Post by finalfinally on Jan 10, 2008 14:33:13 GMT -5
Marc Stein: We're here today with the GM of the Portland Trailblazers, currently holding the best record in the entire league. First things first, what do you consider your biggest key to success?
Me: Well in the past year and a half, we've seen LeBron James traded twice, Kevin Durant traded, Kobe shipped out, KG on the move, and a lot of other stars switch teams. We got lucky to win the lottery and select Greg Oden, but I think one of the major keys has been keeping guys around.
Marc Stein: I agree, the idea of keeping your team together and being happy to go through the learning process really helped this team out. But then why trade your leading scorer and "veteran" of the team in Brandon Roy to Memphis?
Me: Well when Memphis got a new GM, we started just talking in general, not really looking to make any deals. But whenever the topic came to Roy, he said that he would be interested in possibly trading for him. I saw that we could have a major upgrade at SF in putting Gay there and we could get #9 pick Alex Harris to develop at SG, so I thought that it would be best to improve the overall team.
Marc Stein: And you were right about that, but the most important piece you added was probably the quietest, making the moves to get in a position to trade for TJ Ford, the man who controls the three-headed monster in Oden/Aldridge/Gay.
Me: Well first off, we traded for Shaun Livingston, moving Frye, Murray, and a 2nd round pick. Livingston is a talented young player with a ton of potential. From there, we talked to the Raptors GM and convinced him to take on two guys with a lot of potential in Livingston/Webster to get a very talented point guard in Ford.
Marc Stein: And earlier in the year, you said you'd be happy just to get out of the first round. Is that still the case even with the start you've had?
Me: With a team this young, I hate to put a lot of pressure on them. As a team, our starters are 20, 22, 22, 21, and 24. When your oldest starter is just 24 years old, you have quite a few years ahead of you to compete. So right now, we'll be happy with whatever happens, though I can say that any year you don't at least get to the Finals if you end up the #1 seed, it isn't what you go in expecting.
Marc Stein: So it sounds like you're expect to go to the Finals with this team?
Me: Well I would be a little disappointed if we don't with the run we've had, but the Western conference is strong, so as long as we have a good showing, I'm sure that I'll have more then enough to be happy about.
Marc Stein: Well that's about all the time we've got and I'm sure your a busy man, so thanks for the interview.
Me: Well in the past year and a half, we've seen LeBron James traded twice, Kevin Durant traded, Kobe shipped out, KG on the move, and a lot of other stars switch teams. We got lucky to win the lottery and select Greg Oden, but I think one of the major keys has been keeping guys around.
Marc Stein: I agree, the idea of keeping your team together and being happy to go through the learning process really helped this team out. But then why trade your leading scorer and "veteran" of the team in Brandon Roy to Memphis?
Me: Well when Memphis got a new GM, we started just talking in general, not really looking to make any deals. But whenever the topic came to Roy, he said that he would be interested in possibly trading for him. I saw that we could have a major upgrade at SF in putting Gay there and we could get #9 pick Alex Harris to develop at SG, so I thought that it would be best to improve the overall team.
Marc Stein: And you were right about that, but the most important piece you added was probably the quietest, making the moves to get in a position to trade for TJ Ford, the man who controls the three-headed monster in Oden/Aldridge/Gay.
Me: Well first off, we traded for Shaun Livingston, moving Frye, Murray, and a 2nd round pick. Livingston is a talented young player with a ton of potential. From there, we talked to the Raptors GM and convinced him to take on two guys with a lot of potential in Livingston/Webster to get a very talented point guard in Ford.
Marc Stein: And earlier in the year, you said you'd be happy just to get out of the first round. Is that still the case even with the start you've had?
Me: With a team this young, I hate to put a lot of pressure on them. As a team, our starters are 20, 22, 22, 21, and 24. When your oldest starter is just 24 years old, you have quite a few years ahead of you to compete. So right now, we'll be happy with whatever happens, though I can say that any year you don't at least get to the Finals if you end up the #1 seed, it isn't what you go in expecting.
Marc Stein: So it sounds like you're expect to go to the Finals with this team?
Me: Well I would be a little disappointed if we don't with the run we've had, but the Western conference is strong, so as long as we have a good showing, I'm sure that I'll have more then enough to be happy about.
Marc Stein: Well that's about all the time we've got and I'm sure your a busy man, so thanks for the interview.