Wallace is a scratch from Blazers' list

["Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Wallace is a scratch from Blazers' list


By Shira Springer, Globe Staff, 6/26/2003

Chris Wallace withdrew his name from consideration for the Portland general
manager job yesterday after an interview process that dragged on for almost
seven weeks. During that time, the Trail Blazers hired Steve Patterson as
president, and according to published reports, Ed Stefanski -- the Nets'
director of scouting -- turned down the GM position in favor of a promotion
with New Jersey.



''Chris was asked to stay in the process, but at this point, he felt that the
job description had changed,'' said Wallace's agent, Warren LeGarie. ''The
original job that he went for now has become more of a glorified player
personnel director position. That's not something, at this point, that
interests us. Chris was also led to believe that he would have been missed
with the Celtics. Danny [Ainge] all along had said, `Look, I really don't want
to lose this guy.'

''At this point, it wasn't a good fit in Portland any longer. Originally, that
position was supposed to answer directly to the owner and his chief operating
officer. Then, it changed and he had to answer to the business guy
[Patterson]. Chris felt that he better go back to the family and wait to see
if some other opportunities come up. If a situation looks comparable to the
position he's had, then we're interested. At this point, he's staying put and
there's nothing else in the works right now.''

For now, Wallace will remain with the Celtics as GM, though his role has
diminished since Ainge was named director of basketball operations. Ainge will
make the final call on the Celtics selections at Nos. 16 and No. 20 in
tonight's draft.

The day Boston hired Ainge both Portland and Washington inquired about
Wallace, though the Wizards did not call for permission to talk with Wallace.

Star gazing

Tickets to the Celtics summer league -- which could be the first chance to see
LeBron James as a professional -- go on sale today at 10 a.m. Tickets can be
purchased by logging on to Celtics.com, going to the FleetCenter box office,
or calling 1-800-4NBA-TIX. Since the capacity of the Clark Athletic Center gym
at UMass-Boston is 2,500, there will be a four-ticket limit, per person, for
all evening sessions on the first day of sale.

Thanks,

Steve
sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx

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