FanShot

Quick: Blazers Interested In John Hammond As GM Candidate

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Jason Quick of The Oregonian reports that the Portland Trail Blazers are interested in Milwaukee Bucks executive John Hammond for their open GM position. -------------------------------------- Another candidate surfaces for Blazers GM position: Bucks GM John Hammond. Blazers president Larry Miller confirms interest in Hammond, but says he has not yet asked Bucks for permission to speak with Hammond. -------------------------------------- HoopsHype.com's rundown of Hammond's moves can be found here. They include: drafting Joe Alexander, Brandon Jennings and Larry Sanders; trading Corey Maggette for Stephen Jackson; trading Stephen Jackson and Andrew Bogut for Monta Ellis and Ekpe Udoh; and signing Mike Dunleavy, Jr. Gery Woelfel of JournalTimes.com wrote this week that Hammond's job could be on the line. ---------------------------------- Hammond, the Bucks general manager, and [Scott] Skiles, their head coach, are nearing the completion of their fourth year with the organization. If the Bucks fail to advance to the playoffs, it would mark the third time in four seasons under their regime that they missed out on postseason play. What’s more, there aren’t any concrete indicators pointing toward a more promising future... Skiles and Hammond each have one more season left on their contracts: Skiles for around $5 million and Hammond for around $2 million. At the same time, nobody should be startled if Kohl swallows one or even both of those contracts. After all, Kohl is fully cognizant of the Bucks’ rapidly deteriorating fan base. Last season, the Bucks managed just four sellouts at the Bradley Center; this season, they’ve have had only two. The Bucks’ average attendance this season is 14,747, a franchise low. ---------------------------------- The Blazers were linked to reported interest in Los Angeles Lakers executive Mitch Kupchak on Thursday. Quick also reports that Blazers president Larry Miller will meet with former Phoenix Suns executive Steve Kerr this weekend. The Blazers are looking to fill the position that has been open since former GM Rich Cho was fired in May 2011. -- Ben Golliver | benjamin.golliver@gmail.com | Twitter