Paper: HOUSTON CHRONICLE Date: TUE 08/31/1993 Section: Sports Page: 1 Edition: 3 STAR Rockets' Patterson era ends/Fired GM stands by record By EDDIE SEFKO Staff After the Rockets won a club-record 55 games last season, Steve Patterson was runner-up in voting for Executive of the Year honors, which is chosen by the 27 NBA general managers. Today, Patterson is out of a job, fired by owner Les Alexander after four seasons as the Rockets' general manager. Tod Leiweke has been hired as president of the Rockets and will assume all of Patterson's business-related duties. Though Patterson's dismissal ends a 21-year association between the Rockets and the Patterson family, he said Monday he cannot feel anger or hatred toward Alexander. Nor does he feel the need to apologize for anything that happened during his reign. "We won 55 ballgames after winning 52 games in 1991," said Patterson, 35. "We have had two of the four best financial years in club history. We've signed a very good 10-year corporate deal with Miller beer when beer companies have been cutting back on their sponsorships. And we've signed television and radio contracts that are as good as anybody's in the league. "I think those are real positive steps for the franchise, and if that's not doing the job sufficiently, so be it." That's as close as Patterson would come to venting his feelings about the situation. But there was no denying that after his father, Ray, had put nearly two decades into building the Rockets organization, and after spending nine years in the front office, four as GM, Steve Patterson had feelings of denial and resentment. And so it was throughout the Rockets organization. "It hurts when somebody you're close to loses a job," said coach Rudy Tomjanovich, who played for the Rockets when Patterson was growing up and helping with odd jobs around the office. Tomjanovich watched Patterson grow into an astute executive with a flair for finding talent in obscure places. "I'm a big fan of Steve's," Tomjanovich said. "We have kind of gone through this thing together, and to me this isn't just a job, it's in my blood. The Rockets are part of me. "And I know it's the same with Steve." On the court and on the bottom line, the Rockets were successful under Patterson, though not always to the extent that fans hoped. But every time fans were disappointed with a loss or by a draft pick's lack of talent, Patterson was disappointed every bit as much, probably more. "The goal is to win a ring," he said. "For 24 hours, seven days a week, my focus has been on how to make the Rockets better. If the new owner doesn't think we've done well enough, that's his decision." Patterson's best asset during his tenure as GM was locating untapped talent and bringing it to Houston for a minimal price. Midway through the 1989-90 season, he purchased Vernon Maxwell from San Antonio for $50,000, a bargain-basement price. Maxwell, though erratic, has become one of the Rockets' toughest players and has added outside shooting, the ability to drive and solid defense in the past three years. At the time he was bought from San Antonio, Maxwell said Patterson "saved me and kept me in the league." There were other quality moves, but Monday, Alexander explained that Patterson lacked acumen on the business side of the Rockets organization. And because Alexander plans to work with Tomjanovich to control the basketball dealings, there was nothing left for Patterson. Around the NBA, the reaction to the firing was overwhelmingly in support of Patterson. "I talked to him when I heard about it, and I view this as a situation where a new owner came in and wanted his guy in there," said Dan Finnane, president of the Golden State Warriors. "This is no indictment on the job Steve did. When we bought this team, we brought the same guy in with us." Leiweke, 33, was with the Warriors for more than three seasons before joining the PGA Tour as a vice president for marketing. After informing Patterson of his decision, Alexander said the other part of Patterson's duties -- player personnel -- will fall to Tomjanovich and Alexander. But there is nobody in the Rockets organization who possesses the knowledge about the NBA's salary cap and how it impacts other clubs and other players that Patterson has. Many executives around the league said Patterson has one of the best understandings of the cap. "That's how they got Mario Elie for nothing (actually a second-round draft pick)," said one executive. "If you sit down and study the cap closely and see which teams are in trouble, you can pick up some quality players, which the Rockets did." Patterson said he was not sure where his life was headed after the announcement Monday. His reputation in the NBA is solid, and he undoubtedly would get consideration for GM jobs around the league. But none is open. Patterson said he is unsure whether he will try to stay in the league. Patterson chronology 1976-1983 -- Begins Rockets career as part-time worker in ticket sales and other areas. 1984 -- After earning a law degree from the University of Texas, joins his father, Rockets president and general manager Ray Patterson, in the front office as counsel to the president and marketing director. 1986 -- Takes control of the team's business operations, installing a computer system to handle ticketing, accounting and player personnel operations. Feb. 12, 1989 -- After accepting Houston's bid coordinated by Patterson, NBA holds its All-Star Game at The Summit. Sept. 11, 1989 -- Named at age 32 as the Rockets' general manager, succeeding his father in that role and becoming the youngest GM in the NBA. Sept. 27, 1990 -- Acquires point guard Kenny Smith from Atlanta along with Roy Marble for Tim McCormick and John Lucas. Feb. 21, 1990 -- Acquires starting guard Vernon Maxwell from San Antonio Spurs for an undisclosed amount of cash. June 27, 1990 -- Trades the rights to Alec Kessler to Miami for the rights to Dave Jamerson and Carl Herrera. July 2, 1990 -- Signs guard Sleepy Floyd to four-year contract; Floyd is released after the 1992-93 season. Sept. 3, 1991 -- Negotiates three-year contract with top draft choice John Turner, who fails to stick with the Rockets. Oct. 23, 1991 -- Signs Kenny Smith to five-year contract. Feb. 18, 1992 -- Fires Rockets coach Don Chaney and names Rudy Tomjanovich as interim head coach. March 23, 1992 -- Suspends center Hakeem Olajuwon without pay, claiming he has failed to play when physically able to do so. Olajuwon claims he is suffering from a hamstring injury and is unable to play, and suggests he is unsure if he wants to play for the Rockets if Patterson remains as general manager. May 20, 1992 -- Names Tomjanovich as head coach. June 24, 1992 -- Despite a chorus of boos from The Summit fans, makes the decision to draft forward Robert Horry, who goes on to become a productive forward in his rookie season. March 15, 1993 -- Olajuwon signs a four-year extension with the Rockets worth $25.4 million that places him under contract with the team through 1999. July 30, 1993 -- Rockets owner Charlie Thomas completes the sale of the team to businessman Les Alexander. Aug. 30, 1993 -- Alexander fires Patterson as Rockets general manager.
Look at Sefko's timeline and tell me Patterson didn't get screwed. He built the first championship team, and Les gravytrained his way to a title. At least Les had enough sense to bring back Turbo and Calvin after the outcry when he showed them the door as part of his housecleaning. As far as the Hakeem incident, that was Charlie Thomas' doing, Patterson was forced to be the bad cop, then Charlie swept in as the good cop on the now legendary plane flight with Hakeem. Patterson's post-Rockets career proves his competence. That being said, Les is still the best of the three owners we have of Houston sport franchises. Miles ahead of Uncle Drayton. Hats off to him for having the balls to make the Drexler and Barkley trades, Pippen signing, Yao pick, Artest trade, etc. - even if they did not all work out, he is not shy about going "all in."
I understand Les relieving Steve Patterson of the business side, but I wonder how the 90's and into the 2000's would have played out if Steve was kept in charge of the player personnel and shared the duties with Rudy T. Rudy T and CD started slipping in the late 90's and onward.
Steve got Brandon Roy to the Blazers when he was their GM. http://trailblazers.realgm.com/articles/118/20060712/lets_make_a_deal/ Trade #2 Portland trades the rights to the #4 pick Tyrus Thomas and Viktor Khryapa to acquire the rights to the #2 pick LaMarcus Albridge from Chicago. Trade #3: Blazers trade rights to the # 7 pick Randy Foye and cash considerations to Minnesota in exchange for the #6 pick Brandon Roy. oh thank Steve, you Texans fans. http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/76685 Steve Patterson To Leave Texans To Join Trail Blazers Patterson To Be Named Blazers President Texans Senior VP & Chief Development Officer Steve Patterson will leave his job to become President of the Blazers, according to Jim Beseda of the Portland OREGONIAN, who notes a Blazers spokesperson "would confirm only that a news conference was set for 11:30am [PT] today at the Rose Garden." Patterson, a former GM of the Rockets, replaces Bob Whitsitt, "who is leaving the Blazers on June 30 after holding the titles of president and [GM] for nine years." Patterson was selected "off a shortlist that included" Blazers Exec VP Erin Hubert, local radio exec Tim McNamara and Wild President Tod Leiweke (Portland OREGONIAN, 6/18).
Even though Kevin Pritchard was only the assistant GM back then, the Brandon Roy pick and the way the Blazers got to him was Pritchard's doing. Kinda like the Shane Battier draft day trade was Morey's call even though Morey was only assistant GM back then. Both were elevated to GM soon after those respective moves. Pritchard also advised Patterson and then GM John Nash to pick Chris Paul #3 in the 2005 draft, they instead traded down and picked Martell Webster. No wonder Nash got the boot after that season.
