Warkentien Piece

[ABM]

FWIW...

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_14776122

ORLANDO, Fla. — About a week or so ago, reports surfaced that Portland is interested in Mark Warkentien, the Nuggets vice president of basketball operations, becoming its next general manager.

Currently, Kevin Pritchard is the Trail Blazers' general manager. But after team president Tom Penn was recently fired, Warren Legarie — agent for Penn and Pritchard — openly wondered if his other Trail Blazers client was next.

It's an odd story, rife with everything from controversy to a conspiracy theory that Warkentien himself has a hand in what might happen to Pritchard. Warkentien denies any involvement, by the way. But that's not nearly the point of this piece.
The point is it would be extraordinarily bad for the Nuggets if he were to go.

Portland isn't the only team interested in Warkentien. He is the single most-wanted free agent in the Nuggets' organization right now, and the team should take the necessary steps to keep him.

As he works on others' contracts, Warkentien has no contract of his own beyond this season. He is one of the least-paid professionals in the NBA in his position. But he has been the backbone of what the Nuggets are right now — a team among the league's elite with a shot at winning an NBA title. He is the reigning league executive of the year.

He's proven he can find talent to improve the Nuggets, even with financial constraints in play. When Dahntay Jones left for more money, he traded for Arron Afflalo. The Chauncey Billups trade was the big prize, but the smaller acquisitions (Johan Petro and Renaldo Balkman via trade; Ty Lawson via draft; Chris Andersen and Anthony Carter via signing) are the ones that have helped the team thrive and survive when key players have gone down. Warkentien constantly travels to watch future talent. He was a fixture at NBA Development League games in Broomfield.

And he's fiercely loyal to the organization.

The biggest concern for the Nuggets is, without a clear reciprocation of admiration and a real determination to extend his contract, Warkentien has no real ties to Denver and could opt to go at any moment. He has a home in Lake Oswego, Ore., another reason the Portland rumors persist, and he also has a place in Las Vegas. He'll get a pay raise wherever he goes and, likely, multiple years to go along with it.

If the Nuggets are serious about staying among the NBA's elite, all of that must come from them.

 

[MIXUM]

oh god please sign this guy.

 

[HailBlazers]

oh god please sign this guy.

So Rudy can get off on his own conspiracy theories

 

[Minstrel]

So Rudy can get off on his own conspiracy theories

Rudy's not happy here...it's in all the papers, after all.

 

[The_Lillard_King]

I would rather have KP as GM . . . I think he gets Portland and the Blazer fans obsessive mentality.

 

[MIXUM]

that might be his problem.

and on rudy.... everyones wrong... rudy LOVES IT HERE... they are all wrong!!!!!!

 

[hasoos]

that might be his problem.

and on rudy.... everyones wrong... rudy LOVES IT HERE... they are all wrong!!!!!!

What? You don't think he wants to stay here because of all the teen age girls and fat chicks at the Blazer games holding up the "I love Rudy" signs, or the "Marry Me Rudy" signs?

 

[MIXUM]

i get those signs in ct too...

 

[HailBlazers]

i get those signs in ct too...

We know. At the gay bar while playing "Push-It"

 

[tlongII]

I want to keep KP, but I wouldn't complain much if he was replaced by Warkentien. He's shown that he can do the job.

 

[ABM]

We know. At the gay bar while playing "Push-It"

 

[The Professional Fan]

Let's come up with Mixum's derogatory nickname for Warkentien. He may want Wark now, but he'll have to keep up his infantile schtick if Portland indeed acquired the new GM.

I'm going with Warken-wiener. That's right in Mixum's wheelhouse.

 

[andalusian]

Let's come up with Mixum's derogatory nickname for Warkentien. He may want Wark now, but he'll have to keep up his infantile schtick if Portland indeed acquired the new GM.

I'm going with Warken-wiener. That's right in Mixum's wheelhouse.

Has to be Wanker-tien.

 

[ABM]

Let's come up with Mixum's derogatory nickname for Warkentien.

Dubya.

 

[LittleAlex]

What? You don't think he wants to stay here because of all the teen age girls and fat chicks at the Blazer games holding up the "I love Rudy" signs, or the "Marry Me Rudy" signs?

I think Rudy is pissed because Batum is now getting more such signs Rudy ever did.

 

[LittleAlex]

Let's come up with Mixum's derogatory nickname for Warkentien. He may want Wark now, but he'll have to keep up his infantile schtick if Portland indeed acquired the new GM.

I'm going with Warken-wiener. That's right in Mixum's wheelhouse.

I vote for Kee Pee

 

[SlyPokerDog]

But after team president Tom Penn was recently fired...

Fail!

 

[oldmangrouch]

Has to be Wanker-tien.

Score!

 

[Rastapopoulos]

That piece is oooold. Why is it coming up now?

 

[BlazerWookee]

<snicker>

 

[Sedatedfork]

Let's come up with Mixum's derogatory nickname for Warkentien. He may want Wark now, but he'll have to keep up his infantile schtick if Portland indeed acquired the new GM.

I'm going with Warken-wiener. That's right in Mixum's wheelhouse.

Dorkentien

 

[Nikolokolus]

+1


......

+1=2

 

[Minstrel]

+1=2

+QFT

Though, that probably undersells the difference (in my mind) between the two. I think Pritchard is solidly better. I just wouldn't think it a disaster if Warkentien was his replacement. It won't be a Whitsett-replaced-by-Patternash debacle.

 

[MARIS61]

oh god please sign this guy.

Been there, done that.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I want to keep KP, but I wouldn't complain much if he was replaced by Warkentien. He's shown that he can do the job.

That pretty much sums up my thoughts as well. I like KP, but it's not like we're sunk without him.

 

[ABM]

That pretty much sums up my thoughts as well. I like KP, but it's not like we're sunk without him.

The thing to me, though, is that there's no earthly reason why KP's job should be in jeopardy - period. The team has improved by 9, then 13 wins under his watch. This season is a wash due to injuries. That said, the team is still overachieving.

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

The thing to me, though, is that there's no earthly reason why KP's job should be in jeopardy - period. The team has improved by 9, then 13 wins under his watch. This season is a wash due to injuries. That said, the team is still overachieving.

Agreed. But he has an agent that Vulcan hates. That may very well be the kiss of death. Vulcan is a very controlling management group that could care less if the Blazers win or even stay in Portland. All they know is what they can control.

 

[ABM]

All they know is what they can control.

What exactly, then, do they want to control???

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

What exactly, then, do they want to control???

Paul Allen and his financial empire. And do so ruthlessly, IMHO.

 

[ABM]

Paul Allen and his financial empire. And do so ruthlessly, IMHO.

So, firing KP somehow improves the empire? I'd guess that there would be a number of season ticket cancellations if that happens.