HoopsHype.com Rumors

Blazers president Larry Miller on Nicolas Batum's contract extension talks: "[Restricted free agency] will help determine the market value for us. The good thing is that we have the option to match any offer made to Nic. That will kind of help us determine his market value. It's tough. Agents and players have one perspective, teams have another perspective. Generally you can come to a point of agreement and I think we'll be able to do that in this case." Quote via: 750 AM Sulia

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Larry Miller, Nicolas Batum 

Ben Golliver: Larry Miller: J.J. Hickson "used to kill" Blazers when he played for CLE. He averaged 5.4 points & 3.2 rebounds in 5 games for CLE vs. POR Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

Blazers president Larry Miller continues to hedge on whether a new GM will be in place by 2012 NBA Draft: "I still say, even if we don't have someone in place by the time we draft -- which that is our goal -- with [Acting GM] Chad [Buchanan] and his team out there, we're going to be in a good situation for how to address the Draft." Sulia

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

The Blazers have identified two or three more candidates they hope to interview for the GM position. “We’ve had a couple of candidates in front of Paul, and the goal is to get a couple of more in front of him in the near future — hopefully in the next couple of weeks,” Miller says. “At that point, there’s a pretty good chance we will be ready to have someone named.” Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

One source says the Blazers are putting their GM candidates through a written psychological test — not an exam like the Wonderlic Test for NFL draft prospects, but one to establish leadership qualities. “I’ll just say it’s pretty extensive,” Miller says. “We try to do as much due diligence as possible.” Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

Jason Quick: For what it is worth: Blazers president Larry Miller, 61, said he is under contract through the end of the 2013-2014 season (two more years) Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

Jason Quick: Blazers have not interviewed any coaching candidates as of yet because ideally they want the new GM to conduct his own search Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Larry Miller 

The general manager search continues for the Portland Trail Blazers as owner Paul Allen recently interviewed two GM candidates – former New Orleans Hornets GM Jeff Bower and current Indiana Pacers GM David Morway. Trail Blazers' president, Larry Miller, says they're not done conducting interviews and the plan is to have at least three candidates sit down with Allen before it's all said and done. “We'll keep interviewing,” Miller told CSNNW.com. CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Larry Miller, Jeff Bower, David Morway 

A Portland Trail Blazers spokesperson issued the following statement from president Larry Miller to a recent Grantland.com story that featured extensive comments from former Blazers center Greg Oden. "It’s easy to second guess all that factors into Greg Oden's career, but one thing we're certain of is that we took great care of Greg and always put his health and well being first. We were exceedingly patient and cautious with his return to the court in order that he would ultimately become the player we all dreamed he could be. "Unfortunately, things didn't turn out the way anyone would have liked., but we all have to turn the page now and move on. "We love Greg and always will. He's an outstanding young man and we wish him nothing but the best for the future." Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Injuries, Greg Oden 

Adrian Wojnarowski: "There's a lot of guys capable of doing the job and doing it well. There's more than one out there. They just need to pick one. They just need to hire one. This has gone on for a long time. They've had a lot rejection, quietly, a lot of rejection. "They checked in with a few standing GMs in the league. I think the feeling among GMs everywhere - on the surface, it's an attractive job. Resources, unbelievable fanbase, history, an owner who is willing to spend historically. All of those things. The ownership situation - people aren't sure about it. Is [Paul Allen] going to keep the team? Is he going to sell it? And then obviously, the layers of bureaucracy in being the GM there. Whether it's dealing with the people in Seattle, whether it's the role [president] Larry Miller is going to have. Paul Allen obviously. Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Larry Miller 

So they settle for a No. 2 guy? Adrian Wojnarowski: "Yeah, that's who I think it will end up being. An assistant GM, a number two guy somewhere. "It was reported out there about David Morway from Indiana. He's very good. I think Indiana - that's a good model for a lot of teams. The way they built that Pacers team, through the draft, some smart trades. That Pacers group, when you look where those guys were picked - I can't give Indiana enough credit. When you're picking in that 10-11 to 17-18 range, you don't get many impact players, and they have. They've put together a good group, a playoff team, drafting not in great spots. From Roy Hibbert to Danny Granger to Tyler Hansbrough, the George Hill trade was tremendous. I think David Morway would be a good GM for Portland. For me, it's how much more rejection are they willing to take publicly? Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Larry Miller 

Jason Quick: Miller confirms that some teams have denied Blazers permission to speak with their employees Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

The Trail Blazers' general manager position has been vacant nearly a year now, dating back to the unexpected firing of Rich Cho, who's now in Charlotte. But sources close to the situation told SI.com that the search for a new GM is likely to heat up soon, and it presents as good an excuse as any to take a break from the playoff action and analyze a number of front office situations around the league. SI.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

The Portland Trail Blazers have requested permission to speak with Indiana Pacers' General Manager, David Morway, about their open GM vacancy and consent was granted according to a source close to the situation. Morway – who has been with the Pacers for 12 years – and Trail Blazers' President Larry Miller are expected to meet in the next week or so. CSNNW.com

Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, David Morway 

Despite the rash of injuries suffered by Blazer players in recent years, Miller says there are no plans for an independent audit of the club’s medical staff. “I’m not saying we won’t,” he says, “but we don’t have any definite plans at this point.” Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Injuries, Greg Oden 

The Blazers should. If an audit should prove favorable to the medical staffers, it would clear them of any blame for the higher-than-average number of injuries to their players. That could be important not only to the fan base but also to prospective free agents, who might wonder about the team’s track record of late. “I agree with that,” Miller responds. “But if you look at serious injuries, you’re talking about Brandon (Roy), who had knee issues coming in, and Greg (Oden). I don’t know if there’s anything we could have done differently. The others have all been things that happened through the course of an NBA season. That has happened with a number of teams. Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Injuries, Greg Oden 

Blazers president Larry Miller met with TNT analyst Steve Kerr in San Diego on Saturday, but nothing came out of the meeting in regards to the team's general manager job, Kerr's agent Mark Bartelstein told HoopsHype. "The media guys in Portland are getting ahead of themselves with this story," Bartelstein said. "Steve (Kerr) has a good relationship with Larry Miller and met with him, but nothing specific was addressed and no offer was made. Steve is very happy with his job at TNT and his life right now, being able to be around his children and spending time with his family. A unique set of circumstances would have to happen for Steve to give up on that. He's not actively looking for anything." HoopsHype

Portland Trail Blazers, Steve Kerr, Larry Miller, Mark Bartelstein 

President Larry Miller's search for a new general manager is underway and a roster shakeup will follow. The new GM will have the biggest say in the coaching hire, but Miller says Canales will, at the very least, be considered for the permanent job. "I think he's done a good job so far," Miller said. "He's got the guys playing hard every night out there. Obviously, from a talent perspective, we are a little short. But the job that he's done as a coach has been really good. The guys have been supportive of him. In fact, a number of them have come to me and talked about how much they appreciate the job he's doing and have lobbied for him to get the job full-time." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller 

So interim general manager Chad Buchanan sat Batum down before the team's game at Sacramento last Sunday, told Batum he respected the way he was trying to finish the season and urged him to listen to his body and avoid doing anything reckless that might cause serious damage. "Then he looked at me and said, 'I want to play for Kaleb,'" Buchanan said. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Chad Buchanan 

He continues to work out players during pregame shootarounds, something virtually no NBA head coach does. He continues to sleep most nights at the practice facility in Tualatin, admitting that he has crashed in his own bed just three nights since becoming coach. And he continues to bounce around NBA arenas and practice courts buzzing with energy, high-fiving and fist-bumping everyone in sight. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Larry Miller, Chad Buchanan