Sonics set a deadline, Nate signs with Portland

Supes give Nate a deadline

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">While Nate McMillan is being wooed by the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks, Seattle SuperSonics CEO Wally Walker confirmed Friday that the team has given McMillan a deadline of the middle of next week to make a decision about where he wants to coach next season.

Though the Sonics have denied McMillan the opportunity to speak with other teams during the past few months, Walker said he told McMillan on Wednesday, when it became clear McMillan was going to visit other organizations, that he could begin speaking with them a few days early if he wanted to.

Contractually, McMillan was bound to the Sonics through Thursday at midnight.

?All I said to him was, ?If you want to get started earlier than Friday on this, that is OK,? ? Walker said. ?It is in everybody?s interest to move this thing ahead. But I said by next week we need to circle back to see where you are in the hopes that we can get something done between you and the Sonics. We are not talking to other candidates, we are not pursuing anything, we are not making up a list until you come back and we have that discussion.?

Asked why the Sonics would not put themselves in a better position by contacting coaching candidates in case McMillan does leave, Walker responded:

?Out of respect for (McMillan) and what he has done here. We will have that discussion. At some point, and I do think that point is next week, we do need to move ahead on this front. And we have to decide on how close he is to making a decision at that point.?</div>

<font size="1">Full Story courtesy of Frank Hughes and the News Tribune.</font>

I think that is more than fair.

Nate will have a chance to feel out Portland over the weekend, and Wally is spot on when he says the team has been very fair in the sense we have remained totally comitted to Nate since the season ended and July 1st edged closer.

 

I agree, we can't be hanging around forever with no coach when training camp rolls around.

We've offered 18 million that puts Nate's deal up there with the top coaches in the league.

If Portland doubles our offer, I figure he's gone and I don't blame either Wally or Nate one bit.

Portland has a nice situation building down there, with some great young talent, a rabid fan base (the past couple years notwithstanding) and an owner with some deep, deep pockets. Plus it's an easy commute up the 1-5 to watch his son play should the opportunity arise.

Until our free agency situation gets cleared up (read: Ray Allen) our situation is a lot harder to sell, not just to Nate but to any prospective coach.

I just wish that the timing was such that if Nate were to take the Portland job, that Casey could've stepped in.

 

Yeah, good thing we gave a dead line, now i know when to expect an answer.

 

The Sonics heard you were getting anxious and set it up for you, legendisdope. They're good people.

 

Yup, very good people.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nate McMillan was in New York yesterday, but the Seattle head coach did not meet with Knicks president Isiah Thomas, according to sources. In fact, one league official revealed that McMillan could be moving closer to finalizing a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, one of four teams currently without a head coach. McMillan met with Blazers officials on Friday before heading East. McMillan was in New York for personal reasons and did chat with Thomas over the telephone, but the two are not expected to hold any formal, face-to-face meetings. It appears that the Knicks believe McMillan will either coach Portland next season or return to the Sonics.

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Full Story courtesy of the New York Daily News


Good news and a bad rumor. I was pretty sure Nate wouldn't jet for the Knicks anytime soon...but I hope the Blazers don't steal him from us.

 

It would absolutely kill me if Nate bailed on the Supes. I could handle Sugar Ray's departure in a sign and trade situation. But Nate? I couldn't handle that. Not after watching San Antonio, the team that eliminated us, win the whole bean.

<font color="Red">Edit: No spamming. - Shard</font>

 

Nate's gone. Now who will coach the Supes?

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2101994

 

Nate's gone

Nate McMillian has signed a 5 year contract with Portland, ending a long career with Seattle as a player and a coach. This is somewhat surprising to me. I thought with Ray resigned he would come back.

McMillian gone, goes to division rival Blazers

 

Well, this big blow to the Sonics. Nate was one of the biggest reason for the team's success last year, and he was really starting to come into his own as coach. I guess he went for the money. I wish him luck though(just not as much luck as us of course ).

It's gonna be really hard to see Nate on any other team than the sonics. He's been a part of this organization for so long.

How about Paul silas for his replacement? He's a former Sonic and in my opinion one of the better coaches in the league.

Thanks for your time Nate. It was fun while it lasted. You will be missed.

 

Sad to see him go. I don't begrudge him anything - 6 million is a lot of money, and the Sonics management probably burned some bridges the past couple years.

Now the question is who'll take over the team - maybe Porter? I don't want Silas, though. Or a retread.

I wish Casey was still around to take over the reigns.

All in all, if I had to choose between Ray and Nate, I choose Ray

It'll be interesting to see how Nate does down there in a rebuilding situation. I think here he's either had GP or Ray to kind of help coax some of the youngsters along. And strong assistants to do lots of the grunt work (well at least that's how I percieved it).

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I cannot believe he left Seattle to coach in Portland of all places. With Casey also departing I guess the coaching carousel will makes its way into Seattle.

Larry Brown (unlikely) ?
Flip Saunders ?
PJ Carlisemo?
Eric Musselman?
Paul Silas?</div>

I forgot Flip is still out there. I wouldn't be adverse to that.

I think we should just ask Ray Allen who he wants and hire him

 

IMO Nate isn't an exceptional coach or anything. We had a bunch of losing seasons in a row before we finally got inside toughness and the young players developed.. Last season was only a matter of time if you ask me (though similarly I doubt we would've repeated that success even with Nate on board--similar to the Grizzlies last year)

Don't get me wrong.. Losing him is still a huge hit because it sets us back and we have to deal with an adjustment period, and that's provided we even manage to get a good coach.

Here's to hoping for Saunders

 

This is ridiculous. I'm really upset about this for some reason. I didn't figure Nate to be the type to jet from the team that made him and that he has had such success with for a rival. I hope the Blazers do horrible next year.

As for our next coach, Flip or maybe Paul Silas.

 

Actually now that I think about it, I'm kinda pissed too.

19yrs with an organization. Mr. Sonic. An offer to make him one of the top 5 highest paid coaches in the league.

And he goes to our NW rival?

There must've been something behind the scenes, internal friction between Walker/Sund and Nate.

 

Chad Ford said Nate and Sund didn't get along, but it's Chad Ford. It sounds like Nate just went for the money to me. Loyalty is easy when you don't have millions of dollars in front of your face.

I'm not going to pretend I'm disappointed, though. I've said all along I didn't really want him to come back. Flip Saunders is the ideal candidate, but I'm assuming he'll wait to see if the Detroit job is open.

 

ummm im completely shocked...and disgusted.....i mean wow....i cant believe he left the Sonics for portland.....heres to being possibly the only fan on here thats gonna laugh when darius miles or someone else slaps him in the face and the ownership doesnt back him.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">ummm im completely shocked...and disgusted.....i mean wow....i cant believe he left the Sonics for portland.....heres to being possibly the only fan on here thats gonna laugh when darius miles or someone else slaps him in the face and the ownership doesnt back him.</div>

oh please you do not know what you are talking about

darius miles never slapped anyone, maurice cheeks was a lame duck coach and a bad one on top of that.. to compare him to Nate who will be makin 6 mil a year is ridiculous. just stop talking.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Casual:</div><div class="quote_post">Chad Ford said Nate and Sund didn't get along, but it's Chad Ford. It sounds like Nate just went for the money to me. Loyalty is easy when you don't have millions of dollars in front of your face.

I'm not going to pretend I'm disappointed, though. I've said all along I didn't really want him to come back. Flip Saunders is the ideal candidate, but I'm assuming he'll wait to see if the Detroit job is open.</div>

I've heard the previous 2 years they had some issues about the style of ball. Sund wanted Dallas NW while Nate wanted Utah-ball. I think that's what Nate meant when he said he was going to out 'his way'

So here's hoping Brown stays in Detroit, leaving Flip for us. Ironical that Casey takes his job and he *might* end up here.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Coolguy777:</div><div class="quote_post">ummm im completely shocked...and disgusted.....i mean wow....i cant believe he left the Sonics for portland.....heres to being possibly the only fan on here thats gonna laugh when darius miles or someone else slaps him in the face and the ownership doesnt back him.</div>

Like I alluded to earlier, the Supes have always had strong veteran presence to help him out on the floor. Now he's got Miles, Zach, Ruben - good luck with his oft repeated mantra of 'playing the game the right way' - and some high schoolers like Martell, Telfair and Outlaw. Maybe he'll turn Pryzbilla into Big Game Joel