In the 1 month A.K.( After Kevin), the Trailblazers have hired a new GM (former Oklahoma City assistant GM Rich Cho) and have added one player, swing man Wes Mathews (formerly of the Utah Jazz). Honestly, Can't complain about either move
Other then those things, we are hurting for anything to stir up news. Atleast untill Chris Paul vocalized his desire to get out of New Orleans again.
Quick back story: CP3 wants out of New Orleans. Duh. No one with 'once in a generation' talent wants to play their home games infront of a crowd of seven people. They also don't want to waste their talents on salvaging basketball casualties like Emecka Okeafor and Mo Peterson (especially when his knee's are on borrowed time already).
Kevin Pritchard, on a last ditched effort to save his job before the draft had a deal near completion that would've sent a number of Blazers to New Orleans in exchange for the player we DIDN'T draft in 2005 (we traded down in the draft so we could select Martell Webster, instead of selecting Deron Williams or Chris Paul. That was pre-Pritchard, obviously). The deal was seemingly done, untill New Orleans owner cock blocked the trade, deflecting KP's hailmary which lead to his dismisal.
Side Note: Now I don't think his inability to bring in CP3 is what got him fired. Obviously, Kevin pissed off some pretty important people-possibly even Paul Allen himself. Thats what got him fired. I think Allen probably went to him after the season and told him the only way to save his job was to land a big fish, aka Lebron or CP3. It didn't happen, and now he is gone. Moving on.
Now here we are, Chris Paul has informed the New Olreans Hornets that he would like to be traded. He understands that each player has an expiring clock, and he wants to play for a winner. He has basically said, 'If the you(the Hornets) are unable to build an acceptable contender around him, then you should trade me.' He has even gone as far as to providing a list of teams he wants to play for (the order varies depending on which source you are reading). The list includes: Dallas, Orland, LA, New York and Portland!
When I read this report, I'll admit, I didn't become un-glued with excitement like you would imagine I would. Why? Well because I didn't think there was a chance for him to actually be a Blazer. After all, that trade was already declined.
But then another rumor started floating around the Blazer based blogs and Portland talk radio. That rumor was this : Rich Cho became a candiate and ultimately was hired as the GM of the Portland Traiblazers due to the recommendation of William "World Wide Wes" Wesley. Oh? Well now that changes my opinion. I smell a conspiracy.
Who is World Wide Wes? William Wesley (or as some NBA players call him, "Uncle Wes") is a pretty powerful man within the NBA. What does he do? Who really knows. GQ magazine has him employed as a mortage broker. But he sure does get mentioned in a lot of trade rumors for a morgage broker. Here is what I do know: He is Dejuan Wagners God Father. He has known Lebron James since he was a teenager, is best friends with Leon Rose-Lebrons agent. He is rumored to have been an influence behind Derek Rose's commitment to Memphis (who was then coached by buddy John Calipari). Whatever it is that he does (make a good sandwhich, arrange to get off the market shoes for players, dispose of Hookers..) one thing is for sure, this man is a networking KING.
Why does this matter? Well one of Uncle Wes' favorite nephews goes by the name of Chris Paul. He is the guy who announced before the draft that "if you want Lebron, you trade for Chris Paul". Is it possible that Wes went to the Trailblazers with the knoweledge that they were interested in aquiring Chris Paul and said, "if you hire Rich Cho, we'll get Chris to your team"? If the stories I have read about Wes are true, yes, that is very possible.
His involvement makes more sense when you look at the other names Portland was interviewing for their vacant GM job. Names Danny Ferry, Randy Pfund, and Kiki Vandewegh were getting tossed around. These are guys who have held GM jobs in the past. While Rich Cho may have the right credentials TO BE a GM, it's not like his name makes the splash they were supposedly looking for.
If the conspiracy is true and he was behind the hiring, I don't think it had anything to do with KP's canning. If anything, this was done after the KP firing when Portland exposed their boner for Chris Paul to the world. And make no mistake, Portland has a GIANT boner for Chris Paul.
I think I speak for Blazer fans everywhere when I say: give me a lineup with Chris Paul and Brandon Roy. Let me see pick and rolls with Greg Oden that lead to moment swinging dunks. Let me see a 60 win team that expects to play in June. If this happens, if I get this team and it was all because of some closed doors back scratching and some secret handshakes. If all it took was a natural title promotion of an assistant GM from one of the best ran front offices in the NBA (Oklahoma City). If William Wesley gave us Rich Cho, and somehow we get CP3 too-well then I wouldn't give a shit if you could link Uncle Wes' to 2 pac's murder- the guy would qualify for saint hood in my book.
Rich Cho too.
Is this true? Like many of the better conspiracies in the NBA's history-we'll never know. But like the idea of CP3 and the Natural in the same line up, it's sure fun to think about.
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