HoopsHype.com Rumors

The Trail Blazers hired Chris McGowan as president on Monday. He replaces Larry Miller, who replaced Steve Patterson, who replaced Bob Whitsitt. Also, McGowan will work alongside general manager Neil Olshey, who replaced Rich Cho, who replaced Kevin Pritchard, who replaced Patterson, who replaced John Nash, who replaced Whitsitt. Point is, it hasn't felt easy to explain around here since Whitsitt left, has it? The hope here isn't that McGowan will walk on water, or help a basketball team that feels headed to another NBA Draft Lottery find a miracle way out of this mess. Rather, the hope is that McGowan can work closely enough with Olshey to end the convoluted decade of madness and again make the basketball, not the business (or some gobbled combination) feel like it's driving the bus again. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey, Rich Cho, Steve Patterson, Bob Whitsitt, John Nash, Chris McGowan 

Peter Vecsey: I don't know exactly why Blazers president Larry Miller quit. I do know for sure he was against hiring GM Neil Olshey. Connect the dots. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey 

Why do GMs hire their agent's other clients instead of best coaching candidate available? Peter Vecsey: We know we don't like it. It's been happening for years. It's not only Warren LeGarie and Olshey, it's Arn Tellem. That's where he started, as a workout guy. Arn Tellem has been pushing him. Warren has got a cult going or something, the way these GMs, presidents and owners listen to him. It's fascinating that he's able to get one of his clients into Portland with what went on with Kevin Pritchard. Your listeners are well aware of that. I believe I was the one who broke that story about how it happened. They ended up getting fired because the line to the owner and the owner's right hand guy, they tried to usurp Miller and maybe it's worked. Maybe that's why Miller left. I don't know Miller but maybe he left because they weren't listening to him any more. I don't know. Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Miller, Warren LeGarie, Arn Tellem, Agents 

Trail Blazers general manager Neil Olshey spoke with the media Monday about Larry Miller's resignation as team president and said he will conduct interviews for the vacant coaching post in Las Vegas during Summer League. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Summer League, Neil Olshey 

NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE) today announced that Larry Miller will rejoin Nike as President of the Jordan Brand. Miller will be responsible for driving the global growth strategy for all aspects of the Jordan Brand and will report directly to Trevor Edwards, Vice President Global Brand and Category Management for Nike. Miller replaces Keith Houlemard, who will now lead the company’s future worldwide Olympic efforts as General Manager where he will be responsible for driving category and brand management strategies supporting key sports marketing partnerships and business across the globe. Miller, 61, most recently served as President of the Portland Trail Blazers. From 1999 to 2006, Miller served as President of the Jordan Brand and prior to that position, he served as Vice President and General Manager of Nike Basketball, where he managed operations for Jordan, Nike Basketball and Converse. Nike

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Sneakers 

Miller's resignation doesn't come as a shock to those following the plot line. The hiring of Olshey, whose style isn't in any form compatible with Miller, was telling. I wrote a column before the Olshey hiring pointing out that Miller was pushing hard for former Pacers executive David Morway. When Miller lost that fight, he faded, and ultimately checked out, smack in the middle of free agency. For Blazers fans, Miller mostly is going to be remembered as the president who walked the 100-level concourse before games, shaking hands. He could be a pleasant guy, but he was a proponent of business before he was ever supporting basketball. The general managers who worked with Miller found him unwilling to fight on behalf of the on-court product. Olshey can only reach his potential if he's paired with a basketball-minded president who will say "Nope" in marketing and sponsorship meetings and put the focus back on the game. I say this knowing that my access to players for interviews might be more challenging under that philosophy. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

Larry Miller, the top executive of the Trail Blazers for the past five years, has resigned as president and will return to Nike. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

Miller, 61, had two years remaining on his contract with the Blazers, but he informed owner Paul Allen of his resignation on Friday. Miller we rejoin Nike later this summer as president of Brand Jordan, the same title he held from 1999 through 2006. “It felt like it is the right time, and the right thing for me,’’ Miller said Saturday morning. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

Jeff Zillgitt: In release from Blazers, Miller said: "We have an excellent general manager in place in Neil Olshey, so I feel the team is on solid ground." Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey 

Ben Golliver: Blazers president Larry Miller and Blazers COO Sarah Mensah were both against hiring GM Neil Olshey earlier in search process, sources say. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey, Sarah Mensah 

Ken Berger: Speculation had flourished in recent weeks that once Blazers hired Neil Olshey as GM, Larry Miller's days as team president were numbered. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey 

Ken Berger: Once hiring process had been taken out of Miller's hands, it was only a matter of time before he stepped down, sources say. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

Rick Bonnell: I'm told Miller played a behind-the-scenes role in Rich Cho joining #Bobcats, after Paul Allen abruptly fired Cho. Twitter

Charlotte Bobcats, Portland Trail Blazers, Michael Jordan, Paul Allen, Larry Miller, Rich Cho, Owners 

Ben Golliver: "I'm not sure what [Miller] hangs his hat on as he leaves," league source says. "They're worse on the court and Brandon cost a ****load." Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

Ben Golliver: Will never forget Larry Miller trying to crack jokes on 2010 Draft night after Kevin Pritchard was fired w/ shocked staff near tears. Brutal Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Pritchard, Larry Miller 

Cho won't say anything bad about the Blazers or owner Paul Allen, but he can't help but feel bitter. What began with such promise after a four-hour interview on a yacht in Helsinki ended with a phone call from President Larry Miller telling him it was over almost before it started, with little or no explanation. "It wasn't the right fit," Cho says. "I'm in a great place now." Portland Tribune

Charlotte Bobcats, Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Larry Miller, Rich Cho 

Blazers president Larry Miller on Neil Olshey hiring: "We spent a lot of time making sure we found the right person. I'm excited we've been able to do that with Neil Olshey. Neil comes to us with the Los Angeles Clippers where he's had the opportunity to build an incredible team down there.... Probably no one is more excited than I am. I've been tired of going through this process and getting hit with questions." Sulia

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey 

Chris Haynes: #Blazers pres Larry Miller says they're 100 percent confident that Neil Olshey is the right guy. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey 

Chris Haynes: Larry Miller says Chad Buchanan is still someone they would like to be part of this organization. Says Olshey has a lot of respect for him. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey, Chad Buchanan 

Chris Haynes: #Blazers pres Larry Miller says Neil Olshey knows Kaleb Canales & they have a relationship & that would probably be to Canales' advantage. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey, Kaleb Canales