Blazer "dealing with rejection" in GM search

That is quite ironic

 

the playoff team he built that made it in 2003 was the one that knocked out the Blazers from playoff contention, breaking the Blazers streak of playoff appearances.

 

Exactly. There are quality names out there that have been rumored as potential candidates. If we're given good thought to those potential candidates, and making a solid effort to connect with them, that's good enough for me (and I would think most casual fans would also agree). So why puff it up, exaggerate it, and make it seem like we have the best in the biz banging down our door? Cuz anyone in their right mind knows better.

 

I'm not against Kiki or Warkentein.

 

I think Kiki would be pretty solid, so would Ferry. Not a big fan of Warkentien though

 

I think Wark has proven that he's pretty good as a talent evaluator. We could use some help there. Not sure how excited I'd be with him in-charge as the GM, though.

 

Wark had a few whiffs in the draft. I'm pretty sure he left over the whole "Telfair over Al Jefferson" thing so at least he has that.

 

My only issue with Kiki is Nikoloz Tskitishvili. Then again Trader Bob took Quintel Woods in that same draft

 

Yeah, but Skita was taken in the top 5. Woods was taken at 21 and it was gamble worth taking because the guy was projected in the top 10 and fell. I remember everyone was pretty psyched because he was supposed to be T-Mac "light". The guy had undeniable talent, he just had a .10 head.

 

I think Donnie Walsh would be a great hire but factoring in his age we'll be in this same position again in a few years.

 

Shit - who hasn't had a whiff in the draft? He's been known as a solid talent evaluator, and guys with that reputation are okay by me (for such a role). I just can't see him as a GM.

I guess he could be GM here, if someone else was handling all of the moves, and Wark just evaluates talent and nods his head "yes" to everthing PA, Kolde, and Miller say.

 

Man, if you go back and read some of the things they were saying about him leading up to the draft, he was getting a little bit of mention as the #1 pick (Yao went #1 that year).

To this day.... man.... Q.... what a moron. But he looked like he was getting it together, everyone was saying he was tearing up training camp, then BAM! The whole pit bull scandal.

 

He was with us from 1998-2003. Let's take a look at the guys we drafted.

1998 - Bonzi (not a bad pick)
1999 - no pick
2000 - Erick Barkley
2001 - Zach Randolph / Boom-Boom
2002 - Qyntel Woods / Jason Jennings
2003 - Travis Outlaw / Nedzad Sinanovic

He has a hot daughter, so at least there's that.

*Did I say hot? I meant cute..... ish

 

Exactly. You may not be impressed with that list. But he picked high-talent players with low-basketball IQ's. Guys that had a world of potential, but not the best characters (with his first-rounders). Perhaps they would have panned out better if they weren't knuckleheads looking up to knuckleheads. But that's a talented list of players, for the most part. Especially considering where we were drafting. He can evaluate talent. But you need a balance, and I wouldn't want him controlling anything for my organization other than talent evaluation.

With the 2nd rounders, why not take a flier on some bigs? Shit, I think remember some basketball people (including Nedzad's agent) being furious over how Portland picked up Nedzad - it was even written up in SI.

 

I had high hopes for Nedzad.

The SI article sealed it for me. The guy was mobile and 7'4". He has developed into a solid contributer for his FIBA team.

 

Thats not bad considering he was picking late in the 1st with all those picks.

 

They should just bring back KP. Or how about Warkentien or Petrie?

Whitsett put together a very talented roster at the expense of Paul Allen's wallet. With Allen not being willing to go far over the cap, I wonder how he'd do?

 

You guys seen this? http://forums.realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=1179936

 

Bring back Trader Bob!

Dude turned around the entire team during the Summer of 1996! Here we are again - 16 years later. We have a lot of flexibility and what not - bring him back to rebuild and reload all at once! He turned that team around in a hurry - Rider, Wallace, Anderson, and O'Neal all in a matter of a few weeks. We went from ancient to very young in no time. And he kept the playoffs steak in tact.

 

I just saw that and was going to mention it. Nobody is saying the OP is not credible, which is the first thing I look for.

It's intriguing, but I could post the same thing here and probably get away with it.