Rich Cho new GM

[OddEnormous]

You know I would, but I am not displeased with the organization/management as some people. It is cool that some wanted another candidate over this guy who is basically question mark. All of your posts recently have been just that: "Oh if only we had a GM, Larry Miller should be searching not being on vacation, my team is in disarray, whatever shall I do, etc." Of course, maybe now that we have a GM you will show a little variety in your posts.

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT!!!!!! YEAH!!!!!

 

[Minstrel]

To answer your question I'm not sure who else I would have hired. I haven't interviewed anyone or hired a "find me a GM" firm

No, I realize that you don't have the resources to make the actual hire yourself. I'm just curious who (if anyone) Portland could have hired that you would have been at least cautiously optimistic about. Perhaps no one, since you've lost faith in the people making the hire?

I've not seen anyone give a reason other than "Just because he's inexperienced doesn't mean he won't be good."

I think what people are mostly saying is that, in the absence of actually being able to do the due diligence themselves, his background in a couple of the aspects related to being a GM (statistical analysis and cap management) and his status within the game as a well-regarded assistant and supposedly hot GM prospect is exciting. None of us are able to make concrete points about why he'll succeed since none of us know him or have talked to him.

My own interest in Cho comes from my admitted bias in favour of sophisticated statistical analysis. I think scouting is absolutely necessary, but I think statistical analysis is integral to measuring player ability in ways that the human mind is unable to do so just from direct observation. The human mind has strengths that computers and math can't duplicate, which is why I say scouting is also essential. I think Portland already has high level scouting minds in Born and Buchanan, so I like the idea of hiring a guy who's considered strong on the statistical side of things. I realize that for people who are dubious of statistical analysis of athletes, that won't be compelling. It's simply why I like the hire, not necessarily why anyone else should.

 

[Sug]

Jesus christ.

FAIL.

In this case God failed, when he made you

 

[OddEnormous]

In this case God failed, when he made you

Are you Chris Rock in disguise? How many Comedy Central roasts have you been invited to? You must go on last with stuff like that, I mean who could follow it?



"Oh YEAH!!!!! well when God um made um the word fail and then um invented the dictionary he um... like he probably like put a picture of you next to the word fail!!!!!"

 

[Ed O]

Are you Chris Rock in disguise? How many Comedy Central roasts have you been invited to? You must go on last with stuff like that, I mean who could follow it?



"Oh YEAH!!!!! well when God um made um the word fail and then um invented the dictionary he um... like he probably like put a picture of you next to the word fail!!!!!"

You used the word "FAIL" in a post and then criticize another person's sense of humor in the same thread?

OK. Haha.

Ed O.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I've not seen anyone give a reason other than "Just because he's inexperienced doesn't mean he won't be good."

I'm not sure if he'll he'll fail or succeed. I don't have a fucking clue. I just can't believe we've come out on the other end of this process with someone who none of us know if he can actually do the job or not at this point in the franchises story.

It's totally bizarre to me.

OK--my reasoning for liking the Cho hire is that he seems to be a very rare combination of qualities. He has an engineering and mathematics backgroud, which indicates that he's highly intelligent and analytical. He left a lucrative career to pursue work in sports management, which shows that he has a love and enthusiasm for the job. He's a dispute resolution attorney, which suggests that he's skilled and experienced in negotiation, something Pritchard was missing. He's been a cap expert for his previous organization, which shows that he's strongly familiar with the NBA CBA.

I don't believe that there was anybody out there who wasn't already employed in a GM position who would be a better combination of these valuble characteristics than Rich Cho, experience be damned. Is that sufficient reasoning for you?

 

[OddEnormous]

No, I realize that you don't have the resources to make the actual hire yourself. I'm just curious who (if anyone) Portland could have hired that you would have been at least cautiously optimistic about. Perhaps no one, since you've lost faith in the people making the hire?



I think what people are mostly saying is that, in the absence of actually being able to do the due diligence themselves, his background in a couple of the aspects related to being a GM (statistical analysis and cap management) and his status within the game as a well-regarded assistant and supposedly hot GM prospect is exciting. None of us are able to make concrete points about why he'll succeed since none of us know him or have talked to him.

My own interest in Cho comes from my admitted bias in favour of sophisticated statistical analysis. I think scouting is absolutely necessary, but I think statistical analysis is integral to measuring player ability in ways that the human mind is unable to do so just from direct observation. The human mind has strengths that computers and math can't duplicate, which is why I say scouting is also essential. I think Portland already has high level scouting minds in Born and Buchanan, so I like the idea of hiring a guy who's considered strong on the statistical side of things. I realize that for people who are dubious of statistical analysis of athletes, that won't be compelling. It's simply why I like the hire, not necessarily why anyone else should.

And that is why I've always said you are one of if not the best posters on here. Great post.

I still think the last 5 months in the front office have been a failure and an unnecessary circus. This is not how successful franchises are run. And in the end no matter how well you make the case for Cho (who might be wonderful) being the best of the 3 people they have brought in... we still have no idea if he can do the job which AGAIN, I would be more open to if we were struggling to make the playoffs.

Look, he's here. I'm going to root like fuck for him and everyone else involved.

The bigger picture is that I think this franchise is run by a bunch of fuck wits who brag about how much they've lost on a team who haven't won a championship in 30 years and claim thats a sign of a good owner.

It's not. This is just one more episode in this fiasco of a franchise my opinion.

 

[OddEnormous]

You used the word "FAIL" in a post and then criticize another person's sense of humor in the same thread?

OK. Haha.

Ed O.

Oh look, Dr. Tedious is back.

 

[EL PRESIDENTE]

OK--my reasoning for liking the Cho hire is that he seems to be a very rare combination of qualities. He has an engineering and mathematics backgroud, which indicates that he's highly intelligent and analytical. He left a lucrative career to pursue work in sports management, which shows that he has a love and enthusiasm for the job. He's a dispute resolution attorney, which suggests that he's skilled and experienced in negotiation, something Pritchard was missing. He's been a cap expert for his previous organization, which shows that he's strongly familiar with the NBA CBA.

I don't believe that there was anybody out there who wasn't already employed in a GM position who would be a better combination of these valuble characteristics than Rich Cho, experience be damned. Is that sufficient reasoning for you?

has cho actually practiced law? I thought he graduated then worked for the sonics.

 

[tlongII]

And that is why I've always said you are one of if not the best posters on here. Great post.

I still think the last 5 months in the front office have been a failure and an unnecessary circus. This is not how successful franchises are run. And in the end no matter how well you make the case for Cho (who might be wonderful) being the best of the 3 people they have brought in... we still have no idea if he can do the job which AGAIN, I would be more open to if we were struggling to make the playoffs.

Look, he's here. I'm going to root like fuck for him and everyone else involved.

The bigger picture is that I think this franchise is run by a bunch of fuck wits who brag about how much they've lost on a team who haven't won a championship in 30 years and claim thats a sign of a good owner.

It's not. This is just one more episode in this fiasco of a franchise my opinion.

I think you raise some good points. However, in this case I think the organization got it right.

 

[OddEnormous]

I think you raise some good points. However, in this case I think the organization got it right.

I hope so. If they did, we'll be in the mix to win it all.

 

[BGrantFan]

I think you raise some good points. However, in this case I think the organization got it right.

Others (like me) are unsure, which is also a perfectly reasonable opinion, isn't it?

 

[Ed O]

has cho actually practiced law? I thought he graduated then worked for the sonics.

He practiced law for the Sonics, I believe.

Ed O.

 

[blazerboy30]

Others (like me) are unsure, which is also a perfectly reasonable opinion, isn't it?

There's nothing wrong with being unsure. Everybody here is unsure about this hire. However, OddEnormous came right of the gate with his first post claiming that "Cho is starting a rebuild and shipping out Roy and Aldridge for cap space". That doesn't come across the same as "I'm unsure".

 

[XXPrimusXX]

In Cho We Trust.

 

[oldmangrouch]

I still think the last 5 months in the front office have been a failure and an unnecessary circus. This is not how successful franchises are run. And in the end no matter how well you make the case for Cho (who might be wonderful) being the best of the 3 people they have brought in... we still have no idea if he can do the job which AGAIN, I would be more open to if we were struggling to make the playoffs.

I agree that this situation has been poorly handled. I will just drop out this debate with one last thought: a talented person can learn and become experienced - an experienced dud will never become talented.

 

[BGrantFan]

I agree that this situation has been poorly handled. I will just drop out this debate with one last thought: a talented person can learn and become experienced - an experienced dud will never become talented.

Love that quote, love that Cho is like Penn, and love that Pritchard's scouts are still working for the Blazers.

It's a decent day. I'd have been pissed at a Rod Thorn or a Danny Ferry. I don't understand exactly why they hired Cho, but I hope it works out, and if the team is headed to a more collaborative model, then I'm onboard.

 

[blazerboy30]

It's a decent day. I'd have been pissed at a Rod Thorn or a Danny Ferry. I don't understand exactly why they hired Cho, but I hope it works out, and if the team is headed to a more collaborative model, then I'm onboard.

Care to comment on why you were so upset that Miller wasn't quickly finding a replacement GM? If you don't care who makes the decisions and want it to be collaborative, why the need to rush to find a new GM?

 

[OddEnormous]

There's nothing wrong with being unsure. Everybody here is unsure about this hire. However, OddEnormous came right of the gate with his first post claiming that "Cho is starting a rebuild and shipping out Roy and Aldridge for cap space". That doesn't come across the same as "I'm unsure".

Um,

Fail.

 

[Biggie]

Seems like a good choice.

 

[BGrantFan]

Care to comment on why you were so upset that Miller wasn't quickly finding a replacement GM? If you don't care who makes the decisions and want it to be collaborative, why the need to rush to find a new GM?

Well, I certainly don't think Cho is an upgrade over Pritchard, which is what I expected. I also expected a greater sense of urgency. You obviously followed my posts. What point are you now trying to make, and where did I say I "wanted collaboration"? You are all over the map today, and you're not making much sense.

You've now whiffed on sarcasm, opinions, and reading comprehension. The Tree weeps for you tonight.

 

[Ed O]

Well, I certainly don't think Cho is an upgrade over Pritchard, which is what I expected.

You didn't REALLY expect an upgrade over Pritchard, did you? I don't remember reading a single post where you gave any indication that the Blazers management was anything but incompetent.

Ed O.

 

[blazerboy30]

Well, I certainly don't think Cho is an upgrade over Pritchard, which is what I expected. I also expected a greater sense of urgency. You obviously followed my posts. What point are you now trying to make, and where did I say I "wanted collaboration"?

You said you "are all for it" with respect to more collaboration. Yet not long ago, you were really upset that Miller didn't appear to be rushing to find a new GM. Why was it so important to find a new GM if you don't care who makes the decisions, and you "are all for" more collaboration?

 

[OddEnormous]

You've now whiffed on sarcasm, opinions, and reading comprehension.

Have you two never met?

 

[BGrantFan]

You didn't REALLY expect an upgrade over Pritchard, did you? I don't remember reading a single post where you gave any indication that the Blazers management was anything but incompetent.

Ed O.

Does it matter? I hope Blazer management proves me wrong, but I'm not holding my breath. The good news for Paul Allen is that Cho is very awkward and seemed uncomfortable in his interviews.

Perhaps that's why he was hired? I'm guessing we'll see a lot more of Larry Miller as the "face" of the franchise.

 

[Ed O]

Does it matter?

Sure it matters. You're either telling the truth or you're not.

I've tried to get the management-bashers to name available candidates that they would consider to be better than KP, and I wasn't able to get a single name out of you as I recall.

But here you are saying you expected an upgrade over KP.

Ed O.

 

[OddEnormous]

I'm guessing we'll see a lot more of Larry Miller as the "face" of the franchise.

As long as he's not on vacation.

Basically I was deffo wrong about all of this. We didn't replace Kevin Pritchard with Cho. We replace Tom Penn with Cho.

The GM position is now a magic vapor made up of the minds of Vulcans and Sea monsters that have a massive calculator that tell Larry miller what to say on TV.

I love this team!

 

[Minstrel]

And that is why I've always said you are one of if not the best posters on here. Great post.

Thanks, I appreciate the nice comment. I've always enjoyed reading your posts, too.

I still think the last 5 months in the front office have been a failure and an unnecessary circus. This is not how successful franchises are run. And in the end no matter how well you make the case for Cho (who might be wonderful) being the best of the 3 people they have brought in... we still have no idea if he can do the job which AGAIN, I would be more open to if we were struggling to make the playoffs.

Yeah, I understand what you're saying. You want someone with more certainty to close the deal in terms of title contention. It's somewhat akin to wanting a veteran player addition to a title hopeful, rather than a touted rookie. To go slightly stats geek in my terminology, I just want the highest expected value, even if there's significant variance. Whether that value comes from a veteran or a young guy isn't too important to me.

Hopefully, Portland did hire the guy with the best chance to be a high level GM. I, personally, am comfortable with the uncertainty involved....largely because the guys with more certainty (like Danny Ferry or Randy Pfund) didn't seem to me like guys who necessarily could "close the deal." If a guy with more certainty and compelling ability, like an RC Buford (or a Kevin Pritchard ) were available, I'd rather have him.

 

[BGrantFan]

Sure it matters. You're either telling the truth or you're not.

I've tried to get the management-bashers to name available candidates that they would consider to be better than KP, and I wasn't able to get a single name out of you as I recall.

But here you are saying you expected an upgrade over KP.

Ed O.

I guess I thought there was a plan in place to replace Pritchard. I gave Paul Allen too much credit, which is my fault, unless the plan all along was to replace him with Larry Miller.

EDIT - you never asked me for my choices for GM. I'm not doing the hiring; I was questioning the firing.

 

[BGrantFan]

If a guy with more certainty and compelling ability, like an RC Buford (or a Kevin Pritchard) were available, I'd rather have him.

I love you, Minstrel.

I'll add that I think that we just hired Tom Penn's replacement. I think that Larry Miller is basically the GM at this point, with help from Cho and the scouts.