MJ, Get Rich Cho!?

[Plowright]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2011/5/23/2186197/rich-cho-fired-portland-trailblazers-general-manager

I love what Portland have done, would Cho be a good fit here in Charlotte?

[teej]

Portland is a fucking mess, man.

How did Paul Allen ever make money? He's horrible at running a business.

[mrtarheel]

Cho was only there for one year. The guy before him did all the willing and dealing forgot his name but I would prefer him over Cho

[Proudiddy]

Kevin Pritchard IIRC... Which they happened to fire right before the draft last year as well but allowed him to do the draft before he left. I don't get them man... They have one of the stingiest front offices in the NBA and always seem to make smart picks and moves, yet, they're always unhappy with their GMs.

[BlockParty]

I've been watching some of the http://www.nba.com/blazers/tbtv/#live stuff. It boiled down to Paul Allen didn't get along with Cho personally. Cho did fine in his job, decisions, employees, decisions, he just didn't have good chemistry with the Owner (who lives in Seattle)...WTF. Bone head.

If something happened to Higgins Cho would be an excellent choice-hard worker, methodical and willing to lean on MJ to make a decision after he and his staff has done all the background work.

[Proudiddy]

Yeah, too bad I don't see MJ getting out of his inner circle to upgrade our front office.

[Bobcat Matt]

MJ will not be getting rid of Higgins anytime soon...Why would it matter who the GM is anyways, MJ calls all the shots. What did Cho prove in the less than 1 year he had the job to say he'd be an excellent hire here?

[BlockParty]

What did Cho prove in the less than 1 year he had the job to say he'd be an excellent hire here?

I didn't say Higgins is going anywhere, or that he's doing a poor job. I said Cho would be an excellent choice here if something happened to Higgins. In Portland, he made adjustments to a playoff team that took significant blows to 2 of their top 3 prospects (Oden & Roy) and closed the GW trade that made Portland the toughest competition Dallas has seen so far in the Western Conference playoffs. Prior to Portland, he was the top Assistant GM in OKC.

Both OKC and Portland are small markets that must make better than average decisions in the draft and prudent trades that don't handcuff their team on trades. Finally Cho is the analytical type, shows up to work at 5 a.m., works his tail off, he would do the WORK and MJ would make the final call on decisions after being presented with all the information. My worry is, MJ would replace Higgins with another buddy, that may or may not put in the required time investigating all options (we all know MJ is not going to do that).

What other GM type candidate brings those same qualities to the table? especially the small market experience.

[Chef]

Both OKC and Portland are small markets that must make better than average decisions in the draft and prudent trades that don't handcuff their team on trades.


trading for wallace was a huge mistake long term salary wise as well as not trading (and being forced to extend) oden.

[BlockParty]

trading for wallace was a huge mistake long term salary wise as well as not trading (and being forced to extend) oden.

Probably, but both are things the billionaire owner wanted/demanded. They have corted GW for years and@it got done on Cho's watch, and it turned out better than expected.


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[Chef]

Probably, but both are things the billionaire owner wanted/demanded. They have corted GW for years and@it got done on Cho's watch, and it turned out better than expected.


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that is the thing i don't get. allen hasn't been cheap. for years he has been buying draft picks, cashing in assets and signing players to big contracts, the big problem is portland is so in love with "their" players that they don't trade any of them to get over the hump. i would fault the gm's for that. it is the same kind of thing that morey is doing in houston.

[BlockParty]

that is the thing i don't get. allen hasn't been cheap. for years he has been buying draft picks, cashing in assets and signing players to big contracts, the big problem is portland is so in love with "their" players that they don't trade any of them to get over the hump. i would fault the gm's for that. it is the same kind of thing that morey is doing in houston.

That was my impression too for many years. After GW's trade I've followed them pretty closely and they are an extremely close-knit group. Cho seemed to fit in really well, and most of his peers (internally) were dumbfounded by the move. Evidently Allen sees himself as a very knowledgeable basketball resource and has the finally decision on everything "big". Similar to MJ, the difference is, Allen has a nearly unlimited supply of cash and no experience in the locker room or on the court. MJ is strapped for cash (in millionaires terms) and has an abundance of experience in the locker room and on the court.

They did trade away Bayless last summer, for the draft pick we ultimately are using next month at #19. They are infatuated with Oden, apparently they have some regime he has to follow between now and June 30th, then they will extend the QO to him. The irony is, with Roy and Oden's knees, Cho could've been the fall guy next season if one of them has recurring problems (which is 50% or higher chance in my opinion). But with firing Pritchard on draft day last year, firing Cho during combines this year, the next hire at GM needs to have at least a 2-3 year tenure or they will be hard pressed to have anyone with experience take the position.

[BRNC]

This is a pretty good article on Cho and Portland from Hoopsworld....

http://www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=19886

There is a comment section below the article and I think Bill Ingram gives good insight on how/why this all went down:

"One Rich Cho got the job because he interviewed well and had a good basketball resume working for an up and comer in OKC.

The Blazers had just fired Kevin Pritchard who they felt was a little slimy and manipulative, and Cho is very straight forward and direct... at first they liked that about him.

As time went on, Cho was not nearly as savvy as they thought, there were a lot of things he did not know, and when Allen wanted answers on things he did not get good ones. I also think the way he communicated with people was a real problem.

Not just is being able to articulate a vision, but being able to explain to ownership what comes next.

Some of you mentioned Oden and Roy, the GM has to have a plan for that, you can't just say we'll lets see what happens... not at this level.

What has become clear in the last 24 hours is the Cho and Allen never saw eye -t eye, and that Allen had enough of Cho in how he communicated with him.

As for Allen should get out of the way... maybe, but most owners are hands on, that's why they own the team... most owners want to know whats going on, because they are shelling out dollars to fund it... a little unreasonable to say go sit in the owners box and get out of the way... that's how you get fired.

Good GM's manage the owners needs with the teams needs."

[BobCatsFanInTx]

Rod Higgins was riding high for what he did in Golden State when they beat the Mavericks in the first round but as of now it is too soon to tell if that was an aberration or not. If MJ will allow Higgins to be a bit more influential we can either credit him or blame him appropriately. As it stands right now it is hard to know who to blame or give credit to involving the draft, FA and trades. As of now it seems MJ is considered the main man in all decisions and he should take the blame if poor decisions come back to haunt the team and he should be praised if good decisions help the team. If Higgins is only a figurehead GM it is pretty sad.

[johnstonad]

I think Cho would be fit in that Charlotte. He has the skills for it. :D

[BRNC]

I'm not sure what Cho did to impress anyone...I'd rather give Rod this draft (as others have also indicated) and judge him from that...

[BlockParty]

I didn't say Higgins is going anywhere, or that he's doing a poor job. I said Cho would be an excellent choice here if something happened to Higgins. In Portland, he made adjustments to a playoff team that took significant blows to 2 of their top 3 prospects (Oden & Roy) and closed the GW trade that made Portland the toughest competition Dallas has seen so far in the Western Conference playoffs. Prior to Portland, he was the top Assistant GM in OKC.

Both OKC and Portland are small markets that must make better than average decisions in the draft and prudent trades that don't handcuff their team on trades. Finally Cho is the analytical type, shows up to work at 5 a.m., works his tail off, he would do the WORK and MJ would make the final call on decisions after being presented with all the information. My worry is, MJ would replace Higgins with another buddy, that may or may not put in the required time investigating all options (we all know MJ is not going to do that).

What other GM type candidate brings those same qualities to the table? especially the small market experience.

Hopefully this all comes into play, small market team, unique qualifications, somewhat meddling owner that is keen enough to listen to the data.

[ohara831]

Did not see it coming. But MJ did nto fire Higgins, he promoted him. But I like the hire of Cho. Shake things up a bit and get some young blood in here.

[BlockParty]

But MJ did nto fire Higgins, he promoted him.

Not sure how this ultimately pans out as far as Higgins' future. He is in a job now that doesn't exist with most other NBA teams, I think he's retaining his job because of MJ's loyalty/friendship to him. The last person in this role was Bickerstaff. At the same time, maybe it was Cho that required the title of GM (even if his role is not going to be exactly that). Every team has a GM, every team doesn't have a head of basketball operations (and those that exist have a wide range of responsibilities).

I'm just happy we have a numbers guy involved in the decision making process that is getting more and more complex, and very likely will be even more complex after the CBA is settled. All indications point toward the Cap decreasing or becoming a hard cap sooner, with a small market team, we absolutely have to make efficient and cost effective decisions that maximize our cap dollars and draft positions.

[Plowright]

Called it.... wayyyyy back :D

[SWedd523]

Wish granted