Breaking: Tom Penn is Staying in Portland; Children Rejoice
by Ben Golliver on May 18, 2009 11:10 AM PDT
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PrintRic Bucher is reporting on ESPN.com that, contrary to earlier reports, Tom Penn will be staying with the Portland Trail Blazers. You have my permission to leave work early and dance naked in the streets. Just please no stanky leg.
Portland Trail Blazers assistant general manager Tom Penn on Monday took his name out of the running for the position after receiving a promotion from the Blazers.
...
"It was a real tough call on his part," Warren LeGarie, Penn's agent, told ESPN The Magazine's Ric Bucher, "but he's found a home in Portland and a niche within the organization where he thought there was more to contribute to an eventual championship. The friendships and relationships there were a siren call to return."
The offer of a new contract and a still-to-be-specified elevated position -- possibly vice president of basketball operations -- also factored into Penn's decision to stay with the Blazers, Bucher reports.
Great freaking news. For Blazers fans.
Oh, yeah, Dwight Jaynes nailed this.
UPDATE: Jerry Zgoda, the Minny beat writer who reported that Penn was "signed, sealed and delivered" as recently as yesterday just wrote...
Sounds like the Wolves just got played by Penn for a new contract, more money and a new title from kajillionaire owner Paul Allen and the Blazers.
Yeah, pretty much. Thanks to T Wolves Blog for the link.
And be sure to head over to Canis Hoopus to judge their reaction.
Full Court Press coming this afternoon.
-- Ben (benjamin.golliver@gmail.com)
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you could still get his old job
penn got promoted leaving the door open for you!
"Howard, he know me" Rudy
by phillyduck23 on May 18, 2009 11:23 AM PDT up reply actions
i volunteered you earlier...
in the original post. I would still send your stuff to Penn.. maybe..
as long as you promise to keep posting here
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 18, 2009 11:30 AM PDT up reply actions
And that's why, Minnesota Timberwolves
you don’t count your chickens before they sign the contract.
1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21... I know...
"'Five Dollar Foot-long' is one of the best songs. That's a hot song. You've got the FreeCreditReport.com, and then 'Five Dollar Foot-long' comes on. When 'Five Dollar Foot-long' comes on, they should play that in the club. They should play all those in the club."
~ Ron Artest (link: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090515)
by FibonacciSequence on May 18, 2009 11:14 AM PDT reply actions
But, yes
This is great news for the Blazers. And settles any worries about Tom taking any of Portland’s player analysis tools to their division rival.
I say anyone in the division is a rival
Lay waste to them all, Trail Blazers! Send their men fleeing to the hills, and leave nothing but the lingering cries and lamentations of their women and children to be whipped from the battlefield on the winds of victory!
YAAAAAHHHH!!!!!!
I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
by haildablazer on May 18, 2009 12:48 PM PDT up reply actions
Fantastic news!
This has to be a much better situation for him, especially with added responsibilities and a raise.
P.S. Ben — love the picture. It reminds me of FreeDarko.
Nothing like getting wined and dined and chased a little.
It probably felt good to have somebody chase him, and then use that as a little bit of leverage with PA to get a sweet raise and a change in title.
I’m glad he’s sticking around.
by nikolokolus on May 18, 2009 11:19 AM PDT reply actions 1 recs
It is perhaps the best method to get a raise or promotion.
If your employer truly values your contributions, the knowledge that you could leave for another job is one of the best ways to send a wakeup call. It is not “playing” the other employer, or your own. As most states are “at will” employment environments, we all are basically free agents in the job market.
hakkaa päälle !
Thanks for staying Tommy!
Now bring us that title!
by GreatOden'sRaven on May 18, 2009 11:31 AM PDT reply actions
it was a
pennpwning
"Howard, he know me" Rudy
by phillyduck23 on May 18, 2009 1:14 PM PDT up reply actions
Do not agree at all.
Penn is a free agent. Minnesota targeted him, made him an offer and apparently Portland said “We understand if you decide to take the position, but we really value you here and we will prove it.”
The only point that I think can safely be taken from this is that Portland really values what Tom Penn brings to the table.
hakkaa päälle !
Reportedly they wanted to present him as their man tomorrow before the lottery
Reading reactions from Minny fans, it sure feels like a slap in the face that he pulled out so briefly before the good news.
Best news I've heard all day!
Granted I have only been up for like an hour and a half but still, it’s the best.
is stanky leg like in superbad?
or is it some gangsta slang that i would only know if i listened rap and roll music?
"The problem with tweeners is that sometimes they’re exactly what you need to plug the hole and sometimes they are the hole."
-LaughingJon
just answered my own ?
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Stanky%20Leg&defid=3325541
"The problem with tweeners is that sometimes they’re exactly what you need to plug the hole and sometimes they are the hole."
-LaughingJon
Eddy Stanky
“All the little SOB can do is win.”
When seeing Stanky, I wondered if Ben was referring to “The Brat.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eddie_Stanky
"Out here on the road, when its just our small travelling party against the world, it's tough ..." MB
He was Billy Martin before Billy Martin was
VENTURA: It's drowning. It gives you the complete sensation that you are drowning. It is no good, because you -- I'll put it to you this way, you give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.
Except for...
They have strong hate for the Blazers and bash us any chance they can (not often, frankly).
"Respect everyone, fear no one." -TP
Yeah I'm lol'ing at their sour grapes right now
us and our ‘kajillionaire’ owner
Blazer Fan
by leeroyjenkins on May 18, 2009 11:53 AM PDT up reply actions
Aww, now now
Be nice decent ok Stick it to the Wolves
I know less than half of you half as well as I should like, and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.
by haildablazer on May 18, 2009 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions
Huge news
Having Tom Penn around to manage Paul Allen’s resources, piece by piece, has given Portland a leg up on the rest of the league. Kudos to management for recognizing Mr. Penn’s value.
This is what you get for having your Assistant GM be so damn good with money
he just wanted a better contract
Best of Senator Clay Davis: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI4-QyAzY64&feature=related
Some people just like to complain.
This is not that big of a deal, except maybe to Penn.
Seriously, when was the last time a team’s decision on picking a GM ever played an important role in the lives of any of us here? Important to the franchise, yes. But to the rest of us? If sports cracks the top 10 of things that are important to an individual, then I would argue that individual has some really skewed priorities.
hakkaa päälle !
I was wondering about this
I read something the other day saying Tom Penn was in the lead for the job because he was willing to keep the coach and another guy. I was all like, “Why would Tom Penn do that?” Turns out, Tom Penn wasn’t going to do that and they just want a guy who’s going to be a puppet. Tom Penn ain’t no puppet, yo!
;-o
I bet you are thrilled
You hate da wolves’ blog.
by Sabonis4Ever on May 18, 2009 11:58 AM PDT up reply actions
I wondered why he'd go into that situation
With a more meddlesome owner, no one to really build around, small unattractive market… if Tom Penn is Tom Penn and if the Blazers become THE BLAZERS, he can fall into a much better job if he truly just wants to be a GM.
And I thought that before I read that he’d be sharing decisions with Hoiberg. How is that better than here? Is that a promotion?
Front office guys don’t make a ton, compared to star players, and are just as important… a raise isn’t really that much money, and when you think of how important guys like KP, Penn, and the entire front office and coaches are, it’s a no-brainer. We get a lot of value for the low-millions we pay guys like KP, and the hundreds of thousands we pay others.
Mortimer
That is probably part of his thinking
He was close to signing tomorrow after everything his agent and the Wolves beat writer published. Hoiberg would have been something like his director of player personnel, with collaborative decision making involving also the owner and coach like on the Blazers but with Penn calling the shots. And it’s not like the Blazers had that new position and raise planned and ready for him. He is ambitious as Ben pointed out in his analysis over at Canis Hoopus. But potentially winning a title here while getting a nicer job title, a better paycheck, and maybe a bit more responsibility is really nice too. Apparently the Spurs’ Dennis Lindsey also said no after it became obvious he wouldn’t be allowed to spend and change as much in the front office as he wanted to (likely more than Penn, which was a selling point for Penn since people are still under contract for a year or so). So he too could afford to keep waiting for the best opportunity. Penn will become a GM at some time. Just not right now which is good for the rebuilding process.
From what I read
And the talk on the Wolves blog, it seems like Hoiberg would be above a DoPP type position, and would actually have more of a say about player evaluations than Penn would as the head GM. THAT has to be one of the things that would prevent a guy like Penn from taking the job, because it certainly would prevent someone like ME from taking a job (if it is indeed true).
And if that stuff is true, I’m not sure what Minny wants in a GM. Just a guy to keep track of money stuff, CBA stuff, find loopholes? Like what Penn does for us? Well, if Penn wants to be more, he has to be offered more.
I’m not sure how Minny can expect to get a real franchise-changer if they aren’t willing to be changed, and just want another voice in the front office to help out. If the owner thinks that highly of Hoiberg, make him the GM and get him his own version of Penn that you steal from somewhere else— with the reason the new-Penn-type takes the job being that it is a promotion for him. For Penn, this didn’t sound like a promotion.
I am sure there are other legal/basketball whiz kids who can learn the CBA inside and out, and remember the loopholes and craziness hidden within. Hell, I’ll get my fiancee wife to read the dumb thing and get her hired. If ya don’t want him for more, then don’t try to hire someone who WANTS more. Get another hungry legal-minded guy willing to help the lead guy…
Mortimer
Yeah
No offense to the Timberwolves, but that seems like a job you take as a stepping stone. It could be a job that someone takes and revolutionized the position. I don’t see that when you got to keep all the folks that fans are unhappy with. If they would have told Penn he could take the job and then do what all the other GM’s get to do, then it would be all good. Like I said, I think they want a puppet.
;-o
by tominhawaii on May 18, 2009 12:16 PM PDT up reply actions
I wish his name was Tom Paine
because then I could say he made a “common sense” decision to stay.
by jksnake99 on May 18, 2009 12:07 PM PDT reply actions 3 recs
…
I rolled my eyes and laughed.
+1
draft rodrigue beaubois
by Cablinasian on May 18, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
We just caught him during the crazy years
After Nash takes his meds and calms down, he’ll be a genius again.
Morty
First major offseason move
and it might be the biggest of the entire offseason. Great job Mr. Allen and co.
I try to help with everything," Fernandez said. "If the coach says go rebound, I go rebound. I work for the team.
""If I'm playing this game to get media and attention, I shouldn't be here," Aldridge said. "I'm here to play basketball, and do what I can do to help this team win."
His stare became blank. It was apparent he was back in that place, on the Rose Garden's logo, picking up Aaron Brooks as the crowd nervously roared.
Wait... what do you call it when you teach it to someone else?
If I remember right…. thinking hard… but I would say this isn’t the first time a Blazer GM played the TWolves to get what he wanted! T Penn, you learned from the master! What term do you use when KP teaches his understudies to Pritchslap, is it still a Pritchslap?
Our society believes in "Policital Correctness" in other words we tear down the best of our society and make them live according to the lowest common denominator. It won't be long until Harrison Bergeron is declaring himself emperor!
by ablazrfool on May 18, 2009 12:33 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs
Also...
Doesn’t this mean that the only candidate the T Wolves have is Bill Simmons? Is the Sports Guy really gonna get a GM job? That would be great fun for all of us!
Our society believes in "Policital Correctness" in other words we tear down the best of our society and make them live according to the lowest common denominator. It won't be long until Harrison Bergeron is declaring himself emperor!
They still have David Kahn who was with the Pacers and several D-League teams previously and seems to have been recommended by Stern
But he is more of a team president than GM type, and his wife seemed not so happy to move from Portland. And they have Fred Hoiberg and Jim Stack as internal candidates, which Wolves fans were opposed to out of fear too little would change. And yes, then they have Bill Simmons which would be fun but I would rather make him a consultant than a GM.
Also a former Oregonian columnist
So this would be the closest thing we could get to Quick or Canzano being a GM in the NBA. – Elgin
VENTURA: It's drowning. It gives you the complete sensation that you are drowning. It is no good, because you -- I'll put it to you this way, you give me a waterboard, Dick Cheney and one hour, and I'll have him confess to the Sharon Tate murders.
YEUH!!!
Penn’s the one who pointed out to KP the James Jones throw in a year and a half ago. I’m obviously glad he’ll be here to stay and help us build this championship team. With our player exception this year (from the Diogu trade to Sac) Penn’s expertise will be as important as ever.
I prayed that Tom Penn was just greedily angling for a better deal with Portland
Hallelujah for greed—in this case. Losing Penn might have been a far worse blow to Blazer prospects than we suspect. By all accounts, the guy is pretty smart.
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
Why besmirch Penn like this?
First off, I believe it was the Timberwolves who approached him.
Secondly, since when is it a sign of greed to explore new opportunities in the market?
Finally, one of the best methods to improve your position and obtaining a raise or promotion is to have your current employer see that you have other options. If they truly value what you bring to the table, they will try to keep you.
hakkaa päälle !
I agree with what you're saying
I don’t see how what Penn “did” (if he indeed did anything) was wrong.
He entertained a job that ostensibly seemed like a promotion (whether it truly was or not, I am fuzzy on, since it seems like he’d be in the same role as he is in here, but anyways), word came out he was gonna take it, so we said “well what if we pay you more”? What is wrong with that?
He earned the job offer for Wolves GM through his hard work and skill, so I don’t mind him entertaining the job offer or using it to his advantage. That’s what you SHOULD do.
I am very glad he’s staying with us, though, because SUMTHIN’ is working right with him in the front office.
Mortimer
Aw, I was just joking
If indeed TP was using the Griz to extract a better deal from Paul Allen, there’s nothing wrong with that.
We WANT our assistant GM (or assistant VP) to be a good negotiator—just like we want our center to be physical. If I made mention of Przy or GO planting a well-placed elbow, that wouldn’t be a criticism!
"We don't back down to nobody." --Joel Przybilla
This comment amused me
palinilap says:
May 18th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
Maybe this guy Penn is a shrewder negotiator than he has been given credit for
http://blogs2.startribune.com/blogs/wolves/2009/05/18/upon-further-review-penn-out/
Did someone forget to give Penn credit?
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
I was starting to visualize
the blazers as a team with elite quality people, and that they all bailed and left before the blazers ever did anything and thus the blazers were left on the sea of consistent inconsistency within it’s managerial ranks.
I didn’t like that vision. Glad to have Penn back. now, if people would please freaking stop leaving UNTIL we get that championship, I’d appreciate it. you haven’t done anything until you’ve won guys, so get to it.
"Fernandez, to my eyes, is the Blazer who walks that walk most comfortably. A lot of Portland's fans (egged on, dare I say, by their local broadcasters) lament things like how Ron Artest or Yao Ming get to hit Brandon Roy's arms.
But I suspect Fernandez sees all that and thinks: We get to hit arms! Cool!"
http://myespn.go.com/blogs/truehoop/0-39-135/On-Playoff-Experience.html
Good organizations constantly lose people.
It is just the nature of things. And one of the things that makes a good organization is the ability to identify and hire talent and to develop it. Really good organizations actually encourge their people to take advantage of opportunities when they themselves are not in a position to match.
hakkaa päälle !
I am so glad
It was starting to bother me, especially so close to the draft. This is right up there with Joel taking less money so he could stay. Sometimes it isn’t all about the money. Do we know Penn is getting a new contract? Of course PA can pay him whatever he wants – no unions for GMs.
BTW, Ben, isn’t the illustration a little hard on Dave? (His day job, you know…)
you really think tp didn't want the money
i betcha he got a raise :)
How r u ? :)
sophia
Though patience be a tired mare, yet she will plod. - William Shakespeare
Roses are red
violets in bloom
Sophia’s in love
with Nicholas Batum
-Bow4Meow
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