Blazers Have Yet To Express Interest In Danny Ainge For GM Vacancy

The Trail Blazers have yet to speak with rumored general manager candidate Danny Ainge, according to veteran Portland journalist Dwight Jaynes.

“Oregon native, former Blazer, won a title as GM, very experienced,” Jaynes wrote of Ainge. “To not even talk to him is ridiculous. At a crucial time for this franchise when big decisions are due.”

It may still be too early to write off Ainge completely, though from the sounds of things, the Blazers may not have an interest. Chris Mannix and Howard Beck of Sports Illustrated, however, have linked Ainge to the vacancy on two separate occasions.

Several other reports (including Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes) have mentioned Knicks GM Scott Perry, Bulls GM Marc Eversley and Grizzlies executive Tayshaun Prince as potential candidates.

Director of player personnel Joe Cronin is currently serving as interim GM, and Jaynes suggested Cronin could become a candidate for the position on a full-time basis.

The Blazers fired former GM/president Neil Olshey last week after a month-long investigation into alleged workplace misconduct.

While the Blazers search is considered in its early stages, Jaynes suggested they should have been preparing to hire candidates during the Olshey probe.

“They had a month during that investigation to plot a course if needed,” Jaynes wrote. “You should have your plan in place when it happened.”

Ainge played for the Blazers during the 1990-91 season. He was also at the helm as the Celtics were an Eastern Conference contender. They won a championship with Ainge as the top basketball executive in 2008.

Ainge, 62, stepped down from his role running the Celtics at the end of last season and was replaced by former coach Brad Stevens, hired by Ainge.