Former Portland Trail Blazers General Manager and top executive Bob Whitsitt has a storied, and sometimes tumultuous, run at the helm of his franchise. He took over the team in 1994 after serving with the Seattle SuperSonics in the same capacity. He continued with the Blazers until 2003, overseeing the trade of Clyde Drexler, the acquisition of Rasheed Wallace and Scottie Pippen, and countless other moves.
“Trader Bob” has wrote a book in his life as a professional sports executive. Game Changer: An Insider’s Story of the Sonics’ Resurgence, the Trail Blazers’ Rebirth, and the Deal That Saved the Seahawks will be available on October 10th, and it is sure to be of great interest to Trail Blazers fans.
This week Sam Yip of HoopsHype interviewed Whitsitt about an upcoming publication, asks about Whitsitt’s history, philosophy, and regrets. Here’s the answer to Whitsitt’s biggest regret among the many trades he’s made:
Well, I guess every deal. There is always something I can do better. There is no question about it. I think the one thing I was fighting at the time, and I was denied, and I don’t mean that in the wrong way… at the end of the day, I’m an employee, I’m doing the best I can. The owner ultimately makes the final decision on everything. But I drafted a player in the first round in Portland. This is the 1996 draft, Jermaine O’Neal.
He didn’t blossom as quickly as Kobe. They are the same draft but he is blooming and I know he will be a great player. Around 1999 or 2000, somewhere in there, maybe 2001, we were in a situation where we will lose Brian Grant to unrestricted free agency and the owner just don’t want to give him a new seven-year contract at the max because. He has an injury history and I don’t agree with that. I wish we could keep Brian but I can’t just tell them a three or four year contract, which is as long as the owner wants. He got a seven-year max from Miami, so we knew we were going to lose him.
But at that time, instead of trading and bringing Shawn Kemp – which I really want to do – we trade Jermaine for Dale Davis, we get a player who is more experienced and maybe helps us win a little more now. , but Jermaine is good enough that I know if he gets playing time, and with Brian leaving, playing time will open up. I wish we could have watched him. Then I should have a young man in the next 10-15 years. I don’t know if we can win that way, but I’d rather keep a guy that I know is on track to be an All-Star and young as opposed to bringing in one a man with only two. years left in them. We traded Jermaine to Indiana, and I think he’s a four-, five-, six-time All-Star.
So I get it when you’re in the current mode and the coach and everybody wants to have a little extra veteran piece. But sometimes you want to stay a little longer [for the future]. This guy is very good, but more importantly, in three or four years, he will be good. As a general manager who is constantly battling the present against the future. That’s one I wish I could have done better and hung on to a younger player rather than bringing in a veteran player.
The rest of the interview is equally detailed and good read.