Joe Freeman: Neil Olshey said he spoke with Paul Allen last night and the Blazers’ owner said he was happy with the regular season “and the way we competed.” Allen’s message: “Find a way to get better.”
Owners Rumors
Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and president of basketball operations Stan Van Gundy have set a meeting for next week to discuss Van Gundy’s future with the franchise, league sources told ESPN. The two had initially planned to sit down late this week, but the meeting was pushed back, leaving the Pistons organization to await word on how, if at all, the franchise’s structure could be altered.
Most of Van Gundy’s front-office staff, including general manager Jeff Bower, are in the final year of their contracts and are operating without clarity on whether they’ll be employed beyond the spring.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and President/Coach Stan Van Gundy will meet next week to discuss Van Gundy’s future, league sources tell ESPN. Van Gundy has one year left on his contract. There had been an initial plan to meet late this week.
Dolan, of course, was referring to Kristaps Porzingis, the 22-year-old wonder child who sustained a torn left ACL on Feb. 6 that ended his season, and whose recovery from surgery will sideline him for an indefinite period of time. “I’ve been told everything from December to him being out for the season, so I don’t know what to expect on that,” Dolan said. “But we can’t just sit on our ass while he’s away. We need to develop a team and then integrate him into it when he comes back.”
Dolan said he is searching for a coach who will be able to manage his assistants and attendant organizational functions while also being able to delegate authority. “The old-style coaching doesn’t work,” Dolan said. “A coach who tries to do everything himself isn’t going to be successful. “The coaching search for the Knicks is similar in a lot of ways to the Rangers. I think the teams are in similar spots. We’re looking for people to develop players and to create a winning team. We have our lists of candidates, but the lists are still open.”
