2022 Blazers Presser: A Fresh Start with KuCoach
Posted: Sun Aug 12, 2018 9:13 pm
The press gathers in lawn chairs in Washington Park, surrounded by a rose garden, Mount Hood in the background. Portland Blazers GM, Kevin U. Coach VII sits in a lawn chair facing the media.
GM KuCoach: Welcome! Welcome! Everyone find a seat. I apologize for cancelling last year's preseason press conference. As you all know, I was on hiatus last year. I spent the year living life to the fullest. I lived in a lean-to on Mt. Hood for weeks, until the park rangers found me. I kayaked up the coast to Vancouver Island. I trained as an itamae of sushi in Japan. I lived off of nothing but goat milk for three weeks in Mongolia. I worked as a hit-man for the Russian mafia. I blessed the rain in Africa. I spent five nights in a Turkish prison. It was truly a purifying and life-changing experience. Now I have returned to my post as General Manger of the Portland Trailblazers and I am ready for a fresh start. It is a blank slate for me. Truly a new beginning. The past is behind me. All the losing. All the winning. All the disappointment. All the losing. All the impatience. All the losing. it's all behind me now. I am new GM. I am a new man.
My goal for this offseason was to get the Blazers on the same page. A fresh start. A new beginning. We were well setup for a new start except for Lavar Ball, who was about to turn 27 and really just entering his prime. We met with Lavar and decided that it would be best for both of us if we parted ways. The lotto left us at 7, which was okay but it seemed to us like the top six was where it was at so when we had the opportunity to trade up one spot, we jumped on it. We were excited to draft Frank Jackson. He's long and athletic like a wing but with the skills of a guard and we think that one day he'll be able to play three positions. Then we found the right match for Lavar in Marvin Bagley III. Bagley was number two on our draft chart so we were thrilled that he fell to 5 and that Bucks were willing to part with him.
Then we brought in a lot of interesting young players in free agency, including Fausto Garrido, who we think could be a really great addition to our future. We also resigned Kimbrough Slice to a four year deal, so we're excited to see what he can do as a veteran leader on a young squad. We had a great camp, especially Moses Barger, who really improved as a rebounder and perimeter shooter in the offseason. With three great power forward prospects in Barger, Bagley, and Gilbert, we'll consider moving Bagley to center at some point, He may spend this year in the G league.
The plan for the future is a slow rebuild. We plan on competing again in about four year and to win a championship within the next 6 years. That's our goal. We have a very clear five year plan and we will stick to it. There have been a lot of rebuilds over my time here. Except for one they have usually be partial and/or accelerated at some point. This time that wont be the case. As I said before, this is a new start for me as a GM. This is a new day for the Portland Trailblazers. I'll now answer any questions you may have.
GM KuCoach: Welcome! Welcome! Everyone find a seat. I apologize for cancelling last year's preseason press conference. As you all know, I was on hiatus last year. I spent the year living life to the fullest. I lived in a lean-to on Mt. Hood for weeks, until the park rangers found me. I kayaked up the coast to Vancouver Island. I trained as an itamae of sushi in Japan. I lived off of nothing but goat milk for three weeks in Mongolia. I worked as a hit-man for the Russian mafia. I blessed the rain in Africa. I spent five nights in a Turkish prison. It was truly a purifying and life-changing experience. Now I have returned to my post as General Manger of the Portland Trailblazers and I am ready for a fresh start. It is a blank slate for me. Truly a new beginning. The past is behind me. All the losing. All the winning. All the disappointment. All the losing. All the impatience. All the losing. it's all behind me now. I am new GM. I am a new man.
My goal for this offseason was to get the Blazers on the same page. A fresh start. A new beginning. We were well setup for a new start except for Lavar Ball, who was about to turn 27 and really just entering his prime. We met with Lavar and decided that it would be best for both of us if we parted ways. The lotto left us at 7, which was okay but it seemed to us like the top six was where it was at so when we had the opportunity to trade up one spot, we jumped on it. We were excited to draft Frank Jackson. He's long and athletic like a wing but with the skills of a guard and we think that one day he'll be able to play three positions. Then we found the right match for Lavar in Marvin Bagley III. Bagley was number two on our draft chart so we were thrilled that he fell to 5 and that Bucks were willing to part with him.
Then we brought in a lot of interesting young players in free agency, including Fausto Garrido, who we think could be a really great addition to our future. We also resigned Kimbrough Slice to a four year deal, so we're excited to see what he can do as a veteran leader on a young squad. We had a great camp, especially Moses Barger, who really improved as a rebounder and perimeter shooter in the offseason. With three great power forward prospects in Barger, Bagley, and Gilbert, we'll consider moving Bagley to center at some point, He may spend this year in the G league.
The plan for the future is a slow rebuild. We plan on competing again in about four year and to win a championship within the next 6 years. That's our goal. We have a very clear five year plan and we will stick to it. There have been a lot of rebuilds over my time here. Except for one they have usually be partial and/or accelerated at some point. This time that wont be the case. As I said before, this is a new start for me as a GM. This is a new day for the Portland Trailblazers. I'll now answer any questions you may have.