ProudBFan

I posted this earlier today on the ESPN.com board, but I wanted your thoughts on it, too:

Okay, the Draft takes place on June 26th, which leaves the Blazers with just 20 days (which includes weekends, BTW) to prepare. I realize that Draft Day doesn't set the Blazers roster in stone, but it CAN make the eventual new GM's job of putting together the roster he really wants to take into the new season MUCH more difficult. For this reason, it seems the Blazers would do themselves a HUGE favor by making sure their new GM is involved in all of the Blazers' Draft Day preparations, which should probably include:

1. Looking at the current roster and understanding what they have to work with.
2. Formulating any "new direction" for the team and, consequently, the roster.
3. Looking very closely at the players currently on the roster (which may involve meetings) for fit with any "new direction" that may be decided on.
4. Identifying those players who are to become ammo for draft-day trades.
5. Identify the draft prospects, available free agents, and contracted players who are to be pursued via draft-day (and post draft-day) trades.
6. Lining up those trades.

Now if any of you work in the corporate world, you know what I mean when I say that's a LOT of work to be done in such a short amount of time. And don't forget that there may well be a coaching change thrown in there, too!

I guess what I'm trying to say is that it will be hard to call any Draft Day result a success unless the Blazers' new GM is involved in the preparations and execution, and that the Blazers are going to have to bring the new GM online VERY soon if he's going to have a chance to be that involved. Time is of the essence!

PBF
PS: Because of all this, I'm guessing that if the Blazers don't announce their new GM sometime early next week (Mon-Wed), they won't until the July 1st deadline they've set for themselves.

ebott

Whitsitt is still in charge until the day of the draft. If he has the groud work for a draft day deal set up all we need is a yes or no from the new GM as to whether or not to do the deal. I don't think that not completing your six point plan from the new GM would necessarily get in the way of a deal.

Or we could just say that Whitsitt is in charge, no questions asked, up until the day after the draft and if he thinks a deal will help the team he'll do it.

ProudBFan

True. I guess my overriding thought in all this is that having the new GM call the draft day shots (including the prep-work) would be ideal. And I'm sure it would be... if the new GM arrived in time to do it.

I'm don't mean to imply that having Whitsitt call the shots through draft day is a bad thing. The guy can work deals. And because he'd still have to report to Allen in his <I>other</I> role, I'm sure any draft day moves he makes are going to be the best possible for the Blazers. I'm just saying that I think having the new GM call the shots would be ideal assuming he has enough time to plan them out.

PBF

HOWIE

What troubles me about Whitsitt running the draft is the fact that I can't remember the last time he traded on draft day. Portland might just stand pat for the draft just picking at #23 and #54. I just don't want to get all worked up on draft day trade just to be let down again. If it happens I will be very suprised.

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Trader Ed

Items 5 & 6 above

All right, in a year in which a president and GM search is out there, and it has been declared by the owner changes will be made with positive charecters. Now echoed by Mark Warkentin this afternoon...

It is crucial for FA contact and S&T talks to begin July 1 at midnight... for those who are hoping for GP, it had better happen that way as well.. timing is crucial.

If we do not have a GM on board, who will do this at that time. Whitsitt? Warkentin? Mo?

Whitsitt is supposedly out June 30th?

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