Ok, I know no one thinks we have a shot at deron but remember that la and him are childhood friends and they are only one year apart in age. Also take a look at teams with serious cap room and we come out looking really good (and most of the teams that have serious cap room already have pg's. Also Carlisle coached in Portland as an assistant and we have the richest owner in sports who could make a splash by signing him to a very lucrative contract. Probably wishful thinking for Deron and Carlisle but There are a few connections that don't make it a total pipe dream.

A Portland Trail Blazers spokesperson issued the following statement from president Larry Miller in response to a recentGrantland.comstory that featured大量的注释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." ------------------------------Joe FreemanofThe Oregonianalsotweeted reaction从奥登的经纪人迈克康利。------------------------------ Conley said Oden and Blazers didn't always agree, just as anyone in a "five-year relationship" would. But he defended the medical staff. "I felt they had his best interests at heart and I know Greg had a great relationship with Jay Jensen." ------------------------------ -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter

Steve Kerr writes long defense of NBA age requirement in Grantland, makes argument it should be raised to 20. Deadspin does real journalism (which they actually do on occassion) and refutes. Wanted to post this because it's a topic we had touched on in recent threads.

On Tuesday, we notedthat former Portland Trail Blazers guard Brandon Roy discussed the possibility of an NBA comeback at an event in Seattle. Here'sextended videoof his interview with Seattle media viaKING5 TV．-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter

Jason McIntyreofTheBigLead.comhas the Portland Trail Blazers selecting Duke guard Austin Rivers and Ohio State forward Jared Sullinger inhis first 2012 NBA Mock Draft．---------------------------------- 6。波特兰,Austin Rivers, G, Duke. Do they trade down for a point guard or reach for one? A Rivers/Matthews/Batum trio can score and defend. 11. Portland – Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State. I think he could be like DeJuan Blair or maybe Corliss Williamson – solid contributor in the NBA for a long time. Could back up Aldridge, or start alongside him if they can’t get a center. ---------------------------------- -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter

Back in March, we notedthatMark Titus, a former player on the Ohio State University men's basketball team, had written a book that included an extended discussion of his friendship with former Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden, which dates back to AAU basketball. Titus hasconducted a must-read, feature-length interviewwith Oden forGrantland.com．------------------------- "You're a fun-loving guy with a ton of personality," I said. "So why do you hate it so much when people approach you in public? Why don't you let your personality shine through and smile when you take pictures with fans?" "Because I don't understand why they are so excited to meet me," Greg responded. "I'm just a person. I guess I didn't really mind it when I was at Ohio State and even right after I was drafted, but it just seems so fake now. Like, why are you bothering me at dinner for a picture when I'm nothing now?" ... "For starters, Portland isn't a great city to live in if you're a young, African American male with a lot of money," Greg explained with an embarrassed grin. "But that's especially true if you don't have anybody to guide you. Since I was hurt the entire season, I was on my own a bunch and didn't have veteran teammates around to help me adapt to the NBA lifestyle." ... "If you know anything about guys in the Air Force," Greg explained, "it's that they drink a ton. My cousin got wrapped up in the NBA lifestyle and threw parties at my house all the time. So I got wrapped up in it too. When I played well, I'd drink to celebrate. And when I played poorly, I'd drink to forget. That second year in Portland I pretty much became an alcoholic." ... Dealing with another season-ending injury and now nude pictures circulating on the Internet, Greg sought out sports psychologist Joseph Carr. In the spring of 2010, Greg began seeing Carr regularly, and he paid for their sessions with his own money. Months later, when the season started, the Blazers also hired Carr, who started showing up at games and practices. Greg said he saw Carr talking to Blazers front office personnel on several occasions. This seemed like a conflict of interest, Greg said, and he couldn't shake the suspicion that Carr was sharing details from their sessions with the team. In response, Greg stopped meeting with Carr and his distrust of the Blazers deepened. ------------------------- Oden was released by the Blazers in March and is currently rehabilitating from microfracture knee surgery. Titus writes that Oden's plan is to sit out for the 2012-2013 season and resume his career after that. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter

Sam AmickofSI.com reportsthat the GM candidate interviewed by Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen was former New Orleans Hornets executive Jeff Bower. ------------------------ Source says the mystery man who interviewed with Portland owner Paul Allen in Portland last week was former New Orleans GM Jeff Bower. Also on the Portland GM front, source says Indiana executive David Morway is meeting with the Blazers [Wednesday] in Indiana. ------------------------ Bower was one of the names considered for the GM positionback in October 2011．-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter

Portland Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen has penneda lengthy open letter to fansthat has been posted onBlazers.com．In the letter, Allen offers his thoughts on the season, thanks former coach Nate McMillan, discusses his current leadership role and provides the following update on the team's GM search. ---------------------------- We are now talking with viable candidates and I have already done my first interview. We're moving forward thoughtfully because we must ensure we have the right fit. Ideally, we'd like to have someone in place before the draft and before we decide on a permanent coach, but finding the right executive may take time. What is the right fit? First and foremost, the GM has to have what I refer to as the"golden gut." The job requires more than an ability to assess basketball talent. It's also about weighing the intangibles, from character to medical issues, and all the risks involved. Almost every NBA draftee, for example, has some injury history. (And those medical histories are carefully reviewed by our topnotch medical team.) The GM has to be a good fit with the players, coaches, management, and the Portland community. Of course, I'll also be evaluating how the GM will interact with me, as I'm an engaged and active owner and I ask a lot of questions. It's important for me to clearly understand all the facets of what we're thinking of doing, both on and off the court. At the same time, I believe personnel decisions should come to me as recommendations from the GM and the president. Certainly there are times I've pushed hard in the draft room or free agency, as I did in recent years for LaMarcus, Wesley Matthews, Joel Freeland, Sergio Rodriquez, Armon Johnson and Patty Mills. But with very few exceptions, I expect the team's executives to make the final calls. ---------------------------- Other choice Allen quotes... -- "This was one of the most disappointing years I've had in my 24 seasons as owner of the Portland Trail Blazers." -- "The best thing I can say about this season was at least it was short." --- "One thing we are not going to do is to spend money like there is no tomorrow, and calls to do so just don't make sense. I've tried that path before -- it doesn't work and is not sustainable. We will follow a judicious and sustainable path going forward." -- "The team is not for sale. I'm working hard to get this team back on track. No offers have been made to buy the team and none have been solicited." -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com |Twitter

Kid takes tips from LMA on help defense