I am starting to get concerned about this a little bit. If Tom Penn has Blazer inside information going into the draft, he could try to out manuever us, or possibly spill the beans on what we are going to do in order to get what he wants. Unethical? Yes. But this is america.
Question: does Penn have a multi-year contract with the Blazers? Teams generally allow front office people and assistant coaches out of their contracts to take promotions with other teams.....but they don't *have* to do it. I assume the Blazers could say "fine, you can take the job, but we aren't releasing you until AFTER the draft."
I doubt this comes as a big shock to KP. He's presumably known ever since he hired him that Penn was looking for a head GM job, and had a good idea of his chances to get one. barfo
In my business, we call it "professional amnesia". It's standard when switching companies that you don't act on any information you have about your former employer. I would assume it's the same in the NBA.
As a matter of professional courtesy, I'm sure that's reasonable. I just don't see how that can be contractually stipulated. Penn could legitimately believe that going after Andre Miller or whoever Portland is targeting is a good move for Minnesota, regardless of his time with Portland. I think it would be very hard or impossible to prove that an executive was acting in bad faith using knowledge of his former team's plans rather than just making moves that make the most sense for his new team. Especially in the NBA, where the potential targets/moves are much more constrained. It would be far from an amazing coincidence if Minnesota should legitimately be going after a player that Portland is.
That's the point. It's not contractually obligated; it's what professionals who have to continue to deal with each other do. It's not only the moral thing to do, it's good business. And the GM business appears to be more transitory than mine. Glen Taylor may ask a question about what Portland thought of a certain player. The correct answer is "I can't say" rather than give the answer. It also means that if you think you're going to fire a guy or he's going to find another club, you can trust him.
Yes, I don't think Penn acting in bad faith was a real risk. I was simply not seeing how "non-compete" contracts could be done.
I never brought up the idea of a non-compete clause. It's my understanding that in an association like the NBA has, it's custom to allow anyone to move to a higher position without compensation and if it's a lateral move, then compensation is negotiated.
Minny has three first round picks this year, I would assume that Tom Penn could be deemed the next KP if he plays his cards right on this draft. Get two of the top 5 picks perhaps, kinda like a Roy/LMA. I wonder if Steph Curry is this years Brandon Roy.
I dont like this! Penn should stick with us for a few more years because then he'd probably get offers from better teams/owners.
Great news . . . although I hope he got a heafty promotion, because two other potential GMs turned down the job which makes me think it wasn't the most desireable job (maybe owner talking about serious cut backs, which could make any GM look bad). Penn will have another shot at GM . . . but title aside, can anyone pay him more than Allen?
