Exit Interviews

by Ben Golliver on Apr 20, 2008 1:22 PM PDT

Let me point you to this article by Kerry Eggers at the Tribune, which sheds some light on the end-of-the-year exit interviews that the team goes through. The article features the following priceless line...

“I’ve had guys in the past who didn’t even show up,” [McMillan] says. “That sends you a message right there.”

Wow... just... wow. Can anyone picture a player on this roster blowing off an exit interview?

This year's exit interviews were probably unlike any Nate can remember. I picture somebody like Channing Frye bringing in pencil and paper, taking meticulous notes so that the team realizes he wants to stick around here in Portland. I picture Travis Outlaw giggly as he reviews the progess he's made this year. I picture Brandon and Coach sitting at a table, scratching each other's heads, trying to figure out how they managed to pull all of this off without Oden.

Eggers also has this one-liner, "McMillan enjoys a good relationship with all of his players and never expects any adversarial discussions, but you never know."

With that said, in your imagination, who do you think had the most contententious exit interview? Jack, with that ejection in Phoenix still fresh in his coach's mind? Wafer, with an impending departure from the team lurking around the dark corners of the players' parking garage? LaFrentz, because of all the zeroes on his checks? McRoberts, for the questionable facial hair?

Put another way: which Blazer would you least like to be walking into an exit interview with Coach McMillan and Kevin Pritchard?

-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)

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"But I’m very happy with the roster we have right now."

Me too Kevin, me too.

by Sabonis4Ever on Apr 20, 2008 1:36 PM PDT reply actions

A few guesses...

Since it was Nate’s quote, my guess of the players who didn’t show up to their exit interviews during the Nate years:

- Brian Skinner (various reports that he was distant from the team during his run)
- Jamaal Magloire (End of contract, knew he wasn’t coming back, and disliked how he was used)
- Theo Ratliff (also rumored as distant)
- Darius Miles (just seems like a reasonable guess, though he might surprise me)

Adversarial exit interviews this season:

- None.

Seriously! Every report from the Blazers this season seemed to indicate that management was open to their players on what they did and didn’t expect out of them.

A good performance review provides few surprises, because the employee already knew expectations walking in.

If I absolutely had to pick contentious exit interviews, it’s these two:

- Von Wafer (might be frustrated at being traded just to receive no playing time)
- Sergio Rodriguez (He’d likely privately complain about his lessened role, and the feeling that Jack made similar mistakes but wasn’t punished as heavily)

That being said, I’d expect that the coach had already discussed these things with them before, so there was likely little tension. I suspect these were Nate’s most pleasant set of exit interviews of his career, except maybe the Sonic playoff team.

by Timmay! on Apr 20, 2008 2:46 PM PDT reply actions

Timmay !!

With two m’s!

You have nailed it, Bud.

honkaplayboys.com

by BlueBooYay on Apr 20, 2008 4:17 PM PDT up reply actions

Rather than "Exit Interviews"

I’d rather be doin’ “Game Day Threads” !!!!

"Lenny Suckerpunch Never bet on me" - Elizabeth "The Lizzard" Lowblow

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 20, 2008 5:03 PM PDT up reply actions

I don't think Von Wafer Interviewed

On Thursday, Trail Blazer coach Nate McMillan and General Manager Kevin Pritchard held a team meeting, then went through individual exit interviews with each of the 13 players.

I count 14 guys on the roster, not including Darius and the article says GO interviewed.

Tyler Hansbrough - Deep in the jeans he's wearing - I'm hooked and I can't stop staring.

by tominhawaii on Apr 21, 2008 9:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Two words:

Sergio.

Rodriguez.

That being said, it would be great for Nate if that was the toughest one. It would be pretty easy for him to say, “Listen Serg – your boy Rudy is coming over, don’t worry. Next year is your time to shine.” Especially if JJ1 gets traded, as all the fans are expecting.

Trade Freeland!

by rockingharder on Apr 20, 2008 3:00 PM PDT reply actions

Seems like there's been a lot of Blazers-going-to-Spain-to-see-Rudy lately.

Now that the season’s over, will there be more such visits, except with Sergio in tow?
I mean, it would be nice if Nate, Pritchard, Sergio, Rudy, and maybe even Paul Allen got together for a week or so in Spain.
Do some solid off-season talking, players AND front-office people, and maybe even run some plays.
Seems like continuing the observation/contact but folding Sergio into the process would be the obvious Thing To Do.

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on Apr 20, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions

Ahh--here we go. From the Eggers article:

• Pritchard and members of his management and scouting staff leave next week for 10 days in Europe scouting talent. One of the missions will be to secure the signing of last year’s first-round draft acquisition, guard Rudy Fernandez of Spain.

There. Sergio should be in on the Spanish part of that trip.

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on Apr 20, 2008 5:08 PM PDT up reply actions

I believe KP has said

That Coach Nate would accompany them to Spain to talk with Rudy. Perhaps Sergio would hitch a ride in PA’s big jet going home? Somehow I suspect Brandon would be the player I’d think they might include if any but probably not any.

Aldridge said. "We feel like we can beat any team. We feel like we can beat the Spurs, Suns, Lakers, Mavericks, whoever any night right now, and we'll still be here when those teams get old and their guys retire. We're going to be here for a long time."

by lee3022 on Apr 20, 2008 5:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Does Darius Miles get an exit interview?

Either now, at season’s end, as part of the exit-interview-all-the-players process, or at the tie of being waived just a week or two ago.

If so, then yeah: I believe we have an answer to your question.
Absent that, the hardest exit interview would be Brandon Roy.
I mean, what the #%$! do you TALK about?!? What is there to say? Welcome to The Land Of The Awkward Silence!

Blazers have a five-on-three...and they pull it back and wait for help.

by QualityPie on Apr 20, 2008 3:29 PM PDT reply actions

QP

Why not?

Go with a TOTALLY BLACK ICON

Instead of what appears to be a close up snap shot of Johny Cash’s suit.

Just wonderin’

honkaplayboys.com

by BlueBooYay on Apr 20, 2008 4:28 PM PDT up reply actions

I wonder...

Is swearing allowed on our icons if it is really small?

Joel Freeland=Stud

by hightide on Apr 20, 2008 5:04 PM PDT up reply actions

I have seen it

And find pleasure in it’s subtle nastiness. hehe

"Lenny Suckerpunch Never bet on me" - Elizabeth "The Lizzard" Lowblow

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 20, 2008 5:05 PM PDT up reply actions

Thanks

I didn’t mean to do it, it just kind-of happened. This could be a fun game to play with Dave, un-appropriate aviators!

Joel Freeland=Stud

by hightide on Apr 20, 2008 5:20 PM PDT up reply actions

BTW

Its hard to tell since half of the picture got cropped, but it’s supposed to be a catfish in space.

Joel Freeland=Stud

by hightide on Apr 20, 2008 6:00 PM PDT up reply actions

That explains

a lot of UFO sightings

"Lenny Suckerpunch Never bet on me" - Elizabeth "The Lizzard" Lowblow

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 20, 2008 8:09 PM PDT up reply actions

i think

that site rules apply to avatars too.

maybe shoot Dave an email about it?

"Honor Terry Porter." Email me with your TP stories and memories.

by Ben Golliver on Apr 20, 2008 6:31 PM PDT up reply actions

How about

you like Dave find out for himself… like hide and go seek.

Joel Freeland=Stud

by hightide on Apr 20, 2008 7:13 PM PDT up reply actions

Yeah, that's the one

Well done & Best O’ Luck there Buddy.

"Lenny Suckerpunch Never bet on me" - Elizabeth "The Lizzard" Lowblow

by Lizzy Lowblow on Apr 20, 2008 5:28 PM PDT reply actions

huh?

“

I picture Brandon and Coach sitting at a table, scratching each other’s heads, trying to figure out how they managed to pull all of this off without Oden.”

Scary imagination you got there Ben,..

Blazer's fan since '84, Currently exiled in Tennessee and North Carolina

by HurraKane212 on Apr 20, 2008 6:32 PM PDT reply actions