Ch-ch-ch-changes: Pritchard, Penn, Williams, Demopolous, Leiweke

Key Portland Trail Blazers personnel Kevin Pritchard (general manager), Tom Penn (vice president of basketball operations), Dean Demopoulos (lead assistant coach) and Monty Williams (assistant coach) have all left the team in less than six months.

Now, news that Vulcan CEO Tod Leiweke has resigned deepens what had already been a period of change and upheaval.

Leiweke was the driving force behind Pritchard’s promotion and Penn’s hiring, a Blazers source said. Leiweke was also widely viewed as the most capable and professional name within Vulcan. In addition, his strong ties to the Blazers and Seattle Seahawks — both of which are owned by Paul Allen — made him a key asset. Leiweke was seen as a trusted name who had the Blazers’ best interest at heart, and his ability to communicate and work with Allen and Portland’s front-office executives did not go unnoticed.