By "taking time to find the right guy" really means none of their original targets want to work for a severe micro-manager like Paul Allen. Having a team president who has proven to be extremely incompetent doesn't help either.
Paxson would not excite me, other than him being a former Blazer. His drafts have been John Nashesque, and he is no trade guru either.
Blazers Interested In Petrie, O'Connor Oct 23, 2011 11:47 AM EDT The Blazers are reportedly interested in interviewing Geoff Petrie and Kevin O'Connor for their general manager vacancy. But neither the Kings or Jazz have received calls for permission to talk to either executive. Via Marc Stein/ESPN (via Twitter) Read more: http://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/216160/Blazers_Interested_In_Petrie_OConnor#ixzz1bgapLBPV
Wow, I wonder if Petrie would ever come back after the way he was treated. I believe he also wouldn't want to be simply a figurehead
It really is the million dollar question. I wonder if they will decide to go with Nate and Larry if they can't find anyone qualified?
He'd be an excellent hire. He would be the first good hire since............... Don't worry, I'll wait...
Paul Millsap Wesley Matthews I'd put the chances that Utah grants permission to talk to Mr. O'Connor is slim to none.
Take this to the bank: O'Connor has zero interest in taking the Blazers job, but I'd almost bet my life he's going to leverage a Paul Allen bid for his services into a raise from the Jazz owners.
Part of me (like 99%) still thinks Wesley and his agent were trying to bluff the Jazz. I sort of doubt he ever intended to leave them, but probably anticipated that he'd get the same kind of deal that the Millsap got and that the Jazz would be forced to bite the bullet and match.
Yep, most likely he did think the Jazz would match. Now, O'Conner should know better about the odds of getting matched. But maybe he's an optimist, or delusional. Either way, I think if it gets to the point where we make him an offer, it's likely that he's ours. Admittedly this is a theory I pulled out of my ass, so I could be wrong. barfo
The thing with O'Connor is that he's not under any requirement to accept a deal with the Blazers, which makes it a much different situation than the one a restricted free agent faces.
True... but if you go to the boss and say, hey, the blazers are making me a nice offer, and the boss says "well, good luck in Portland then" it is then hard to say "I've decided money isn't everything - I'm staying". barfo
Paul Allen, what a space cadet. Why doesn't he hire a GM right now? Think of all the stuff the GM could be doing. Calling other GMs and talking about the weather, since he can't talk about players. Smiling at Quick without saying any player names. Looking like an important stuffed shirt while Allen pays him for doing nothing. Allen lucked into his money. Most billionaires had no luck. They earned it through hard, hard work, just like a ditchdigger.
I think it's all in the phrasing. Try this one on for size, "Hey boss, I've got this really tricky situation. The Blazers are coming hard, I really want to stay here, but they might be making me an offer I'd have trouble refusing. Tell you what, let's say you just give me a teeny weeny little bump ... say 10% and I'll tell them to get stuffed. What do you say?" Ummmm ... or something like that.
