McMillian To Coach Portland per ESPN.. Seattle was able to keep Ray Allen in town. But the Sonics couldn't keep head coach Nate McMillan from leaving. ESPN.com's Chad Ford reports McMillian has agreed to a five-year deal to coach the Portland Trail Blazers. It's on their front page, breaking news
Wow. So Nate would rather take more money/longer contract with a team that is rebuilding than stay with a team that had a breakout season and just locked up their superstar long-term? Unbelievable...I don't get it. Personality-wise Mcmillan seems similar to Mo Cheeks. I wonder what makes either Portland or Nate think that he's the solution.
I think it's a good match for Nate. Portland has some nice young players, including that Travis Outlaw kid they got last year. Plus it's not like Seattle management treated him with much professional courtesy this past year.
probably a good choice for him. in seattle expectations would be high... anyhting less than the 7th seed would be dissapointing. in portland, even if he doesnt make it to the playoffs it wont be that big of a deal, plus he will be making more money.
C'mon now! Last year, Ray Allen was a superstar who was a lot better than Baron Davis. He may never do it again, but the man had a superstar year during the regular season, showed up big time in the playoffs and did it during a contract year.
I wonder what shakeups, if any, this causes in Seattle. I can't imagine Ray Allen is pleased, unless he knew something before hand, and I have to wonder if thier other free agents' focus have now turned to other locations.
Nate might as well have signed in Portland. I saw ESPNews and Ric Bucher laid it out: Paul Allen has the money to pay Nate and to put a winning team together. Seattle has always been a money-loser and the owner is always watching the bottom line. Portland also has lots of options. Maybe SAR will re-sign now (although that would mean trading Zach Randolph, so, who knows with that). In any case, Paul Allen will spend the money. He is finally rid of some burdensome contracts. Of course, Portland is in the West, and that's a heck of a challenge, because every team except New Orleans in the West could be in the playoff hunt (Baron Davis in Golden State miraculously became healthy, the Clippers out-dueled the Lakers last season, etc).
I think this is is due to two things: more money in Seattle and Seattle seemed to really dis Nate before this past season. They wouldn't give him a new deal. THEN he has a great season with the Sonics and they are all over him...
I just dont get this move. Going from one of the better teams in basketball that is overall on the rise to a team with malcontents, criminals, etc. The funniest thing I've read all summer .. although a bit insensitive was the comment by ESPN "I'm surprised we didnt hear Carlton Dotson with the Blazers 27th pick" Bad bad move though. Why leave Seattle to a team that really doesn't seem on the rise that much... Larry Brown would have a hard time turning that Blazers team into a winner. McMillan will be out in two years I predict. Portland has about 5 SFs and SGs alone.. Two PGs.. Multiple High Schoolers- Telfair, Outlaw, and Webster.. Just a strange hodgepodge of players. At least they released one of the thugs.. Qyntel Woods was it.. who like beat his dogs or something bizarre.
Ray Allen , actually a superstar, who made his teammate better and lead them to the final 4 of West Conference. Blazers will come back to contender soon.
this is not a diss...this is business. you don't produce, you don't attract hype. you have a big year - people want you around. it's the same thing no matter where you work.
Flip Saunders' exacting half-court offense would do wonders in Seattle. That's a match made in Heaven.
McMillan's never played or coached for a team other than Seattle. The fact that he preferred to coach a bunch of headcases in Portland than return to the Sonics says more about Seattle Management than it does about Nate, IMO. He'll be okay though. He's not a screamer, but he's a lot meaner than Mo was.
I like this move for both sides. I've always though McMillan was a good coach, so why wouldn't he get his pay, especially after the way Seattle put things off for so long. I also think Portland has a much brighter future than Seattle. Telfair, Webster, Randolph could turn into a nice little trio for the future, especially w/ the right coaching.
