Rich -- is on the money Blazers general manager. Is joining us now on the digital communications smarter play hotline to talking you get rich Sharia. Good good are you guys. No complaints now when you woke up this morning and you hit the offense what was the most pressing issue for rich -- today. But there are. -- -- got a lot of stretching it here. But. You know we're just trying to improve the team and sort of look forward to -- Just huge just and we are gonna go minute by Medicaid but can't give me an idea of what you're -- consists of when you do wake up when you going to be out this what do you do. I'm digging it it's a little bit every they have looking at different deal that group game. Trying to reach that dissimilar players. And staffing issues. Looking at training camp coming out. In another and that that they never really. Most pressing know it our deal straits ranked. Well that is that's -- one part of it yes. Have you sat down with Greg Oden in and talked with him about the upcoming season. I was actually enact -- that you Indianapolis. On our Sunday night and they have watched him work out Monday morning and then had a nice dinner with them on Monday night. Is he. And -- playing basketball right now. It's continuing his rehab and I. Started rehab at their rehab place -- that and then after the at eat work debt on the court. For a couple hours. He's progressing along -- it carried a waiting game right now late. He's working really hard we're pleased with his progress and and he's going to be five. Well one of our techsters. Next -- play earlier saying you know. It Kevin Pritchard was talking about Greg Oden potentially. Coming back for game in the playoffs last year in and here we are several months later and he's not. Ready to play what happened. Well how living here then so. I don't know. All the situations -- -- -- but I. But I do you know that is that great -- really Arctic. And he's working hard in every -- -- hard court. Landed well solitaire on the -- -- out. Monday but Williams or an -- east. Develop that actually it was black and and but is -- hit it to -- and and that you were really -- I'm excited get him back on the court or not. Have you talked openly with him about what your expectations are for him in his most important season this a contract year yes have to make decision about it. It is the -- affect your -- area and you know he understands that. So yeah understand that in and approach and taking it and it I wanna give him that much or is possible. That where I sit behind him and you know we're pushing him along but I don't -- -- and real risk area theaters. In -- -- Joe blazer GM -- general impressions you sat down on them and talk to him I don't know if that was the first time you've really had an extended conversation within the what is. What is Greg Oden when he come across -- you'd like. -- each -- -- very very nice young man. He's committed to weighing in or so and elect -- very good player. And you want to be more a leader here. And out and try to push him in that direction. You talked about when you got hired that you do all kinds of different analytics and -- you do studies and and one of these you mentioned about guys coming back from from injuries and in micro fracture. Mean is that something and I'm sure you're not gonna share the results of of what you did for Greg Oden but I mean it did you go through wind and do your own analysis on what you project Greg Owens' future to be based on on similar guys is similar injuries. Yeah I mean I don't -- -- -- so what we've discovered but I but I do you do a lot of analysis and great was not yet and that group because he had sustain injury. So there's a ton of data out there you have to go out and get it ally that it is accurate and and now I -- in upstate economic you don't want part of Pitt at the end of the day. Helped make in and informed decision and any -- and. Rich -- is the general manager of your Blazers now so you're saying Greg Oden is not behind schedule on his rehab process. Look at Sosa he should be ready to play opening night. And they act like it's were pleased with the progress. And I don't know he'll be ready to play opening pattern -- it just depends -- How would come and but -- particulate describe it -- and it -- really really hard. Okay so. -- so what winning is he expected back then it's it's that inning how long are we looking at. It's hard to say the and I spoke with the doctors and trainer at target say. Out at the Baltimore is. Don't -- it and it's hard to save one Q now is on the court having each rheostat. Monitor -- we have. You know on the court and -- -- kept the -- Right now how octave are you right now seeking a trade for it to trade me for and is. Yeah. I've got -- I've got a lot of gains. I don't want it aimed -- specific -- Though Rudy is Hewitt out there still. What particular little but -- but I ask an active part in a lot of games. Can it be viewed dealt with a player that has been so vocal in. Am now I don't wanna sling stones -- kind of childish in the way they've handled this and in their their kind of phone though I'll take my ball and go home. Tackle play here. Well. You know I've I've been in the league in 1995. And and I've been in situations where other players that water out and it's not the first this that in the first time it happened and it probably will be the last time that happened. So. In any situation before this -- is it very vocal unfortunately end. And done. Hopefully it won't get local court all. How does something like this affect your relationship moving forward with other players who represented by the same agent. Well I mean it certainly doesn't help black. -- what you try to do -- look at each. -- -- sooner each incident. And you know by itself and and peace negotiations by itself and and move forward you know by accident so. Try to get an isolated and move forward and and sort of cling to the next class. Now how strongly have you considered his requests. To be to be released. We're really. Not even an option. -- Rich supposedly GM not one mark and when asked about is Joel Przybilla what is the status of Jules. So. Back in Milwaukee working really hard -- and you know he's continuing his rehab. Spoke into the trainers and and he's come along well. But he expects him back in camp for the start camp. I don't think he'll be back for camp. Net in that -- on the court. They'll be training camp but. In eagle where right now for all look in. Probably November December time friend. Now is is is their custom that you may be having to go -- -- get another body. With with Przybilla and that time mind if Greg is -- a 100% ready are you okay with the -- -- those two guys. Are ready to go. Well it's possible we go out and look look for somebody -- I don't wanna rush it because it. Get somebody and an appetite somebody like one critic in or back off. You know you can slide that's why we have we. We Marcus -- to expansion and also the market complacent but. In spots. What is so rich show's favorite thing about a beautiful Portland Oregon. A lot of episode but I love the fact that the candidate so into it and I really rapid. That. Well that -- Under fifteen straight sellout at -- that's at. -- elected to -- and -- restaurants. -- -- I like Hiroshi. -- place in the yep protesters. -- the great side and if -- I've lived don't know on the way up and -- -- West Coast and east coasts and the midwest in the end there's not elect to ignore last stop. I'm really high -- in Portland and it's the people. Well then you're coming from Oklahoma City you know I mean you did bag aren't an entire group of people but come on it's Oklahoma City during a whole lot going on down in the OKC. Her a couple of actually I had a great experience in Oklahoma City I can't say. -- about the city and the people and helped a CEO. Date. Out there they're great and and great. Organization. So I actually enjoyed myself that. Rich a a good catch of the thank you for a lot of us a phone call here and -- -- caught up and tucked against him. -- -- --
