Mar 14, 2012; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks general manager John Hammond answers questions during a press conference prior to the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-US PRESSWIRE

Jason Quick of The Oregonian is reporting that John Hammond is a candidate for the open general manager position with the Portland Trailblazers.  They have not, however, asked the Bucks for permission to speak with Hammond.

(Blazers President Larry) Miller said Friday that the 57-year-old Hammond will be a candidate, but he added that he has yet to ask the Bucks for permission to interview Hammond. 

The Blazers have had a vacancy at general manager since Cho was fired on May 23 last year. Chad Buchanan, the team’s director of college scouting, has been acting general manager since Cho’s firing. 

Hammond was a finalist for the position in 2003 when Portland hired John Nash.  Interestingly, the Blazers also have an opening at the head coaching position, as Nate McMillian was let go in March and replaced with Kaleb Canales on an interim basis. (Hello, Scott Skiles.)

TNT Broadcaster and former Phoenix Suns General Manager Steve Kerr is also a potential candidate for the GM spot.

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In other news, the NBA released the following statement after suspending Larry Sanders two games for his role in starting Thursday night’s fracas in Indiana:

Milwaukee Bucks forward Larry Sanders has been suspended two games without pay for initiating an altercation, failing to leave the court in a timely manner and actions following his ejection — all during the Bucks’ 118-109 loss to the Indiana Pacers Thursday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. 

Given that Sanders is slated to make $1.86 million salary for the 2011-12 season, his fine should shake out to about $46,000.  David West and Danny Granger of the Pacers were each fined $25,000 without suspension.

The New Orleans Hornets beat the Bucks last night in a frustrating game to watch.  We knew Chris Paul and David West would work the pick and roll but it became fairly obvious they were quite content with the pick and pop.  Paul would make a move towards the basket with West hanging back around the key and hitting jumper after jumper after jumper, ugh.  West led the Hornets with 22 points, Paul had 17 points and 16 assists.

 I thought the Bucks could have done a better job fighting off the screen and staying with West who was obviously on fire.  When Ersan Illyasova got in the game in the third quarter I thought he did a much better job of fighting to get to West.  Paul was content with distributing last night, he is a great point guard and will take what the defense gives him and last night he was the distributor.

Good

• Bucks out-rebounded the Hornets 45-44, in the long run if you win the rebound battle you should be in good shape.
• Free throws.  The Bucks actually shot some, getting to the line 28 times to the Hornets 29.
• 5 guys in double figures for scoring, Jennings, Maggette, Gooden, Bogut and Delfino.
• Bogut was back and effective.  If he gives us at least 70 more like last night the team will be in good shape.
• Carlos Delfino, along with the points he, just like last year, made a lot of little plays.  Very smart and very underrated player for the Bucks.

Bad

• Free throw shooting 17-29, 60%.  I guess that is what happens when you go through an entire season of not shooting any.
• End of 3rd quarter run.  The Bucks went from up 6 to down 6 in the blink of an eye.  I know Skiles was waiting for the quarter to end instead of taking a timeout but the Bucks had a bad last possession of the third that led to a Paul three at the buzzer.  The team needed a timeout and by waiting until the quarter ended it could have cost the team 5 points in a 4 point game.
• John Salmons, I hope this had more to do with rust than of the “you don’t want Salmons after he signs” talk I heard and read all summer.

Ugly

• The refs still suck.  I actually thought the game was very well done until the end.  John Salmons was with the ball, down three, under 10 seconds and we all knew what he was going to do.  So did Trevor Ariza and he scraped across the arm forcing a turnover.  The Bucks announcers made a good point about the bad non-call. 

“The team is down three, the player has ball in hand, there are three officials watching this, I do not know how you miss that”

I agree.

Glass Half Full

• The Bucks lost a tough game on the road.  It is tough to win on the road and they were playing the Hornets in their home opener against the best point guard in the league. 
• Brandon Jennings was able to hold his own in this matchup against Paul.
• Corey Maggette and Scott Skiles did not get into a fistfight as everyone seems to think will happen.

Next Up:  Friday @ Minnesota