The Portland Trail Blazers have made their first move in wake of a surgery that could leave Damian Lillard sidelined for the season's remainder.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the Blazers have hired Cleveland Cavaliers executive Andrae Patterson as the team's new assistant general manager.
ESPN Sources: Portland’s interim GM Joe Cronin is making his first significant addition to the Blazers’ front office, hiring Cleveland’s Andrae Patterson as assistant GM. Patterson has been the Cavs’ Senior Director of Basketball Ops and also spent 4 years in Utah's front office.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 13, 2022
Patterson spent the last four-and-a-half seasons in Cleveland's front office under general manager Koby Altman. Originally hired as the Cavaliers' director of basketball administration, he was eventually promoted to senior director of basketball operations. Patterson, 46, began his front office tenure in 2015 as the Utah Jazz's player personnel/player programs coordinator. He'd previously been an assistant coach with the G-League's Idaho Stampede.
The No. 46 overall pick of the 1998 NBA draft, Patterson played 40 games with the Minnesota Timberwolves between the 1998-99 and 1999-00 seasons, averaging 3.0 points and 1.7 rebounds off the bench. He then continued his playing career overseas before retiring in 2009.
Cronin was named Portland's interim general manager in early December following the dismissal of longtime head decision-maker Neil Olshey. Though the Blazers will also consider other candidates as full-time general manager, Cronin has been given the reins to lead the team through the February 10th trade deadline and beyond before owner Jody Allen makes an ultimate choice on Olshey's replacement.
Portland announced on Thursday that Lillard went under the knife to address his nagging abdominal tendinopathy and would be re-evaluated in six weeks. His potential return later in the season will depend not only on Lillard's health, but where the tenth-place Blazers stand in the Western Conference once he's ready to get back on the floor post-rehab.
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