The Terry Porter Conundrum

First/Second point: What if Terry Porter did want to be interviewed but couldn't because the Maloof's weren't interested in another offensive guy with connection to Geoff in Portland? Or that's the perception anyway. As far as Porter in Milwaukee what was that team supposed to do? Give up 95 points in a halfcourt setting? They were a young team rebuilding on the fly. It's not like they were on route to win a championship or anything. I think it's unfair to say Porter can't coach a defensive oriented team before he has the players to do it. Outside of Brian Skinner/Joe Smith/Desmond Mason who played consistent defense on Milwaukee? Heck is Mason ever consistent period? I'm not sure the Maloof's/Petrie were ever on the same page. Regardless of whether Porter snubbed Petrie last year could you blame him? What if the interview went poorly? What if the Maloof's rejected him thinking he should never get a real chance down the line to interview again? If I was Porter I might not have thrown my hat in that ring last year and expected it to be taken into consideration. I'm not sure if there was any way Terry Porter could look good in that scenario you put forth. One way he gets screwed by losing out the potential to interview for it a year later/down the road. On the other hand he makes Geoff happy and becomes a martyr. I know Geoff and Terry Porter have a connection but get real. Why would Terry Porter care that much?

3rd point: However, this is closer to what may be actually going on. The 1st point could swing either way really depending on how much of the truth is ever released (what's the likelihood of that happening?)upon any scenario of what happened with specifics of the Porter/Petrie/Maloof's scenario you put forth. This is the important part ot remember though as you point out. Geoff Petrie works under a COMPLETE CODE OF SILENCE. Porter's sentiment doesn't exactly breathe silence. On the other hand he could be trying to get himself a head coach gig with someone whom he has a personal background with. I can't blame him for that. There are only 30 head coaching jobs of which only a few openings come up. You gotta take any of them you can realistically get. Not everybody is Marc Iavaroni, and realistically he has tried for jobs that weren't glamorous like Portland in 2004 but he just didn't get it, where they can pick and choose. Even Iavaroni ended up in Memphis where the future may not be bright for 2 seasons at least if they decide to trade Pau Gasol. Which they should but anyway. I've digressed mightily.

The point is that Porter is in a no win situation. If he's too mouthy then he will lose any interview opportunity. On the other hand if he doesn't say anything or put a little public pressure out there what's the point of using back channels if Geoff is just angry? Really if Geoff Petrie is mad at Porter for last offseason then really that's as much on Geoff Petrie as it is Terry Porter. Porter has every right to pursue an opportunity like buying the Rose Garden. I find it amusing that the idiot hick of Oklahoma City expects Seattle to pay for a new arena when the team down the road had multiple prospective buyers from the 'private sector' trying to buy the Rose Garden. Anyway back to the topic at hand (again). If Geoff is mad at TP then so be it. It's up to Geoff to bridge that gap and make it work. If he doesn't offer TP an interview I'd be very dour about Geoff's ability to find a coach in this situation, even with the note of it being a crapshoot somewhat.

4th point: Can't disagree with a single thing you've said there.

Last but not least it's a sound theory. A few details might be a tad different but the outcome is the same. Put your ego aside and get the best guy for the job. You would be doing yourself, and your team, a huge dis-service to let a little anger ,over a previous season or media session that didn't really say much, cloud how you continue what had to be a somewhat disappointing coaching search so far. If I can remind folks of something Rick Adelman was hired well after the 1998 draft. Eddie Jordan was fired in August. The idea that a coach needs to be on board before the draft is somewhat typical but not necessary. There is no way Terry Porter is not going to convince Geoff Petrie to draft a guy.