Blazers enter free agency without general manager 07/01/03 JIM BESEDA The Trail Blazers had hoped to name a new general manager by today -- the first day NBA teams can begin negotiating with free agents -- but team president Steve Patterson said Monday a decision won't be made for at least a few days. The Blazers plan to contact free agents, including their own Scottie Pippen and Antonio Daniels. Coach Maurice Cheeks and Patterson are expected to call players while also participating in the general manager search. "We're just continuing to have conversations," Patterson said. "We're still going through the process and maybe we'll be able to get there this week, but we've got to see how it goes. I'm not trying to dodge questions. I sincerely don't know." John Hammond, Detroit's vice president of basketball operations, interviewed Saturday in Seattle for the general manager's job, but Monday withdrew his name from consideration. "We're trying to make the best possible choice, and it just hasn't come about yet," Cheeks said. "I'd think we'd have to have somebody soon. The free agent negotiating period is here, and we've got to be on top of that." The Blazers probably won't be a major player in the free agent market, but they aren't expected to stand on the sideline, either. Portland is committed to an estimated $86.7 million in salaries for next season, which affects how the Blazers approach free agents. Though the Blazers aren't in a position to get into a bidding war for any of this year's marquee free agents, they have enough flexibility with the existing roster to at least consider some sign-and-trade possibilities. "We're going to explore a few things," Cheeks said. "We've got to search the free agent market to see if there is something there we need, we want, we like, and if it's available. "Ideally, you'd like to have your GM and everybody in place to deal with free agents, but I think between Steve and me we can manage to contact whoever we think is the right fit for our team." Patterson, a former general manager with the Houston Rockets, downplayed the notion that the Blazers are somehow disadvantaged heading into the free agent negotiating period without a general manager. "You can't sign somebody until July 16," Patterson said. "You look at the guys that traditionally have signed right off the hop, it's usually the bigger free agents with the teams with a whole lot of cap room, and that's not a position we're going to be in. "I think the key really is doing what's right for the franchise in the long run, and not be hamstrung by a particular date." Cheeks said Pippen and Daniels are among the first players he hopes to talk to. "We've got to see where their minds are," Cheeks said. "They're free agents, so they're free to go where they want to go. We'll talk to them and see if their interest is in coming back here. That's the first thing, and then we'll go from there." Getting Pippen to return for his 17th NBA season and fifth with the Blazers could boil down to persuading Pippen not only to take a significant pay cut from the $19.7 million he earned last season, but also to accept a role coming off the bench. Said Cheeks: "I've heard of a lot of interest in Scottie from different teams, so we'll have to see what his likes are." Notes: Rookie forward Travis Outlaw, the 23rd player selected in last week's NBA draft, is scheduled to be in Portland for a three-day mini-camp July 16-18, and then play on the Blazers' team competing in the Rocky Mountain Revue summer league July 18-26 in Salt Lake City. Other players off last year's team expected to participate are Ruben Boumtje Boumtje, Zach Randolph, Charles Smith and Qyntel Woods. -- 翻譯...還是請咱們的翻譯神人 Carrarese 大大 小弟有一堆公司的稿子要寫... 加上翻譯功力比不上 C 大 就乖乖等著看囉..... --

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