McMillan Relies On (Scouting) Reports

[ABM]

From: The Columbian

TUALATIN, Ore. — The last two NBA Drafts have taught Nate McMillan to place his trust in the Portland Trail Blazers’ scout team.

At times, the Blazers’ coach has only seen video footage of players the team has selected.

Other times, he has relied mostly on reputation because players could not come to Portland for a workout.

Yet the Blazers have yet to make a draft blunder since McMillan joined the team in 2005, even in the first round’s hit-or-miss region of the mid-20s, where they have made gambling on European prospects an annual routine.

So when Portland drafts in that same position in Thursday’s NBA Draft, McMillan said he will largely take a back-seat role while turning his increasing trust to the Blazers’ scouts and management.

"I kind of sit back and observe," McMillan said. "This is their time of year."

And what a time of year the Blazers have made it..............................

 

[SteelBlaze1]

I thought that KP made all the decisions anyway. Nate has little to do with that part...am I wrong? I am sure they discuss things, but this makes it sound like Nate makes the decision.

 

[STOMP]

I thought that KP made all the decisions anyway. Nate has little to do with that part...am I wrong? I am sure they discuss things, but this makes it sound like Nate makes the decision.

just like the braintrust that preceded the current management team, KP has stated that personnel decisions are made collectively by ownership, the coaching staff, and management (including the scouts). Nate's opinion on guys who come in for a workout is relevant, but of course management/scouts are the only ones who get to see all the prospects. I suspect everyone weighs in with their opinions but ultimately the GM gets the final say so and a lionshare of the credit/blame.

"I kind of sit back and observe," McMillan said. "This is their time of year."

I'd guess that like me he's a lot more comfortable just observing then he was with Nash at the helm

STOMP

 

[SteelBlaze1]

That's true...PatterNash was a mess. So much happier to have KP/Penn running the show.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I'm sure Nate has more input than he lets on and that any potential draftees or trades pretty much needs to meet with his general approval.

 

[STOMP]

That's true...PatterNash was a mess. So much happier to have KP/Penn running the show.

To be fair, KP and Patterson did pretty decently in their one draft together. On the other hand, Nash famously dismissed the collective opinion of the rest of Blazer management & scouting staff in selecting Telfair over Al Jefferson and of course crowed about getting Martell and JJack over CPaul or DWilliams in the other. Current GM of the year Mark Warkentien (of the Nuggets) quit his Assistant GM position with the Blazers after the Telfair draft in disgust.

I recall being told ad nausea by Nash supporters to be patient and that he wasn't to blame for having to clean up TBob's mess...

STOMP

 

[oldmangrouch]

To be fair, KP and Patterson did pretty decently in their one draft together. On the other hand, Nash famously dismissed the collective opinion of the rest of Blazer management & scouting staff in selecting Telfair over Al Jefferson and of course crowed about getting Martell and JJack over CPaul or DWilliams in the other. Current GM of the year Mark Warkentien (of the Nuggets) quit his Assistant GM position with the Blazers after the Telfair draft in disgust.

I recall being told ad nausea by Nash supporters to be patient and that he wasn't to blame for having to clean up TBob's mess...

STOMP

I confess I was in that camp for awhile. I wanted to give him a chance. Heck, I wanted him to succeed. Between he and Cheeks, I learned a valuable lesson - in sports, patience is for suckers! If someone shows you nothing in the begining...they have nothing to show you.

 

[SteelBlaze1]

Well said guys. I agree that it was better for us to just move on. I was a little nervous that KP would NOT get the job. So glad that PA decided to go with him, as most of us wanted.

 

[STOMP]

I confess I was in that camp for awhile. I wanted to give him a chance. Heck, I wanted him to succeed. Between he and Cheeks, I learned a valuable lesson - in sports, patience is for suckers! If someone shows you nothing in the begining...they have nothing to show you.

Thats a little bit stronger position then I'd take... I've definitely seen players blossom after not showing much initially.

In the case of judging Nash, he didn't make a single major move that I agreed with the day it was made. I hated his trades and questioned his drafts. His public statements often made me shake my head as well. A lot of my posts those days ended saying that I hoped I was wrong or that hopefully the reasoning behind the move would be revealed down the line.

KP has been a complete 180 from that as I've always been in agreement and often thrilled with his maneuvering. That said, my expectations of this next draft are very low. If he's to upgrade a position in this next week, I doubt it will be via this year's prospects... I just don't see many future NBA starters there

STOMP

 

[handiman]

Current GM of the year Mark Warkentien (of the Nuggets) quit his Assistant GM position with the Blazers after the Telfair draft in disgust.

I prefer to think of that as the Roy-in-waiting draft. It took another GM for Nash's brilliance to become evident.