It was about money and respect. Bayno loves the Blazers and did not want to leave at all but Portland management simply didn't make a fair offer. Sucks.
My feathered friend on the Vulcans tells me that they read this board. It's the consensus here that either Nate goes or he gets assistants who can change his style, so the Vulcans aim to please. Notice the purge in assistants they've snuck under the radar over the past year? I just want to say on behalf of the board, thank you, Vulcans. Now replace Bayno with someone like Bickerstaff who will have an influence on loosening up McMillan's system.
Here's a picture of my friend (next to Gene Rodenberry) taken 35 years ago yesterday at the rollout of Enterprise.
Bayno speaks - http://www.oregonlive.com/blazers/index.ssf/2011/09/bill_bayno_explains_his_exit_f.html
After reading the Oregonian piece, which confirmed that the Blazers refused to give him a longer contract, I felt discouraged. That they let some guy go who everyone believes did a great job, they let a guy go who worked his butt off and loved the team and the head coach, that's just crazy. I do not think they will be able to replace his enthusiasm from within the organization. And it further shifts the balance of coaches in favor of strategists over those who coach player development and teach fundamentals. Really disappointing. The only think that would cheer me up would be if they went out and found somebody who really excelled in those areas and hired him. But why would some guy want to come here on a one year contract? Only washed up retreads like Bickerstaff and Ociepka (sp?) would agree to that.
Let's get real, is Nate really going to be here forever? (oh god help me ... he might!?!) So how long was Bayno going to be part of the team anyway? If things go the way I suspect it might, this team probably already reached it's nadir with the current roster a season or two ago and there could be some pretty significant free agent losses and roster turnover in the next 18 months, which probably means a team in transition back to a reloading/rebuilding phase. I don't think Paul Allen's patience will be limitless with Nate if the team fails to get out of the first round again or misses the playoffs altogether.
A 4-year contract to steal an assistant coach from a Western Conference rival. Kahn scores again! Everyone hates this guy, which makes me like him. Go Kahn!
Maybe Pete Carril is available to replace Bayno? May as well add Geritol to the training bag for road trips.
David Adleman joins the coaching staff. another alcoholic/recovering alcoholic on the coaching staff......
