Trail Blazers Deny Any Deal Offered

Portland Trail Blazers President Bob Whitsitt said Friday he has not offered former coach P.J. Carlesimo’s job to anybody, despite reports of an $11 million, five-year deal for Mike Dunleavy.

“I haven’t signed anyone,” Whitsitt said when asked about a New York Post story saying Dunleavy was the Blazers’ choice to replace Carlesimo.

Dunleavy, however, confirmed that Whitsitt has contacted him since Carlesimo was fired on Thursday.

“There’s been nothing other than they want me to come and talk,” said Dunleavy, who got a message from Whitsitt on his answering machine Thursday night. “We’re trying to set up a time for an interview. It’s a very attractive situation.”

The Oregonian quoted sources around the league as saying the Blazers have been talking for some time with Dunleavy, who resigned April 26 as the Milwaukee Bucks’ general manager and vice president of basketball operations.

Dunleavy told the Portland newspaper that he spoke with the Golden State Warriors early this week and was trying to schedule a meeting with them.

Golden State general manager Dave Twardzik said he did speak with Dunleavy. But Twardzik would not say if the Warriors are pursuing Dunleavy, and Twardzik declined to comment on Dunleavy’s situation with Portland.