The Trail Blazers fell to the Thunder last night to fall four games out of the West's final playoff spot, but the bigger news for the team came off the court. Blazers president Larry Miller said before the game that the team has reopened its search for a general manager, according to Jason Quick of the Oregonian.
It has been nearly a year since Rich Cho was fired, with Portland employing Chad Buchanan as the team's acting GM since then. The Blazers previously interviewed "five or six" candidates, who won't be reconsidered now, according to Miller. The previous interviewees include Dennis Lindsey of the Spurs, Neil Olshey of the Clippers, Troy Weaver of the Thunder, and David Griffin, who has since been hired by the Cavs. Quick adds that Ed Stefanski and Dave Pendergraft may also have been interviewed, though that's unconfirmed (Twitter link).
Miller says the Blazers are looking for a candidate with previous GM experience, and Quick wonders if the team could have its eye on Steve Kerr. Portland pursued Kerr after parting ways with Cho, but the former Suns GM and current TNT analyst preferred to spend time with his family. Quick speculates that perhaps the extended wait to hire a permanent GM suggests that the Blazers are waiting on Kerr.
While the Blazers' search has been resumed, it may not move forward in earnest until after the season, when rival teams allow their current employees to interview for the position.