On May 23rd 2011, former Portland Trail Blazers general manger, Rich Cho was fired by Paul Allen. Here we are, a year later, and we have yet to find a full-time replacement. Chad Buchanan has been the acting general manager ever since.
This last year has been very frustrating. For the fans and I’m sure it has been just as frustrating for the players as well. It makes you wonder whether we would have been in a better place with a full-time GM. Or what if we would have just kept Rich Cho? There is no way to tell, so let’s not dwell on it now and just move on.
With what the Blazers have this summer in draft picks and salary cap room, you would think that general managers would be running at the chance to be their GM. We will have two lottery picks as long as the Brooklyn Nets don’t land a top 3 pick, which is a top 3 protected pick. This is one of the most loaded drafts in some time now – this has to excite some general managers. Maybe more will come running once the lottery picks are announced on Wednesday, May 30.
I know I would. You get to basically build your own team around LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matthews, and Nicolas Batum (that is if we match an offer for Batum). It’s almost like a video game. I do that stuff all the time on NBA 2K12. It seem like the greatest opportunity to show off your talents and really build something yourself. You don’t get too many chances like these in professional sports.
Granted, when I was sitting on my couch making championship teams on NBA 2K, I didn’t need Paul Allen to okay a deal, not to mention that Greg Oden was still a decent trade asset in this year’s game.
Paul Allen is known to have a quick trigger when it comes to his GMs. This is why it has been taking so long to find a replacement. No one wants to be micromanaged. They want to get in and do the job that they were hired to do. It’s hard to do so with someone looking over your shoulder at all times – just waiting to fire you for one wrong move.
Earlier this month, Paul Allen wrote an article that was directed towards the Blazers’ fans. He talked about his thoughts of the season, and his plans in searching for a new GM and head coach.
He did in fact say that they are looking to fill the general manager position permanently. For Allen, finding the right guy is going to be a long process. Here is part of the article in which Allen refers to finding the right guy for the GM position.
“…the GM has to have what I refer to as the “golden gut.” The job requires more than an ability to assess basketball talent. It’s also about weighing the intangibles, from character to medical issues, and all the risks involved. Almost every NBA draftee, for example, has some injury history.” –Paul Allen
He wants a guy that will be a good fit all around – one who is going to mesh with the players, coaches, management, and the Portland community. Most importantly, he needs to develop a relationship with the new hiree. Allen points out that he likes to ask questions and he also likes to be involved in any process of making transactions. He is a kind of guy who wants to know all the facts.
The fact that he wants to be involved shows that he cares about the team. He wants to build a winning franchise. I do believe that the Blazers will do so. It may not be this next season, but the time will come shortly. They have a great opportunity this offseason to make some noise. I’m interested in seeing what they can do. I just hope that they can get a GM in before the NBA Draft.
NBA offseason dates:
NBA Draft Lottery: May 30, as previously started.
NBA Draft: June 28.
NBA Free Agency: July 11 is when teams can begin to sign free agents.
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