The Blazers are all but mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, but they're a team that figures to make plenty of news in the next several months. They could get a high draft pick from the Nets and will have ample room under the cap to sign free agents this summer, but before they address those matters, they probably need to solidify their front office first. Here's the latest from the City of Roses:
- Team president Larry Miller conducted two more interviews for the GM position by phone while in New York for the Board of Governors meeting, reports Jason Quick of The Oregonian (via Twitter). Miller said earlier in the week that he'd already interviewed a pair of candidates, though he insists the team may simply keep interim GM Chad Buchanan.
- Agent Steve Kauffman says veteran GM Donnie Walsh, currently a consultant with the Knicks, has not interviewed for the position, Quick also tweets.
- Kurt Thomas, at 39, is the league's oldest player and hasn't played in the last seven games as the Blazers take a closer look at second-year man Luke Babbitt and impending free agent J.J. Hickson. Still, he's not thinking retirement, and with one more season left on his current contract, he tells Chris Haynes of CSNNW.com, "I can definitely see myself playing past this deal, but I'll wait and see how I feel when that time comes.”