Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports that Portland Trail Blazers president Chris McGowan warned team employees that more layoffs are coming during a recent internal meeting.

... In his speech, he warned that more layoffs could be ahead.

... He says he is under no directives from Vulcan, "other than to simply run a better organization and improve the results," McGowan said.

... He says all personnel decisions will be made by Feb. 15, but people should look at the recent firings as a way to flourish.

McGowan also admitted to being "nervous" during his introductory press conference, in which he struggled to articulate a vision and in which Blazers GM Neil Olshey told reporters that McGowan would be staying in his own lane and not interfering with basketball decisions.

I noted earlier this season that this is a scary time for Blazers employees following the resignations of former president Larry Miller and former COO Sarah Mensah. McGowan has already laid off three long-time executives and the Blazers also recently announced the resignation of top lawyer, Mike Fennell, in October, while senior VP J.E. Isaac resigned in June 2011.

-- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter