HoopsHype.com Rumors

The nagging question that followed Pritchard out of Portland, where he was forced out by owner Paul Allen and his minions, was his personality. He rubbed a lot of people the wrong way. He was viewed as being too brash, too quick to grab the credit when things went well. He also made mistakes, reportedly complaining to people around the league about his relatively paltry salary. Indianapolis Star

Indiana Pacers, Kevin Pritchard, Paul Allen 

Pritchard has a great eye for talent, and is a hard-working person who you could find at the practice facility on Christmas Eve or the 4th of July. But what the Pacers also have is someone who has been humbled dramatically by the last few years sitting on the bench, watching from the sidelines. Remember, Paul Allen began looking for Pritchard's replacement while KP was still on the job. Ouch. Oregonian

Indiana Pacers, Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Pritchard, Paul Allen 

Joe Freeman: Unlike Damian Lillard, Drummond says he did not have dinner with #Blazers owner Paul Allen. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Draft, Paul Allen, Andre Drummond, Damian Lillard 

Joe Freeman: Drummond said he was scheduled to meet with Allen later today. Twitter

Draft, Paul Allen, Andre Drummond 

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 owner Paul Allen mocks the constant rumors that his team is for sale: "It's mysterious. There are these mysterious figures lurking in the background whispering things. Who are they?" Sulia

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Owners 

One of the least mentioned stories of the playoffs is the lame duck status of Thunder coach Scott Brooks. The assumption with that team is they’d tie him up after the season, like Dallas did with lame duck Rick Carlisle, and Brooks wouldn’t leave that talent. But new Portland GM Neil Olshey is a huge fan of Brooks’, and you wonder if the holdup in hiring a new coach in Portland is that he is waiting to see if Paul Allen’s money could sway Brooks NBA.com

Oklahoma City Thunder, Portland Trail Blazers, Coaching, Paul Allen, Neil Olshey, Scott Brooks 

Chris Haynes: Neil Olshey says he told Paul Allen if he offered him a fair offer, he wouldn't pursue a counter from the Clippers and that's what happened. Twitter

Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Neil Olshey 

Olshey said he is “open to anything” in terms of retaining members of the current Blazer management staff, including Buchanan (director of college scouting), Mike Born (director of NBA scouting) and assistant GMs Bill Branch and Steve Rosenberry. Olshey is scheduled to leave on a Wednesday morning flight to Chicago to join the others at the pre-draft camp there. “They are all really good guys,” Olshey said. “All I said to them was, ‘We’re working together. Don’t make this seem like an audition process, like you’re being evaluated. Create work product, share in the vision we’re trying to establish and all those other things will take care of themselves.’ Portland Tribune

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Neil Olshey, Chad Buchanan 

Mike Tokito: Olshey said he and Paul Allen discussed previous GM situations with Blazers. Said he justed wanted to make sure hiring him right for both. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Neil Olshey, Owners 

Paul Allen: Glad to tell @pdxtrailblazers fans Neil Olshey is our new GM! He has turned around a franchise & will get right to work http://tiny.cc/ehmefw Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Neil Olshey, Owners 

Paul Allen’s mother Faye Allen, a former Seattle schoolteacher who had a lifetime love of learning and a commitment to public libraries and public education, died Saturday at 90. Seattle Times

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Owners 

A person close to the situation says Trail Blazers' owner, Paul Allen, is concerned with Morway's character and finds that he reminds him of a “Kevin Pritchard 2.0” and DiLeo's lack of experience being in charge “is worrisome.” CSNNW.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Kevin Pritchard, Paul Allen, David Morway 

Olshey, the Clippers’ vice president of basketball operations, is one of three candidates known to have interviewed with owner Paul Allen for Portland’s GM position. Allen tweeted Wednesday that he has interviewed four candidates. Oregonian

Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey 

Chris Haynes: #Blazers president Larry Miller says owner Paul Allen interviewed 3 GM candidates out of the country & 1 in the states. There is 4 finalist. Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Larry Miller 

It's become evident in the past 24 hours there's considerable division among the lieutenants who advise Blazers owner Paul Allen. And maybe this happens at other places, but it appears that the fracture may have caused this search to take a step sideways and now the only good move for the Blazers is to promote interim GM Chad Buchanan and call it a year. Oregonian

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Chad Buchanan 

Everyone picks a favorite horse in a race, and so it seems the same thing has happened in this Blazers search. David Morway, the general manager of the Indiana Pacers, is believed by many to be the favored candidate of Blazers president Larry Miller. Meanwhile, if you believe insiders, Allen confidante Bert Kolde is pushing for Los Angeles Clippers general manager Neil Olshey. Oregonian

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey, David Morway, Bert Kolde 

Trouble is, Olshey is a client of agent Warren LeGarie. Remember, LeGarie also represented former Blazers GMs John Nash and Kevin Pritchard as well as ex-assistant general manager Tom Penn. You'd think Allen wouldn't want to eat at that restaurant again. Oregonian

Los Angeles Clippers, Portland Trail Blazers, Tom Penn, Kevin Pritchard, Paul Allen, Neil Olshey, John Nash 

But one source close to the situation said to not dismiss the idea that interim GM Chad Buchanan could remain in charge, especially if Blazers owner Paul Allen loses his preferred replacement to Orlando. Buchanan has done good work since taking over for the fired Cho more than a year ago (aside from drafting Nolan Smith at No. 21 last year when Denver's Kenneth Faried was still available), and appears to be in Allen's good graces. I'm hearing this search could conclude next week, if not sooner. SI.com

Portland Trail Blazers, Paul Allen, Chad Buchanan 

David Morway, the general manager of the Indiana Pacers, is believed by many to be the favored candidate of Blazers president Larry Miller. Meanwhile, if you believe insiders, Allen confidante Bert Kolde is pushing for Los Angeles Clippers general manager Neil Olshey. Trouble is, Olshey is a client of agent Warren LeGarie. Remember, LeGarie also represented former Blazers GMs John Nash and Kevin Pritchard as well as ex-assistant general manager Tom Penn. You'd think Allen wouldn't want to eat at that restaurant again. Also involved is former New Orleans general manager Jeff Bower. And I was told by someone close to the search that Allen had taken a sudden interest in Philadelphia 76ers senior vice president Tony DiLeo. Perhaps because Allen likes DiLeo, but maybe, too, because nobody in his inner circle seems to agree on the other candidates. Oregonian

Indiana Pacers, Los Angeles Clippers, New Orleans Hornets, Philadelphia 76ers, Portland Trail Blazers, Tom Penn, Paul Allen, Larry Miller, Neil Olshey, Jeff Bower, David Morway