Some interesting tid-bits in Paul Allen's latest interview. He claims that KP asked to be let go, but that KP was already on thin ice due to his performance. (wonder if he was upset about KP drafting guys with bum knees). He says Buchannan will not get the GM job. But who are the potential canidates? I haven't even heard any names thrown about. I think people like to crap on Allen, but the guy has spent a ton of money on this team. We wouldn't have had these good teams in a small market if we didn't have a billionare owner. Allen says he's not as willing to over-spend anymore though.
I have no doubt in my mind that PA was telling the truth about KP asking to be let go that day. I am sure he felt dis-respected by all the rumors. I don't blame KP a bit. But it does explain why Paul chose to do it right then and there, before the draft. He forced his hand
Odd that Chad is not being considered for the job, things have gone pretty well lately, although I doubt he is making the decisions.
Let me get this straight: Chad is not even qualified enough to deserve consideration for the job....but he has been doing the job for months, and will continue to do it for the indefinite future. And people wonder why I think these fools have lost their collective minds!
One has to wonder how much actual authority Buchanan has been wielding? My guess is not much. I get the feeling Nate suddenly has a lot more power in personnel decisions, with Chad acting as head scout.
Maybe Paul likes what Chad brings to the table in terms of player personnel, but wants something else in terms of a GM. Maybe he has a good basketball mind but is not a leader? I don't really understand what the job description of a Portland GM is. For some teams isn't the president and GM the same guy? Not here. I would just make Chad the director of player personnel and don't name a GM
Why would you maintain the current status quo of no GM? Is Buchanan the be-all end-all talent evaluator and trade maker and cap guru that that most great teams rely on?
I think we had a fairly good offseason without a GM in place. I'm not sure what Allen is looking for. It's hard to tell from a 35 min interview, but I kinda get the sense that Allen is looking for a guy who is very active at trying to wheel and deal. He mentioned one thing he didn't like about Cho, was when he asked Cho what deals he was exploring....and apparantly did not like the answer. Allen said being GM is a full time job because you're constantly talking to other teams and the coaching staff etc.... He's looking for someone with prior GM experience rather than going with an understudy. But I'm wondering who is out there? What former GMs can we recycle? Steve Kerr?
I know it's much more dramatic (and easy) to tar and feather Paul Allen, Larry Miller, and the Vulcans for everyones percieved slight of Buchanan... ...But is it possible that Chad doesn't want the position? Maybe he really just enjoys his position as Director of Scouting? Honest question, has he ever said that he's interested in the position?
Here's a link to Kerry Egger's column on the interview: http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=132437711921091000 Interesting that Allen says the serious GM search may not happen until after the season. Also interesting: his comment that he doesn't plan to sell the team was tempered with a statement that it might be different if he thought that the Blazers were slipping back into a serious rebuilding mode.
Hey Hoops, which message board do you post on now? How about ProudBFan? You guys must be posting somewhere.
Given the history of the Blazer organization, Chad was probably the happiest person to find out he is not a canidate for pemanent GM position. Allen can say what he wants, he is clearly an emotional and somewhat unpredicatable owner . . . if they are close to contending for a championship, he will open up the wallet. I also have no problem believing that if Blazers have to start all over, he will sell the team.
The only way the Blazers don't have to blow it up and build around Aldridge and Batum is if GO comes back and becomes an iron man. In other words, not bloody likely. It's better to rebuild than be average.
If they rebuild, go ahead and trade LA as I doubt he wants to be any part of a rebuilding process in the prime of his career. Add to that, PA sells if they have to rebuild and Blazers will have to do it on the cheap. Plus, if LA is here in Ptd, how far can the Blazers fall . . . LA will keep this team at least average. I think this whole theory of having to break it all down to rebuild can be played out over the next few years in an anlysis between Utah and Ptd. Utah, being a playoff team, decided to deal their star player and are in the process of rebuilding mainly through their draft picks. Blazers have opted to try stay a playoff team inhopes of taking the next step. Couple years from now we can see what was the better way to go?
If we rebuild around Aldridge and Batum, what type of players would you put around them? A PG with good vision who can also shoot the 3? An aggressive 2 guard who can both score and defend? A combo guard who can provide instant offense off the bench? An athletic slasher who can play both forward spots? A veteran frontcourt player (or two) who can rebound and defend the post? If Aldridge and Batum are legitimate building blocks, then we already have the role-players we need. The only justification for a tear-down/rebuild would be if we don't already have the cornerstones to build around.
We have rebuilt for years. I don't see how results from a new rebuild will exceed results from the current rebuild (a .600+ team with which I am satisfied).
