Trail Blazers' abrupt dismissal of GM Cho is simply disgraceful

Rich Cho was fired after just 10 months as the Trail Blazers' general manager
A source said owner Paul Allen failed to establish a personal connection with Cho
Cho was largely successful in his short time, revitalizing a depleted roster

Did Portland owner Paul Allen not enjoy the company of GM Rich Cho as they sat together during Trail Blazers games?
The Blazers disgraced themselves Monday in deciding to fire Cho after 10 largely successful months in charge. According to a reliable league source, Allen said he made the decision because he failed to establish a personal connection with Cho. That explanation was affirmed by the Blazers' news release, which described a relationship that simply didn't work out.
Blazers dismiss Cho after less than a year
Cho received no warning he was about to be fired, I was told. Team president Larry Miller, who had recruited Cho for Allen, did not manipulate the dismissal. My understanding is that it had nothing to do with Cho's conduct, professionalism or job performance, all of which appeared to be excellent.
The Blazers had been struggling amid season-ending surgery for center Greg Oden and a career-threatening injury to star guard Brandon Roy when Cho made a marvelous trade in February. He packaged Joel Przybilla, Dante Cunningham, Sean Marks and a draft pick to the Bobcats for forward Gerald Wallace, a highly aggressive two-way star who instantly married himself to coach Nate McMillan's program while also redefining the franchise from a position of strength rather than weakness.
That move enabled the Blazers to not only make the playoffs but to threaten the favored Mavericks in the first round before losing in six games.
Recently, it emerged that Cho had been in favor of suspending Roy for an emotional outburst during the first-round series against the Mavericks. Cho was dissuaded by Allen and McMillan, and Roy went on to lead the Blazers to a thrilling Game 4 comeback win. But I am told that incident was peripheral to Cho's firing.
Allen's franchise has done a lot of silly things over the years, from seizing employees' hard drives in a Captain Queeg search for leakers of information to the media, to threatening action against rival teams that considered signing Darius Miles after he had been waived by Portland, to the firing of GM Kevin Pritchard on the night of the draft last year. All the executives involved in those instances served longer than 10 months.
This move is the least fathomable of them all. You fire a guy because you didn't connect with him? After not giving the relationship enough time to develop that connection?
Of course the owner can do whatever he pleases. This move says more about Allen than it says about the man he callously fired. I am guessing the next Blazers GM is going to be afraid to speak openly with the owner, for fear of a firing that comes with no warning, in spite of a job done well.
"Yes, Mr. Allen."
"You are correct, Mr. Allen."
"Whatever you say, Mr. Allen."
"Do you like me, Mr. Allen?"

roy's comments:

There was a point in the first half, and I was thinking 'You better not cry.' I mean, serious. I mean, there was a moment where I felt really sorry for myself. Then I was like, nah, you can't be sorry for yourself. I'm a grown man, but there was a moment there that I felt sorry for myself. Especially when I think I can still help.

you ask me he said absolutely nothing wrong.

BigSm00th wrote:

nyk4ever wrote:i think he was fired for his treatment of brandon roy whom he publicly said he pushed to be suspended for roy's comments about being benched.

roy's comments:

There was a point in the first half, and I was thinking 'You better not cry.' I mean, serious. I mean, there was a moment where I felt really sorry for myself. Then I was like, nah, you can't be sorry for yourself. I'm a grown man, but there was a moment there that I felt sorry for myself. Especially when I think I can still help.

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22748484/29511007

you ask me he said absolutely nothing wrong.

Cho had told Roy not to go to the press about his playing time issues. handling it "in house." roy violated the direct order, and then Cho contemplating discipline. just the contemplation is worthy of firing? i wouldn't want to work for you.

i wouldn't hire you anyway

what did he say was wrong? he didn't complain one bit about not playing. i'm sure he was asked by a reporter about his mindstate about being on the bench and he answered the question without complaining. i don't see a problem with it, even if he was asked to not talk about his playing-time publicly.

martin wrote:

Allanfan20 wrote:Yeah, Dolan is pretty bad, but when we say he's the worst, we tend to dismiss the Clippers and the incompetance of Paul Allen. He's pretty bad. He can thank Kevin Pritchard and Cho for the fact that the Blazers are still standing.

TWolves owner wants in on this conversation.

add Sterling to the list of owners far worse than Dolan.

The only problem I have ever had with Dolan was when he got in bed with Isiah. The guy has always wanted to win (unlike some owners like the Clippers) and has been willing to open the wallet.

To be honest, the guy has only really made 2mistake that I know of. Layden and Isiah.

Stern did not make him hire Walsh (may have suggested it) cause, no one tell James what to do.