Lance Blanks joining Ferry?

[Kori Ellis]

Lance Blanks, director of scouting for the San Antonio Spurs, is expected to join Ferry's staff, according to several league sources. Blanks' position is yet to be determined, but he would assist Ferry with basketball operations. Ferry and Blanks worked together in the front office with the Spurs for the last two seasons. Blanks would become Ferry's first major hire of an executive since taking over as Cavs GM. Blanks, 38, is considered one of the top up-and-coming execs in the league.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1120815757291310.xml&coll=2&thispage=2

[MannyIsGod]

I don't know how good Blanks is at his real job, but if this means I don't have to listen to him on telecasts anymore, I'm happy.

[Sense]

I hate it when other teams want to copy a championship's team overall nucleus....

[timvp]

Eh, Ferry can have him. Blanks' draft choice of Romain Sato didn't exactly pan out. And if this finally gets him off of the Spurs broadcasts, that alone might be worth it.

:hat

EDIT: Damn it, MannyIsGod beat me to the punch.

[Kori Ellis]

It's a pretty big blow to the Spurs if he leaves. Ferry, Blanks and Prunti did a lot of legwork in scouting and the such. And all three of them being gone would leave pretty big holes I'd imagine.

As long as they keep Presti, I'm not really worried.

[Solid D]

I've never thought of Lance in terms of his scouting prowess. He's a good man but I think the Spurs can upgrade his position.

[MannyIsGod]

What worries me is that Presti is actually getting media time now. His name has been thrown around a LOT this offseason. Not nessecarily in terms of leaving, but eitehr way people have taken notice.

[ChumpDumper]

Who's going to wear the pith helmet in the parades now?

[Marcus Bryant]

Adios.

[usckk]

Damn it... Everybody is taking our guys away!

[Kori Ellis]

I understand the Spurs were NOT high on keeping Blanks. So I guess it's okay.

[Marcus Bryant]

Damn it... Everybody is taking our guys away!


...just as long as they don't take the good ones.

[MannyIsGod]

I understand the Spurs were high on keeping Blanks. So I guess it's okay.
Were? Or Weren't?

[Kori Ellis]

NOT, sorry.

[usckk]

They might give away our success secrets :(

[GoSpurs21]

RC and CIA Pop are the real talent evaluators anyway. Besides I think there is enough in the pipe line for years to come. New blood in the organization is a good thing.

[Marcus Bryant]

RC and CIA Pop are the real talent evaluators anyway. Besides I think there is enough in the pipe line for years to come. New blood in the organization is a good thing.

You forgot someone.

[Cant_Be_Faded]

sean elliott should be the sole announcer for every game anyways.....i never liked blanks

It is kind of funny how ferry is taking him away though, ferry works with him and wouldnt go for him if he werent really good at doing what he does..

[bigbendbruisebrother]

They might give away our success secrets :(

4 down ain't a secret anymore. Neither is Manu or Horry from three.

But I'm very sad for Bill Land. That was one talented broadcast duo. :p

Maybe we should start a thread to nominate Land's new partner. I'll start.

1. A hibiscus or bougenville plant (or even a ficus)

[Dex]

2. A sack of flour

[bigbendbruisebrother]

2. A sack of flour

Good thinking! Speaking of food...

3. T Park

[ZStomp]

I don't know how good Blanks is at his real job, but if this means I don't have to listen to him on telecasts anymore, I'm happy.


That's what I'm talking about. Good Riddance! :lol

[bigbendbruisebrother]

Of course, if they wanted a closer approximation to Blanks, why not pair Land with:

4. A Mr. Potatohead doll

http://www.nba.com/media/spurs/lance_blanks_150.jpg http://www.mwctoys.com/images/review_tater_5.jpg

[caspian]

Lance Blanks, director of scouting for the San Antonio Spurs, is expected to join Ferry's staff, according to several league sources. Blanks' position is yet to be determined, but he would assist Ferry with basketball operations. Ferry and Blanks worked together in the front office with the Spurs for the last two seasons. Blanks would become Ferry's first major hire of an executive since taking over as Cavs GM. Blanks, 38, is considered one of the top up-and-coming execs in the league.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1120815757291310.xml&coll=2&thispage=2

I liked Blanks. My sister nannied for his girls (aspiring tennis players). I remember talking to him about Parker in the early days when he was 'hosting' him a lot.

I thought he did a solid job. However, in our conversations, I did feel that he didn't have the same philosophy toward talent evaluation that I would have had (not that I'm necessarily anything special).

[Bandit2981]

I hated hearing Lance say "Mano" and Robery "Whore-rry"

[spurschick]

They might give away our success secrets :(

Everyone wants those secrets, so it's inevitable that big carrots will get dangled by other teams. I'll be interested to see how the Cavs evolve - it will be the true test if Ferry and Co. can continue what they've learned.

[SenorSpur]

I understand the Spurs were NOT high on keeping Blanks. So I guess it's okay.

Any ideas as to why there weren't high on him?

[ca®lo]

guess i wont be reading any more "fill in the blanks" anymore at the spurs forum

[SequSpur]

As long as Duncan is on this team, Stevie Wonder could scout for this team.

[Kori Ellis]

GM picks two of his assistants
Saturday, July 09, 2005
Branson Wright
Plain Dealer Reporter

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/112090156963333.xml&coll=2

Las Vegas- Cavaliers General Manager Danny Ferry will name Lance Blanks and Chris Grant as assistant general managers as soon as today, according to several league sources.

Blanks, director of scouting for the San Antonio Spurs, and Grant, assistant general manager for the Atlanta Hawks, will have equal responsibilities as assistant GMs under Ferry.

Blanks and Ferry worked together in the front office with the Spurs for the last two seasons. Blanks, 38, was with the Spurs for five years, and the team won two titles with him as an executive. He was director of scouting for three years. Blanks is a graduate of the University of Texas, and he was a first-round pick of the Detroit Pistons in 1990. He played three NBA seasons.

While with the Spurs, Blanks played a major role in helping the Spurs sign Bruce Bowen and Tony Parker. Blanks also was instrumental in the trade that brought Nazr Mohammed to the Spurs for Malik Rose.

Grant, 33, was promoted this past season to vice president of basketball operations and assistant GM with the Hawks.

Grant spent the last nine seasons with the Hawks. He was responsible for assisting Hawks GM Billy Knight in all facets of the day-to-day basketball operations, including all player acquisitions at the professional and collegiate levels. He spent the last two years as director of scouting.

Grant also attended the University of San Diego with Cavs coach Mike Brown.

[angel_luv]

guess i wont be reading any more "fill in the blanks" anymore at the spurs forum


My exact thought! LOL!

[Mark in Austin]

I don't know how good Blanks is at his real job, but if this means I don't have to listen to him on telecasts anymore, I'm happy.

:lol My thoughts exactly.

[Vashner]

Guys be nice... he helped bring us another championship.. bow to his ring... Good luck to the gentleman.

[strangeweather]

Who knows. If Ferry and his management team can put some more talent around LeBron, in 2-3 years we may have a Spurs vs. Spurs East finals.

[TheTruth]

Spurs FO = 49ers staff of the late 80's early 90's.

[Solid D]

What key personnel has Ferry taken from the Spurs besides Blanks? For that matter, it's arguable that Blanks was "key personnel". For all we know, there may have been more mutality between Pop, RC and Lance on the decision for Blanks to leave than appears to the outside world.

[alamo50]

No more Sesame Street......

:pctoss

Unless we sign Deke.......................

:eyebrows

[mattyc]

Just don't let 'em take Presti or RC.

[exstatic]

RC probably isn't going anywhere, already having the GM title, but Presti is vulnerable to any team wanting to promote him to that spot. I wonder how long he's under contract...

[blaze89]

4 down ain't a secret anymore. Neither is Manu or Horry from three.

But I'm very sad for Bill Land. That was one talented broadcast duo. :p

Maybe we should start a thread to nominate Land's new partner.

How about Aggie HoopsFan.

[rayray2k8]

as long as we keep Pop, RC and presti then the spurs will be 'aight.
didnt really like blanks on tv so.... later dude :wink

[violentkitten]

holt needs to pony up to keep presti (assuming that $ is the major issue). he's a young guy so perhaps he'd like to strike out on his own somewhere.

maybe next season the spurs' front office will finally be recognized by the league. you'd think it would happen sooner or later.