Vulcan are saying that Pritchard, with what he's accomplished with this team, was a failure...what kind of unrealistic expectations does the franchise harbor and how many GMs are going to want to embrace unrealistic expectations? I'm sure GMs are competitive and want a challenge, but they're not suicidal.

I was thinking the same exact thing. It just feels like there is a weird dark cloud hanging over the organization right now. On a related note I won't be renewing my tickets this season

 

[Nikolokolus]

I'm glad I started lowering my expectations back in December when Greg's knee exploded; the series of kicks to the pouch since then just makes this latest episode in the Paul Allen/Vulcan saga more amusing than anything. The sad thing is that this is probably the best we can expect, 'cause when PA kicks the bucket and his sister takes over and sells the team to a group of investors in Kansas City, we're not even going to have Allen's clusterfuck management style to deride; we'll be too busy gnashing our teeth over why a hundred moving vans are lined up outside the Rose Garden instead.

 

[TradeNurkicNow]

I'm just waiting for Vulcan to move the team to Seattle.

 

[RR7]

I was thinking the same exact thing. It just feels like there is a weird dark cloud hanging over the organization right now. On a related note I won't be renewing my tickets this season

The time to renew your tickets is well past anyways. I don't see how this is at all related.