HoopsHype.com Rumors

For months, Trail Blazers guard Wesley Matthews has lobbied for Kaleb Canales to become the team’s permanent head coach. But that possibility vanished Tuesday, when general manager Neil Olshey hired Dallas Mavericks assistant Terry Stotts instead. “Initially, I was a little shocked,” Matthews said. “I thought Kaleb was definitely going to get that job. But after talking to Neil and hearing his reasons, I’m excited. Coach Stotts brings championship experience and I think that’s huge. That’s somewhere we see ourselves in the near-near future.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey, Wesley Matthews, Kaleb Canales, Terry Stotts 

“He basically had the same reaction as me — shocked,” Matthews said of Aldridge’s reaction to Stotts’ hiring. “But we’re both on board and excited to get this thing rolling. We’ve got a GM in place, got a coach in place and we still have Kaleb on board with the team and organization. We’re ready to get this going.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey, Wesley Matthews, Kaleb Canales, Terry Stotts 

But it’s his most recent stop, with Dallas, that is generating the biggest buzz among Blazers players. Stotts was a key member of coach Rick Carlisle’s staff during the Mavericks’ run to the 2011 NBA Championship, which featured a first-round Western Conference playoff victory over the Blazers. “I’ve never formally met him, so I don’t know him,” second-year Blazers guard Nolan Smith said. “But I know he was on the World Championship team with the Mavericks. I know he knows what it takes to win.” Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey, Kaleb Canales, Nolan Smith, Terry Stotts 

Jason Quick: Blazers GM Neil Olshey says Kaleb Canales will remain on Blazers staff as an assistant coach Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey, Kaleb Canales 

Jason Quick: Blazers coaching candidates interviewed with Olshey, board of directors head Bert Kolde, COO Sarah Mensah and members of BB operations staff Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey, Bert Kolde, Sarah Mensah 

Jason Quick: Neil Olshey, thru team spokesperson: "We have completed the 2nd round of interviews and will move onto the next phase of our process once we have given due consideration to all four finalists.'' Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey 

Kerry Eggers: Look for Blazer coach finalists (Canales, Clifford, Stotts, Turner) to re-interview with Olshey/exec staff before 1 or 2 go b4 paul allen Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Paul Allen, Neil Olshey, Kaleb Canales, Elston Turner, Steve Clifford, Terry Stotts 

Jason Quick: "Brian and Neil spoke today and came to the mutual understanding that their job is not the best fit for Brian at this time,'' Stanley said. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Brian Shaw, Neil Olshey 

Chad Buchanan: In a best case scenario down the road, [Blazers GM] Neil [Olshey] has talked a lot about Chauncey Billups for Damian (Lillard). I think there are some similarities between those two guys and their temperament. Good pick and roll players. Not elite athletes but good enough athletes. Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Neil Olshey, Chad Buchanan, Chauncey Billups, Damian Lillard 

The Portland Trail Blazers have re-signed forward Nicolas Batum, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. Blazers Edge

Portland Trail Blazers, Neil Olshey, Nicolas Batum 

Jason Quick: Batum: "I trust Neil. I know he will get the best coach for us." Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey, Nicolas Batum 

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 

General manager Neil Olshey added veteran point guard Ronnie Price to the Trail Blazers' roster Wednesday, providing depth and experience in the team's back court. Rookie Damian Lillard is expected to be the Blazers' starting point guard and second-year player Nolan Smith the backup, so Olshey has been searching for a mentor to help accelerate the young players' learning curves. He decided Price, a 6-foot-2, seven-season veteran, was the ideal fit. "He's a totally different look than what Damian and Nolan bring to the table," Olshey said, "and I think he'll really complement those guys." Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Neil Olshey, Ronnie Price 

The Portland Trail Blazers have signed guard Ronnie Price, it was announced today by General Manager Neil Olshey NBA.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Neil Olshey, Ronnie Price 

"Ronnie gives us a different look in the backcourt and we feel he'll be a nice complement to the players we have in place," said Olshey. "He works out with Damian Lillard in the summer and has played with Wesley Matthews in Utah, so there is some built-in chemistry there that we like." NBA.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Neil Olshey, Ronnie Price 

Jason Quick: Blazers GM Neil Olshey said his coaching interviews will extend past Las Vegas because some candidates are with Basketball without Borders Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey 

Jason Quick: The three coaches with Basketball without Borders are Rolando Blackman (Dallas); Lloyd Pierce (Memphis) and James Borrego (New Orleans) Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Neil Olshey, Rolando Blackman, Lloyd Pierce, James Borrego 

Blazers GM Neil Olshey had an interesting spin on Nicolas Batum's comments about preferring Timberwolves: "Nic never said that. Let's be very clear. Nic made a couple of comments at the behest of the Minnesota Timberwolves and his agent. That was their agenda, it was never Nicolas's agenda. If I wasn't in constant contact with the kid, I wouldn't tell you that. I can tell you that Nicolas called me after those articles went out and said, 'They asked me to do this. They put me up to it. It's not me. I want to talk to you directly Neil. I don't want my agent to know or another team to know. I just want you and I to be on the same page.' He always wanted to be back in Portland. I think he would have liked to have done the deal straight up just like I would have. But he listened to his representative and that's his prerogative. His representative did a great job. He got him a hell of a deal. Now we move on. The Portland fanbase should in no way resent Nicolas Batum for this." Sulia

Minnesota Timberwolves, Portland Trail Blazers, Neil Olshey, Nicolas Batum 

Blazers GM Neil Olshey on signing UFA G Ronnie Price: ""We're going to sign a point guard later today. Just a minimum player that is going to flesh out our backcourt. We think he's going to be a nice addition... Ronnie Price. Ronnie's on his way to Portland, he's doing a physical today, hopefully everything goes well there. He'll join the backcourt. He's very close to Damian [Lillard]. They work out together in the summer. He and Wes [Matthews] played together. He's a totally different look than what Damian and Nolan [Smith] bring to the table and I think he'll really complement those guys." Sulia

Portland Trail Blazers, Neil Olshey, Ronnie Price 

Ben Golliver: Blazers are going to sign Ronnie Price according to Neil Olshey, perhaps as soon as today Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Free Agency, Neil Olshey, Ronnie Price