The Blazers had just hired Neil Olshey, the former GM of the Los Angeles Clippers, to the same position. Olshey shares Brooks' agent, Warren LeGarie, and is believed to have a personal relationship with the Thunder coach. Olshey had watched Brooks from afar as he helped build the Thunder into an NBA power and, if the proper opportunity presented itself, was widely believed to be interested in making a run at Brooks had talks with the Thunder continued to lag.
While no talks with the Blazers took place, it would have been a risky career move to say the least for Brooks, whose contract with the Thunder expired on June 30. Though he could have been compensated quite handsomely behind deep-pocketed Blazers owner Paul Allen, Brooks would have had to leave a core that included Durant, Russell Westbrook, Serge Ibaka and, at the time, James Harden, for a Blazers team powered by LaMarcus Aldridge and little else. Rookie of the Year front-runner Damian Lillard entered the league to high hopes but had only been a pro for two days.
