Nice Article on our new GM from Hollinger..........

[THE HCP]

http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/story/_/page/PERDiem-120605/headed-opposite-directions

In Portland, he'll be dealing with a shadow GM who isn't on the payroll (longtime Allen confidant Bert Kolde) and lives three hours up Interstate 5. A big part of the job is selling management on the moves that need to be made, and Olshey was able to do that in L.A. in a far more difficult environment.

Olshey may not have much leeway to form a staff, as he joins a kitchen that already has several cooks. Forget bringing in his own people; Portland's front office is stocked with Kevin Pritchard's people and Rich Cho's people, and all are believed to be signed for two more years. In addition to acting GM Chad Buchanan, who may go back to being the team's director of college scouting, the lineup includes two assistant general managers (Bill Branch and Steve Rosenberry), personnel expert Mike Born and capologist Joe Cronin. Portland has also had multiple analytics gurus on retainer the past few years.

He has a chance to put his imprint on the Blazers immediately. Portland has two lottery picks, a trove of cap space and an All-Star power forward in his prime. The Blazers have to hire a coach, re-sign Nicolas Batum and decide whether to pursue European stash picks Victor Claver and Joel Freeland.

And those aren't even the biggest decisions. The enduring debate in Portland remains whether this team is coming or going. Do the Blazers trade the draft picks, use the cap space and try to build a winner around LaMarcus Aldridge? Or is a more cautious approach the prudent one, even if it upsets Aldridge and maybe wastes some of his best years?

Perhaps there's a third route. Olshey was able to pull off the Paul deal by building up assets; while that's more difficult in Portland, which isn't exactly the magnet that L.A is (recruiting pitch: "You'll hardly notice the rain. It's dark most of the time!" -- full disclosure: I live there part-time. The part when it's not raining), it does offer a plausible scenario to a franchise teeming with young assets.

That decision also has huge implications for the coaching hire. If the Blazers opt to go young, they may also keep interim coach Kaleb Canales, who like Olshey is repped by Warren LeGarie. If they're looking to win immediately, however, they may go for a more high-profile hire like Stan Van Gundy or Mike D'Antoni, with the latter name figuring especially prominent if the Blazers' long-standing man-crush on Steve Nash is requited in free agency.

 

[Draco]

If they're looking to win immediately, however, they may go for a more high-profile hire like Stan Van Gundy or Mike D'Antoni

I'd love to see us go after D'Antoni, I think he'd be great coach, fun to watch and exciting for players to play for. Might give us a better change at luring free agents. Or even if we go with a younger approach he can get great production out of his players; he had no name scrub Jeremy Lin playing like an All-star and has had numerous guys in Phoenix play way above their head.

 

[HailBlazers]

D'Antoni and Nash to Portland.... Hmm

 

[THE HCP]

He brings up some good points!

 

[jlprk]

two assistant general managers (Bill Branch and Steve Rosenberry), personnel expert Mike Born and capologist Joe Cronin.

None of them became Interim GM, much less even considered for Permanent GM? Then we need different Assistant GMs, in training to be promoted.