Warkentien Requests to Speak with Blazers

[RamblinRod]

From the Denver Post

His future with the Nuggets uncertain, executive vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien has requested permission to speak to teams around the league about front-office positions, multiple NBA sources said. It is still possible the Nuggets will retain Warkentien, but he has requested to speak with the Trail Blazers, Clippers and Suns, the sources said.

He has a long history with the Portland franchise, having spent a decade working for the team. He also has a home in the Portland area.

No big shocker really, but he's requesting to speak with us while KP is still breathing. Cold Blooded.

 

[B-Roy]

Honestly....I wouldn't hate him. He's shown willingness to make big moves before. Still, I'm not too sure.

 

[RoyToy]

I already hate him.

 

[barfo]

I thought highly of Warkentian when he was here, but I've come to think of him lately (and quite possibly this is completely unfair, since we certainly don't get the real scoop) as a nasty little backstabber.

barfo

 

[BLAZER PROPHET]

I thought highly of Warkentian when he was here, but I've come to think of him lately (and quite possibly this is completely unfair, since we certainly don't get the real scoop) as a nasty little backstabber.

barfo

I have the same opinion.

 

[Nikolokolus]

He can be a big, fat, front-stabber for all I care if he shows a willingness to make the kind of moves that will make this team better.

 

[LittleAlex]

Guys a douche bag.

He did manage to turn Allen Iverson into Chauncy Billups but that trade was with Joe Dumars.

That's like beating a blind four year old at darts.

 

[Pinwheel1]

What were the big moves he has made? Was he the one that let Camby go to the Clippers for nothing?

Edit: oh the Chauncey trade.

 

[illmatic99]

Fuck this guy.

 

[Nikolokolus]

What were the big moves he has made? Was he the one that let Camby go to the Clippers for nothing?

Edit: oh the Chauncey trade.

Ty Lawson for nothing but an exchange of picks with Minny, he let Camby go because there was a mandate to cut salary and there's no doubt that he assembled as much talent as he possibly could have given the constraints of his owner's pocket book.

 

[OSUBlazerfan]

45
50
54
53

in 4 seasons, and 2 division titles

 

[Nikolokolus]

45
50
54
53

in 4 seasons, and 2 division titles

And a WCF appearance.

 

[BoBoBREWSKI]

NO!

ESPN Insider

Nuggets executive vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien has requested permission to speak to teams around the league about front office positions, reports The Denver Post. His contract with the team expires on June 30.
Warkentien has asked to speak with the Blazers, Clippers and Suns about their vacancies.

The contract for vice president of player personnel Rex Chapman also expires June 30. The team may have Josh Kroenke, the current vice president of team development and future owner of the franchise, take control of the front office if Warkentien and Chapman are not retained Suns senior vice president of basketball operations David Griffin is leaving Phoenix June 30 and could join the Nuggets.

 

[Wheels]

And a WCF appearance.

I cant wait for those banners to be unveiled WCF Runners Up Bitches!!! WHAT!

 

[Wheels]

What were the big moves he has made? Was he the one that let Camby go to the Clippers for nothing?

Edit: oh the Chauncey trade.

I for some reason thought the Chauncey Trade wasnt him.

 

[HailBlazers]

BOOO!

Anyone got a good nickname for this schmoozer?!

 

[Wheels]

BOOO!

Anyone got a good nickname for this schmoozer?!

Porkentein?

 

[RR7]

Ty Lawson for nothing but an exchange of picks with Minny, he let Camby go because there was a mandate to cut salary and there's no doubt that he assembled as much talent as he possibly could have given the constraints of his owner's pocket book.

Yes, woe are the constraints of a 75 million dollar payroll. Poor guy. How can you put a team together with such a miniscule payroll?

 

[Nikolokolus]

Yes, woe are the constraints of a 75 million dollar payroll. Poor guy. How can you put a team together with such a miniscule payroll?

That team has regularly sold draft picks, couldn't keep Linus Kleiza, had to dump Marcus Camby and has generally tried to stay as close to the luxury tax line as possible, but has managed to make shrewd moves when good pieces have moved on (Dahntay Jones replaced with Aaron Afflalo). Warkentien has a great eye for talent (he wanted Al Jefferson over Telfair when he was assistant GM here) and knows how to make moves. You guys can hate on him all you like, but I think there's a better than average chance he ends up as the team's GM, so start liking it soon.

 

[barfo]

That team has regularly sold draft picks, couldn't keep Linus Kleiza, had to dump Marcus Camby and has generally tried to stay as close to the luxury tax line as possible, but has managed to make shrewd moves when good pieces have moved on (Dahntay Jones replaced with Aaron Afflalo). Warkentien has a great eye for talent (he wanted Al Jefferson over Telfair when he was assistant GM here) and knows how to make moves. You guys can hate on him all you like, but I think there's a better than average chance he ends up as the team's GM, so start liking it soon.

Well, him getting hired doesn't mean we have to like it. See, e.g., John Nash.
But I agree with your comment earlier that (paraphrased) if he makes the team better, he can kill and eat babies for all I care.

barfo

 

[OddEnormous]

And a WCF appearance.

All without Ronald McDillon.

Almost impossible to believe. (He's the best young coach in the whole wide world)

 

[OddEnormous]

45
50
54
53

in 4 seasons, and 2 division titles

HOLD ON A MINUTE!!!!!!

Let's be fair and list every other person in Denver's front office and the 5 GM's before he got there. EVERYONE deserves credit in this.

It's only fair and there's a very good chance he'll be fired if we don't. That's how things are done these days.










































(In Portland)

 

[oldmangrouch]

Well, him getting hired doesn't mean we have to like it. See, e.g., John Nash.
But I agree with your comment earlier that (paraphrased) if he makes the team better, he can kill and eat babies for all I care.

barfo

Bingo, bango, bongo!

I don't know why KP is being dumped, and probably never will. My new priority: begging the team to replace him with somebody competent. Do some of you folks really want a new John Nash type scenario????

 

[Nikolokolus]

Bingo, bango, bongo!

I don't know why KP is being dumped, and probably never will. My new priority: begging the team to replace him with somebody competent. Do some of you folks really want a new John Nash type scenario????

I think some people have been drinking too deeply from the 'culture kool-aid.' How is it Warkentien's fault that KP is getting fired? If KP had done his job to the satisfaction of ownership then he wouldn't be in jeopardy in the first place (whatever the reasons he's failed we'll probably never know exactly). The team is going to need a competent replacement and I'll take a shrewd, (possibly) slightly unethical fatman over an incompetent rube, nice-guy like Nash any day.

 

[hasoos]

I don't blame Warkentein for contacting Vulcan. After all, Paul Allen has been used as a leverage to get salaries jacked up for players, coaches and front office personnel all over the league.

 

[BlazerWookee]

Fuck.

 

[Minstrel]

I wouldn't hate Warkentien...he seems competent. I think he'd be a downgrade from Pritchard, but at least it wouldn't be a Nash-like disaster reprise.

 

[BrianFromWA]

For the Record (and any FBI people reading this link), I oppose the hiring of Baby-Eating GMs, no matter how competent.

That said, while I agree that Wark wouldn't be horrible, I'm not positive what about his c.v. shouts "Success!" to me.

 

[andalusian]

That said, while I agree that Wark wouldn't be horrible, I'm not positive what about his c.v. shouts "Success!" to me.

If his CV looks like him it probably shouts "Supersize it".

On the other hand, he can probably steal a draft pick or two and hide it between his chins, so maybe there is some upside...

 

[RR7]

That team has regularly sold draft picks, couldn't keep Linus Kleiza, had to dump Marcus Camby and has generally tried to stay as close to the luxury tax line as possible, but has managed to make shrewd moves when good pieces have moved on (Dahntay Jones replaced with Aaron Afflalo). Warkentien has a great eye for talent (he wanted Al Jefferson over Telfair when he was assistant GM here) and knows how to make moves. You guys can hate on him all you like, but I think there's a better than average chance he ends up as the team's GM, so start liking it soon.

As the GM, he'd be the one selling off the pick. Is it owner mandated? Maybe. But if you have a cheap owner, giving them low cost players on super cheap contracts seems like a better alternative than signing JR Smith. Kleiza left for more money in Europe. They made their QO, and did again this season. They can't help if he chooses to make way more money in Europe.

I like some of his moves, I just think he gets praise for inheriting an already good situation. He inherited an already solid and put together team, and pretty much shifted some things around, without greatly improving the team on the court.