In Portland, Kerry Eggers wrote, "Time will tell" if Trail Blazers GM Neil Olshey's hiring “was a good thing for a franchise needing just that in a very bad way.” Olshey “is smart, well-spoken, glib and at ease in front of a microphone and cameras.” It is “easy to see why he impressed" Blazers Owner Paul Allen during the interview process. On rumors that his pay with the Clippers contributed to him leaving the club, Olshey said, "The money was a wash. It wasn't about that.” He added, “It was really about that proactively, Paul and [Blazers President Larry Miller] and the organization were willing to make a commitment to me" (PORTLAND TRIBUNE, 6/7).
HOT COMMODITY: In Richmond, Paul Woody wrote, “Say what you will about Dan Snyder and the Washington Redskins' accomplishments since he became owner in 1999 … the man knows how to cut a business deal.” The team on Wednesday "received promises" of $4M from the state of Virginia and $2M from Loudoun County. Maryland and DC also “were wooing the Redskins" for the club's training camp and headquarters, and "when a bidding war begins, the dollar figures increase.” But Loudoun County, home to team HQs Redskins Park, considers the the team “an asset for promotional, marketing and tourism reasons.” Paying the Redskins $500,000 per year for four years “made sense to county officials” (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 6/7).
ON THE DOTTED LINE: MLB.com's Vinnie Duber wrote Royals first-round draft pick Kyle Zimmer on Thursday "signed a contract" which includes a $3M signing bonus. Royals Assistant GM J.J. Picollo said that the "new process of signing Draft picks is already showing positives, and he said it will allow more players to start playing professional baseball in the summer rather than waiting until the fall (MLB.com, 6/7). In K.C., Rustin Dodd notes the $3M bonus is “also $500,000 less than the slot value" of $3.5M that came with being the No. 5 overall pick (K.C. STAR, 6/8).
