<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Apparently Chris Wallace doesn't want to play second fiddle to Danny Ainge in Boston. Wallace interviewed Monday for the Portland Trail Blazers' general manager position, ESPN's David Aldridge reported. That job is open since the free-wheeling Bob Whitsitt stepped down earlier this month after fans and front-office executives grew tired of the team's widely reported problems both on-court and off. The Blazers have said they will not comment on candidates during the search process, but two Boston newspapers reported that Portland had asked the Celtics for permission to speak with Wallace. Detroit assistant GM John Hammond also is expected to interview in Portland. The Celtics made Ainge executive director of basketball hours before Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the New Jersey Nets, who went on to sweep that series. Ainge has been given full power to make basketball decisions, though Wallace was retained with the GM title. He reportedly is not happy with that arrangement. The 44-year-old Ainge was the head coach of the Phoenix Suns for parts of three seasons before stepping down in 1999. This year, he was an NBA analyst for TNT. He left television to take over a team strapped by the salary cap, due largely to Wallace's decision to trade for center Vin Baker. Baker, who has three years and $44 million left on his contract, was suspended indefinitely earlier this season, reportedly for alcohol-related problems. Whitsitt stepped down just days after the team ended a troubled season marked by legal troubles, suspensions and infighting. Whitsitt, who had held the job for the past eight years, retained his job as president of the Seattle Seahawks. Both the Trail Blazers and the Seahawks are owned by Microsoft pioneer Paul Allen. Whitsitt's resignation becomes effective June 30. Allen said in a statement that the team would immediately begin the search for both a president and a general manager, rather than filling the single post that Whitsitt held. Whitsitt said the decision for him to step down was mutual, although he initially approached Allen with the idea last fall. "Even if we won the NBA championship, we were going to do this regardless,'' he said. Since Whitsitt, 46, took over the job with the Trail Blazers in 1994, the team has compiled a 376-248 overall record (.603). The Blazers finished 50-32 this year for their 14th straight winning season and 21st straight trip to the playoffs. But he has faced increasing criticism for the team's on-court performance and off-court problems. The past season was especially turbulent. Forward Rasheed Wallace, guard Damon Stoudamire and rookie Qyntel Woods were all cited for marijuana possession. Ruben Patterson was arrested for domestic abuse, charges his wife later asked not be pursued. Wallace was suspended for seven games by the league for threatening a referee on the loading dock after a game in January, and Patterson scuffled with forward Zach Randolph during a practice. Randolph was suspended for two games by the team for punching Patterson and breaking his eye socket. The Blazers -- who have the highest payroll in the league at $105 million -- were ousted from the playoffs in seven games by the Dallas Mavericks, after first-round sweeps by the Los Angeles Lakers in the previous two seasons. Over the course of Whitsitt's tenure, different players have been suspended 20 times. There have been 15 arrests. "We hope our fans will show patience and support as we bring in a new general manager and president, and evaluate our future plans for the team,'' owner Paul Allen said in a prepared statement. "We also expect the Blazers themselves to work hard and demonstrate their commitment to improving on and, just as importantly, off the court </div>
I would love for Wallace and Ainge to get in a fight over this taht would consequently lead to Ainge leaving.
