The Portland Trail Blazers are expected to meet with Randy Pfund to discuss the team’s vacant general manager position.
Pfund, formerly the GM of Miami, will become the second person to officially interview for the job, following Danny Ferry.
Ferry is still considered to be the lead candidate to replace Kevin Pritchard.
It has been more than a week since the ex-Cleveland GM met with the Blazers, and a source with knowledge of Ferry’s situation has described his status as being “fluid.”
“My understanding is that nothing has been decided either way,” the source said Thursday. “It’s still a work in progress.”
While Pfund is moving forward, Kiki Vandeweghe is not.
Vandeweghe’s name was floated Tuesday as a potential candidate. However, Portland has yet to make official contact with the former New Jersey coach/GM about the job, sources said Thursday.
Meanwhile, the Blazers were expected to meet Thursday night with Utah Jazz guard Wesley Matthews.
Matthews is a restricted free agent. Thus, the Jazz would have the opportunity to retain him and match any offer Portland made.
The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Matthews averaged 9.4 points while shooting 48.3 percent from the field during his rookie season.
The Blazers are expected to soon meet with players other than Matthews. However, Roger Mason — a free-agent guard linked last week to Portland — is not expected to be among them.
Chad Buchanan, Portland Trail Blazers director of college scouting, said Thursday it is highly unlikely the organization will make an immediate attempt to lure in a free agent.
“I just don’t see us making an offer today to anybody,” Buchanan said. “We’re still in the process of meeting with some guys. We want to make sure we feel comfortable with somebody before we make an offer to them.”
During the holding pattern, Buchanan said sign-and-trade talk has been minimal. However, some long-simmering trade discussions are still alive, and the Blazers are in the driver’s seat for a couple scenarios.
