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The following is a detailed history of the Portland Trail Blazers, a professional basketball team which joined the National Basketball Association in 1970. Image File history File links Unbalanced_scales. ... The Portland Trail Blazers, or Blazers, are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. ... The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the worlds premier mens professional basketball league and one of the four major professional sports leagues of North America. ...

Early Franchise history

Logo, 1971-1990

On February 6, 1970, the NBA board of governors granted the Blazers franchise, after the Blazers paid $3.7 million to join the league. In that year, the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) and the Cleveland Cavaliers also joined the league. The team was based around Geoff Petrie, a first round draft choice out of Princeton University, and the 6'10" (2.08 m) tall LeRoy Ellis, whom they picked up in the expansion draft. In their first season, the Blazers finished with a 29-53 record, which generally was poor, but was the best out of the three new teams in the NBA. The next year, the Blazers won only 18 games, but rookie Sidney Wicks was named Rookie of the Year. The following year, the team landed the number 1 pick in the NBA Draft, but squandered it on LaRue Martin, a player who was a complete bust in the NBA. Old Portland Trail Blazers logo, claiming fair use This work is copyrighted. ... Old Portland Trail Blazers logo, claiming fair use This work is copyrighted. ... The Los Angeles Clippers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California. ... The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ... Geoff Petrie (born April 17, 1948 in Darby, Pennsylvania) is the Sacramento Kings President of Basketball Operations (as of 2005) and a former NBA basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers. ... Princeton University is a coeducational private university located in Princeton, New Jersey in the United States of America. ... The Rookie: Norman Rockwells cover for The Saturday Evening Post Rookie is a term for a person who is in their first year of play of their sport and has little or no experience. ... The National Basketball Associations Rookie of the Year Award, first given after the 1952-1953 NBA season, is given to the top first-year player in the league. ... The NBA Draft is an annual North American event in which the National Basketball Associations (NBA) thirty teams (29 in the United States and one in Canada) can select young players who wish to join the league. ... LaRue Martin (born March 30, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American former professional basketball player, widely considered to be the worst first overall draft pick in NBA history [1]. Martin was taken first overall out of Loyola University by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1972, drafted ahead of future...

The Blazers did not beat their first season's record until they drafted Bill Walton from UCLA in 1974. In his first two years, under coach Lenny Wilkens, the Blazers were a much-improved team; but still did not post a winning record (nor did they make the playoffs). In the 1976 off-season, Wilkens was fired and replaced with Dr. Jack Ramsay. That off-season, the team made several key acquisitions, most notably forward Maurice Lucas who was acquired in the dispersal draft that occurred when the American Basketball Association was acquired by the NBA (and several of its teams folded). William Theodore Walton III, better known as Bill Walton (born November 5, 1952, in La Mesa, California), is an American former basketball player and current television sportscaster. ... Binomial name Ucla xenogrammus Holleman, 1993 The largemouth triplefin, Ucla xenogrammus, is a fish of the family Tripterygiidae and only member of the genus Ucla, found in the Pacific Ocean from Viet Nam, the Philippines, Palau and the Caroline Islands to Papua New Guinea, Australia (including Christmas Island), and the... Lenny Wilkens with the Portland Trail Blazers Leonard Randolph Wilkens (born October 28, 1937, in Brooklyn, New York, USA) is a former National Basketball Association player, as well as the NBAs career leader in coaching wins and losses. ... Dr. John T. Ramsay (born February 21, 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is a former professional basketball coach in the National Basketball Association. ... Maurice Lucas (born 18 February 1952 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) is a former professional American basketball player, and current assistant coach with the National Basketball Associations Portland Trail Blazers. ... For information about the ABA that began in 2000 see American Basketball Association (21st century). ...

The Championship Season

Main article: 1977 NBA Finals

In the 1976-77 campaign, the Blazers posted their first winning record, going 49-33 under the leadership of Ramsay. The team—Walton at center, Lucas and Lloyd Neal at forward, and Dave Twardzik and Lionel Hollins at guard—made the playoffs for the first time. Not much was expected of the young team, but the Blazers shocked the world by winning the NBA championship in their first time in the playoffs. After defeating the Chicago Bulls (who were a Western Conference team at the time) and the Denver Nuggets (a surviving ABA team) in the early rounds, the Blazers stunned the favored Los Angeles Lakers, led by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, in four straight games. They then went on to defeat the Philadelphia 76ers 4-2 for the championship. The 1977 NBA Finals was the championship round of the 1976-77 NBA season. ... Lloyd Neal (born December 10, 1950 in Talbotton, Georgia) is an American former professional basketball player. ... David John Twardzik (born September 30, 1950 in Hershey, Pennsylvania) is a former professional basketball player, and is currently the assistant General Manager for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association. ... Lionel Eugene Hollins (born October 19, 1953 in Arkansas City, Kansas) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. ... The Chicago Bulls are a professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois. ... The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. ... Lakers logo 1966-1991 Lakers alternate logo 2002- The Los Angeles Lakers are a professional basketball team based in Los Angeles, California, who play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ... Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (born Ferdinand Lewis Alcindor, Jr. ... The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short) are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

The next season started greatly for the team, who raced off to a 50-10 record. However, at that point a rash of injuries set in (most notably to Walton, who would struggle with injuries his entire professional career), and the team finished the season with a 58-24 record. They failed to make it back to the Finals, losing to Seattle (the eventual Western Conference champion) in the conference semis. The Seattle SuperSonics (or simply Sonics or Supes) are a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. ...

The Early-Mid Eighties

For the next several years, the team basked in the afterglow of its only championship. Despite the loss of several key players due to injury (and an acrimonious parting-of-the-ways between the team and Walton), the team continued to play competitive basketball. The sellout streak continued, and the Blazers were immensely popular around town. The team continued to make the playoffs every year except for one (1981-1982), and on several occasions advanced past the first round. However, the NBA's Western Conference at that time was dominated by the L.A. Lakers (with a few Finals appearances by the Houston Rockets); at no point were the Blazers ever a contender for the championship. The Houston Rockets are a professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. ...

In the 1979 draft, the Blazers (for the third time in their history) landed the #1 pick in the draft; and selected Mychal Thompson, a center originally from the Bahamas. Thompson was as glib and outspoken as Bill Walton was shy and retiring (this was well before Walton transformed into the outspoken play-by-play man he is today). Thompson was a serviceable center who had a productive career with the team, though he never justified his selection as a number 1 pick. Over the next several years; the team acquired several other players who many thought could form the nucleus of a championship contender—Jim Paxson, T. R. Dunn, Fat Lever, and Wayne Cooper. In 1983, the team selected Clyde Drexler, who would go on to a Hall of Fame career (eventually winning an NBA title with Houston). Mychal Thompson (born January 30, 1955 in Nassau, Bahamas), is a Bahamian American former National Basketball Association player who was the #1 pick in the 1978 NBA Draft. ... William Theodore Walton III, better known as Bill Walton (born November 5, 1952, in La Mesa, California), is an American former basketball player and current television sportscaster. ... Jim Paxson (born July 9, 1957 Kettering, OH - ) was a guard/forward with an 11 year career from 1980-1990. ... Lafayette Fat Lever (born August 18, 1960 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas) is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. ... Wayne Cooper (born November 16, 1956 in Milan, Georgia), is an American former professional basketball player who was selected by the Golden State Warriors in the 2nd round (40th overall) of the 1978 NBA Draft. ... Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22, 1962 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American former National Basketball Association shooting guard. ... The Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame honors players who have shown exceptional skill at basketball, all-time great coaches and referees, and other major contributors to the game. ...

The 1984 off-season was one of controversy. The Blazers used their #2 pick to draft center Sam Bowie, bypassing Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley and John Stockton. Bowie suffered a series of serious leg injuries that limited his production for the team. One bright spot in the 1984 draft was the selection of forward Jerome Kersey. That summer, the team sent Dunn, Lever, Cooper, and a draft pick to the Denver Nuggets for forward Kiki Vandeweghe. While Vandeweghe would have several productive seasons in Portland, the trade was widely disliked. Vandeweghe was regarded as an excellent shooter and passer, but a poor defender and rebounder. Samuel Paul Bowie (born March 17, 1961 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania) is a former National Basketball Association center who is best known for being selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the NBA Draft. ... For other persons named Michael Jordan, see Michael Jordan (disambiguation). ... Charles Wade Barkley (born February 20, 1963, in Leeds, Alabama) is a former basketball power forward in the American National Basketball Association. ... John Houston Stockton (born March 26, 1962) is a former American professional basketball player. ... Jerome Kersey (born June 26, 1962 in Clarksville, Virginia) was a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association for a number of teams, but most notably for the Portland Trail Blazers. ... The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. ... Ernest Maurice Kiki Vandeweghe III (born August 1, 1958 in Wiesbaden, Germany), is a former National Basketball Association player and the current General Manager of the Denver Nuggets. ...

In 1985, the team selected point guard Terry Porter in the draft. Terry Porter (born April 8, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a former NBA player and former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. ...

After several consecutive seasons of losing in the first round, the Ramsay Era ended in the summer of 1986 when the long-time coach was fired and replaced with Mike Schuler.

The Summer of 1986

The summer of 1986 was a monumental one, both for the team and for the league. In addition to the firing of Ramsay, the team made several draft selections which were both controversial, and which would foreshadow several changes that would come to the NBA. In the first round of the draft, the Blazers (who had 2 picks) selected forward Walter Berry out of St. John's, and center Arvydas Sabonis out of the Soviet Union. Later in the draft, the team reached behind the Iron Curtain again, and chose guard Dražen Petrović from what was then Yugoslavia. The drafting of two "communists" was highly controversial—the Cold War was still going on; and many doubted that either player would be permitted to come play in the NBA. (The selection of Sabonis would become even more controversial in 1988, when the Lithuanian center was allowed to come to Portland to train, and then proceeded to lead the Soviet Union to a gold medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.) Walter Berry (born May 14, 1964 in New York City) is a former pro and college basketball player. ... St. ... Arvydas Romas Sabonis (born December 19, 1964 in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) is a former professional basketball player from Lithuania. ... Countries to the east of the Iron Curtain are shaded red; those to the west of it — blue. ... Dražen Petrović (October 22, 1964 – June 7, 1993) was a Croatian basketball player. ... Capital Belgrade Language(s) Serbo-Croatian, Slovenian, Macedonian Government Socialist republic President  - 1945 - 1953 Ivan Ribar  - 1991 Stjepan Mesić Prime Minister  - 1945 - 1963 Josip Broz Tito  - 1989 - 1991 Ante Marković Historical era Cold War  - Proclamation November 29, 1943  - UN membership October 24, 1945  - Constitution February 21, 1974  - dissolution June 25... For other uses, see Cold War (disambiguation). ... The 1988 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIV Olympiad, were held in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea. ... Seoul (Sŏul[1] 서울)   is the capital and largest city of South Korea (Republic of Korea). ...

The selection of Berry was a foreshadowing event in another way. Unlike the two Eastern European players, he was available and reported to the team, where upon it became evident that he was a locker-room cancer. After only a few months with the team, Berry was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for another controversial rookie, center Kevin Duckworth. The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. ... Kevin Jerome Duckworth, aka The Duck (born April 1, 1964 in Harvey, Illinois) is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association, most notably a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. ...

The Mike Schuler Era

Mike Schuler was hired prior to the start of the 1986-87 season as Head Coach of the Blazers. In his first two campaigns, the Schuler-led Blazers posted records of 49-33 (in 1986-87) and 53-29 (in 1987-88). Both teams made the playoffs (with home court advantage) but were defeated in the first round (to Houston in 1987, and to the Utah Jazz in 1988). In both years, the Blazers' reputation was that of an offensive-minded; "soft" team which could not play defense— a reputation that was rather accurate. The Blazers were among league leaders in scoring both years, but near the bottom of league rankings in defense and rebounding statistics. Many fans questioned the direction the team was taking. Mike Schuler is a former head coach in the National Basketball Association. ... The 1986-87 NBA Season was the 41st season of the National Basketball Association. ... The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. ...

The Schuler era was marked by several controversies regarding the starting lineup. The first such controversy occurred when Clyde Drexler won the starting guard spot over veteran Jim Paxson, who subsequently demanded (and got) a trade. In the 1987-88 campaign, veteran center Steve Johnson was injured, and was replaced in the lineup by Duckworth— who went on to have an All-Star caliber year (and won the starting job from the foul-prone Johnson). As the team was winning, these controversies were glossed over at first. Jim Paxson (born July 9, 1957 Kettering, OH - ) was a guard/forward with an 11 year career from 1980-1990. ... Steve Johnson is the name of: Steve Johnson (cross country coach) - Wartburg College head cross country coach, 1989-present Steve Johnson (AFL) is an Australian Football League player. ...

At the conclusion of the 1987-88 season, the team was purchased by (current owner) Paul Allen. The Paul Allen era (1988-present) is described in Part 2. Paul Gardner Allen (born January 21, 1953) is an American entrepreneur whose fortune was founded when he formed Microsoft with Bill Gates. ... This page covers the history of the Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchise from 1988 through the present day. ...

This page covers the history of the Portland Trail Blazers NBA franchise from the 1988 off-season through the 2003 off-season. For information on the franchise's history before this date, please read Portland Trail Blazers History (1970-1988). For information on the franchise afterwards, see Part 3 of Portland Trail Blazers' history. The Portland Trail Blazers, or Blazers, are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. ... The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the worlds premier mens professional basketball league and one of the four major professional sports leagues of North America. ...

The season of change

At the conclusion of the 1987-88 campaign, the team was purchased by (current owner) Paul Allen. There was much hope going into the 1988-89 season; as the team had two excellent centers (Steve Johnson and Kevin Duckworth), and two good small forwards (Kiki Vandeweghe and Jerome Kersey), as well as a perennial All-Star in Clyde Drexler. The team, however, quickly fell apart during the year, as the issue of who should start became paramount. In addition, many veterans were unhappy with Mike Schuler's coaching style; as a result the team limped to a 39-43 record and barely made the playoffs (where it was ousted by the Lakers 3-0 in the first round). Schuler was fired; assistant Rick Adelman was given the head coaching job on an interim basis. Paul Gardner Allen (born January 21, 1953) is an American entrepreneur whose fortune was founded when he formed Microsoft with Bill Gates. ... Steve Johnson is the name of: Steve Johnson (cross country coach) - Wartburg College head cross country coach, 1989-present Steve Johnson (AFL) is an Australian Football League player. ... Kevin Jerome Duckworth, aka The Duck (born April 1, 1964 in Harvey, Illinois) is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association, most notably a member of the Portland Trail Blazers. ... Ernest Maurice Kiki Vandeweghe III (born August 1, 1958 in Wiesbaden, Germany), is a former National Basketball Association player and the current General Manager of the Denver Nuggets. ... Jerome Kersey (born June 26, 1962 in Clarksville, Virginia) was a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association for a number of teams, but most notably for the Portland Trail Blazers. ... Clyde Austin Drexler (born June 22, 1962 in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American former National Basketball Association shooting guard. ... Mike Schuler is a former head coach in the National Basketball Association. ... Richard Leonard Adelman (born June 16, 1946 in Lynwood, California, United States) is a former head basketball coach and player in the National Basketball Association. ...

That summer, however, several events occurred which vaulted the team back into the Finals. Most notably, Sam Bowie and a draft pick were traded to the New Jersey Nets for veteran forward Buck Williams, instantly transforming Portland into a respectable defensive and rebounding team. Vandeweghe was sent to the New York Knicks for a draft pick, and Johnson was taken by the expansion Minnesota Timberwolves in the expansion draft. Dražen Petrović was permitted by the Yugoslav authorities to come to Portland and join the team. For the second round of the draft, Portland selected a young forward from UConn, Clifford Robinson. Samuel Paul Bowie (born March 17, 1961 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania) is a former National Basketball Association center who is best known for being selected ahead of Michael Jordan in the NBA Draft. ... The New Jersey Nets are a professional basketball team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey. ... Charles Linwood Williams (born March 8, 1960 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina), better known as Buck, is a former American professional basketball player. ... The New York Knicks, short for Knickerbockers, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. ... The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. ... Dražen Petrović (October 22, 1964 – June 7, 1993) was a Croatian basketball player. ... It has been suggested that Torrey Life Science be merged into this article or section. ... Clifford Ralph Robinson (referred to as Clifford (or Cliff) Robinson) (born December 16, 1966) is a professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. ...

The return to the finals

With the exception of the championship year of 1976-77 (and the following season), the early nineties is generally regarded as the greatest era in team history. In the 1989-90 campaign, the team posted a 59-23 record, and defeated the Dallas Mavericks, San Antonio Spurs, and Phoenix Suns in the Western Conference playoffs. The team was ultimately defeated by the defending champion Detroit Pistons, led by Bill Laimbeer and Isiah Thomas 4-1; but an air of optimism hung over the city. The team won with gritty defense and rebounding, the aerial highlights of Drexler and Kersey, and the deadly outside shooting of Porter and Petrović. The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. ... The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. ... The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Bill Laimbeer at the White House after winning the WNBA Championship with the Detroit Shock. ... Isiah Lord Thomas III (born April 30, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois) is a former professional basketball player in the NBA, and is currently the head coach and president of basketball operations for the NBAs New York Knicks. ...

That off-season, Petrović joined the New Jersey Nets, where he would perform at an All-Star level before his premature death in an auto accident in 1993. To replace him, the team signed free agent guard Danny Ainge, who had won three titles with the Boston Celtics in the 80s. In the 1990-91 season, the Blazers posted a 63-19 record - the best in the league and the best in franchise history. They ended the Lakers' nine-year reign over the Pacific Division and won home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. They easily dispatched their first two opponents in the playoffs; but the season ended in heartbreak when the Lakers defeated the Blazers 4-2 in the Western Conference finals. 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Daniel Ray Ainge (born March 17, 1959 in Eugene, Oregon) is a former professional basketball and baseball player who starred in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns, and also in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays. ... The Boston Celtics are a professional basketball team based in Boston, Massachusetts. ... The 1990-91 NBA Season was the 45th season of the National Basketball Association. ...

In the 1991-92 campaign, the Blazers repeated as Pacific champions. They steamrolled through the Western Conference playoffs en route to an epic showdown with the Chicago Bulls in the Finals—one that they would lose 4-2, and which cemented the reputations of both Jordan and Drexler (placing the latter firmly in the former's shadow). During the playoffs, the Blazers' reputation as a "dumb" team—one which thrived on athleticism and emotion, rather than sound fundamentals—begin to take hold, especially in game 6 wherein the Blazers gave up a 15-point lead in the fourth quarter after dominating Chicago for most of the game. The 1991-92 NBA Season was the 46th season of the National Basketball Association. ...

The end of the Adelman era and the beginning of the "Jail Blazers" era

After the 1991-92 campaign, the wheels started falling off the wagon a bit. That off-season, the team tried to give a lowball offer to guard Danny Ainge. He angrily left for Phoenix and became a major player in the Suns' run to the finals in the following season. To replace him in the backcourt, the Trail Blazers signed free agent guard Rod Strickland, who was a rather controversial player. In the minds of many, this began the "Jail Blazers" era. The 1991-92 NBA Season was the 46th season of the National Basketball Association. ... Daniel Ray Ainge (born March 17, 1959 in Eugene, Oregon) is a former professional basketball and baseball player who starred in the NBA for the Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings, Portland Trail Blazers and Phoenix Suns, and also in Major League Baseball for the Toronto Blue Jays. ... The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... Rod Strickland (born July 11, 1966, in the Bronx, New York) is a professional basketball player most notably in the NBA. A native of South Bronx, who played for the nationally known New York Gauchos, while a junior he led Truman High School in the Co-Op city section of...

Those who suspected that the Blazers depended too much on athleticism were somewhat vindicated, as a series of injuries and other issues started to plague the team. Kevin Duckworth started struggling with his weight (an issue which affected him his entire career), and his performance dropped off significantly. Drexler, Kersey, and Buck Williams also started showing signs of age; Drexler and Kersey missed a combined 50 games due to injury. Despite this, the team posted a 51-31 record. A bright spot was the continuing emergence of Clifford Robinson; "Uncle Cliffy" astounded the league with his dazzling defense off the bench and was rewarded the Sixth Man Award. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year Award is the award given by the National Basketball Association to the leagues most valuable player for his team coming off the bench as a substitute (sixth man). ...

Unfortunately, the team failed to advance in the playoffs, losing to David Robinson and the San Antonio Spurs in the first round. David Maurice Robinson (born August 6, 1965 in Key West, Florida) is an American former NBA basketball player, who was considered one of the greatest to ever play. ... The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. ...

Two other key events occurred in the team in the 1992-93 season. Owner Paul Allen started breaking ground on the Rose Garden, which would replace the aging (and far-too-small) Memorial Coliseum, which was the Blazers’ home court at the time. Paul Gardner Allen (born January 21, 1953) is an American entrepreneur whose fortune was founded when he formed Microsoft with Bill Gates. ... Inside of Rose Garden Arena (with old Blazers woodmark design). ... Portland Memorial Coliseum The Memorial Coliseum is an indoor arena, the oldest part of what is now known as the Rose Quarter area within Portland, Oregon. ...

On a far more negative note was the infamous "Blazer Sex Scandal". While on a road trip to Utah, several members of the team attended a party in Salt Lake City, where some of them had sexual intercourse with some local girls who turned out (unbeknownst to the players involved) to be underage. Originally, the identifies of the players involved were not revealed pending an investigation; and speculation was rampant. Eventually, four players, including Jerome Kersey, received suspensions from the team; however, no players were charged with any criminal wrongdoing.

In the 1993-94 campaign, the decline continued. Terry Porter suffered an injury and was replaced in the starting lineup with Strickland. Duckworth was traded in the off-season to the Washington Bullets for forward Harvey Grant. To replace Duckworth, center Chris Dudley was signed to a one-year contract (a deal which incurred the wrath of NBA commissioner David Stern who viewed it as an attempt to circumvent the league's salary cap—the Blazers prevailed in arbitration over the matter). Portland went only 49-33 and was eliminated by eventual champion Houston in the first round. Adelman was fired and replaced with Seton Hall coach P. J. Carlesimo. Terry Porter (born April 8, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a former NBA player and former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. ... The Washington Wizards is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C.. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ... Harvey Grant (born July 4, 1965 in Augusta, Georgia) is a former National Basketball Association basketball player, and the identical twin brother of Horace Grant, also a former NBA player. ... Christen Guilford Dudley (born February 22, 1965) is a former NBA basketball player, who spent sixteen years playing for different teams. ... David Stern David Joel Stern (born September 22, 1942) is an American lawyer and has been the Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 1984. ... In sports, a salary cap (often called a wage cap in the United Kingdom) is a limit on the amount of money a team can spend on player salaries, either as a per-player limit or a total limit for the teams roster (or both). ... Seton Hall redirects here. ... Peter J. Carlesimo (born May 30, 1949 in Scranton, Pennsylvania) is a college and professional basketball coach, and son of Peter A. Carlesimo who was the longtime coach and athletic director at the University of Scranton and Fordham University. ...

Trader Bob and PJ

The 1994-95 season was also the first in the reign of "Trader" Bob Whitsitt. At the time, Whitsitt was viewed (throughout the NBA) as one of the brightest executives in the league. He was a master of the salary cap (and other details of the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and its players) and was widely viewed as the prime architect of the Seattle SuperSonics. After a falling-out with Sonics' owner Barry Ackerley, Whitsitt was eagerly hired by Paul Allen and set about rebuilding the team. The Sonics went to the NBA Finals in 1996, two years after Whitsitt left for Portland. The 1994-95 NBA season was the 49th season of the National Basketball Association. ... Bob Whitsitt is a former sports executive in both the National Basketball Association and the National Football League. ... The Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) is the contract between the NHL and the NHLPA that defines the structure of procedural, financial, and disciplinary relationships between the NHL, its teams, and its players. ... The Seattle SuperSonics (or simply Sonics or Supes) are a professional basketball team based in Seattle, Washington. ... Logo of NBA Finals The NBA Finals is the championship series of the National Basketball Association, played under a best-of-seven playoff format. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

The 1994-95 campaign was the last for two key members of the Blazers' squad of the early 90's; Drexler was traded in the middle of the season to the Houston Rockets for Otis Thorpe and a draft pick (where he, along with center Hakeem Olajuwon would lead the Rockets to a second consecutive NBA title). His number was retired in 2001. In addition, forward Buck Williams would retire at the end of the year, after a long career in both New Jersey and Portland. The 1994-95 campaign was also the last year in the Memorial Coliseum. Otis Henry Thorpe (born August 8, 1962 in Boynton Beach, Florida) is a former professional basketball player in the NBA. A graduate of Lake Worth High School, Thorpe was drafted by the Kansas City Kings as the ninth overall pick in the first round of the 1984 NBA Draft and... Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon (born Akeem Abdul Olajuwon on January 21, 1963 in Lagos, Nigeria) is a former professional basketball player whose best seasons were with the Houston Rockets of the National Basketball Association. ... 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The Blazers that year were an above-average defensive team but a poor offensive one. They posted a 44-38 record and were swept by Phoenix in the first round of the playoffs.

The next year (1995-96), the team moved into their new home, the Rose Garden. The team was led in scoring by Robinson; and that year also saw Lithuanian center Arvydas Sabonis join the Blazers nearly ten years after he was drafted by the team (he was originally drafted in 1985, but was barred by Soviet authorities from going to the United States). Sabonis, although a shadow of his former self due to age and injury, was still a dominating force in the middle for the team. However, the season also saw the rise of tensions between Carlesimo and Strickland; Strickland disliked Carlesimo's rather vocal and intense style. The 1995-96 NBA season was the 50th season of the National Basketball Association, although the league didnt celebrate this anniversary until the following season. ... Inside of Rose Garden Arena (with old Blazers woodmark design). ... Arvydas Romas Sabonis (born December 19, 1964 in Kaunas, Lithuanian SSR) is a former professional basketball player from Lithuania. ... 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Motto: Пролетарии всех стран, соединяйтесь! (Transliterated: Proletarii vsekh stran, soedinyaytes!) Translation: Workers of the world, unite!) Anthem: The Internationale (1922-1944) Hymn of the Soviet Union (1944-1991) Capital (and largest city) Moscow Official languages None; Russian de facto Government Socialist Republic/Federation of Soviet Republics  - Last President Mikhail Gorbachev  - Last Premier Ivan Silayev...

The 1995-96 Blazers posted an identical 44-38 record that year, and was defeated by Utah 3-2 in the first round. In game five against the Jazz, the Blazers were defeated 102-64, setting a record (since broken) for the fewest points scored in a playoff game.

Whitsitt makes his mark

The 1996 off-season was yet another eventful one for the Trail Blazers. Strickland demanded a trade and got one, being sent to Washington (along with Harvey Grant) for controversial forward Rasheed Wallace. A second trade brought even-more-controversial guard Isaiah Rider from Minnesota, where he had completely worn out his welcome. To replace Strickland, the Blazers signed playground legend Kenny Anderson to a free-agent contract. In the draft that year, the team selected a high school player, Jermaine O'Neal. The Washington Wizards is a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C.. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ... Harvey Grant (born July 4, 1965 in Augusta, Georgia) is a former National Basketball Association basketball player, and the identical twin brother of Horace Grant, also a former NBA player. ... Rasheed Abdul Wallace (born September 17, 1974, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. ... Isaiah J.R. Rider (born March 12, 1971 in Oakland, California) is a former NBA basketball player, who played from 1993–2002. ... The Minnesota Timberwolves are a professional basketball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. ... Kenneth (Kenny) Anderson (born October 9, 1970 in Queens, New York) is a left-handed point guard who played more than a decade in the National Basketball Association. ... Jermaine L. ONeal (born October 13, 1978, in Columbia, South Carolina) is an American National Basketball Association player who currently plays for the Indiana Pacers. ...

To some, this represented the influx of young talent the Blazers, who had been a rather ordinary team in previous years, needed to return to the ranks of the league powers. To others, the moves represented a disturbing new trend of placing talent above character. Wallace had a well-established reputation as a hothead; Anderson was regarded in some circles as a locker-room cancer, and Rider was widely regarded as the worst of the bunch. In addition, the drafting of high schooler O'Neal was a controversial move. However, the moves worked initially, as the Blazers greatly improved on their prior record, winning 49 games. The playoff results were the same, however—a first round loss, this time to the Lakers—and Carlesimo was fired and replaced with Mike Dunleavy. Mike Dunleavy Sr. ...

One other long-time fixture with the Blazers left the team as well. Clifford Robinson, widely blamed for recent playoff failures (in part due to a noticeable decline in his performance in the playoffs) was allowed to leave as a free agent during the 1997 off-season.

Mighty Mouse

In addition to Dunleavy, the 1997-98 campaign saw two other important new faces; forward Brian Grant who was signed in the off-season, and—most importantly—guard Damon Stoudamire, who was acquired in a mid-season trade with the Toronto Raptors. The trade for Stoudamire was regarded at the time as the most significant deal the team had made in years. In his first NBA seasons with Toronto, the Portland native won Rookie of the Year honors and posted All-Star quality numbers for the Raptors, and reminded many of a young Isiah Thomas. Many expected that "Mighty Mouse" would become the franchise player the team had lacked since Drexler left. Although the team was bounced out of the playoffs by the Lakers again, there was optimism all around. The 1997-98 NBA season was the 52nd season of the National Basketball Association. ... Brian Wade Grant (born March 5, 1972 in Columbus, Ohio) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association that was known for his tenacious rebounding and blue-collar defense. ... Damon Lamon Stoudamire (born 3 September 1973 in Portland, Oregon) is an American NBA basketball player, currently playing for the Paris Disney. ... The Toronto Raptors are a professional basketball team based in Toronto, Ontario. ... The National Basketball Associations Rookie of the Year Award, first given after the 1952-1953 NBA season, is given to the top first-year player in the league. ... Isiah Lord Thomas III (born April 30, 1961, in Chicago, Illinois) is a former professional basketball player in the NBA, and is currently the head coach and president of basketball operations for the NBAs New York Knicks. ...

Yet there were early signs of trouble. Rider had numerous brushes with the law, mostly for marijuana offenses. Rasheed Wallace racked up technical fouls at an unprecedented rate. Again, these issues were glossed over while the team performed well. A Cannabis sativa plant The drug cannabis, also called marijuana, is produced from parts of the cannabis plant, primarily the cured flowers and gathered trichomes of the female plant. ... In basketball, a technical foul is an infraction of the rules usually concerning unsportsmanlike non-contact behavior. ...

The Blazers finally seemed to begin to gel in 1998-99 (a lockout-shortened season). The team finished with the second best record in the Western Conference, posting a 35-15 record. The Blazers eliminated Phoenix and Utah in the playoffs before being swept by the eventual champions, the San Antonio Spurs. However, Whitsitt was not satisfied, and made two major moves in the 1999 off-season. First, Rider was traded to the Atlanta Hawks for sharp-shooting guard Steve Smith. Despite above-average play, Rider had worn out his welcome in Portland almost as fast as he had in Minnesota. Second, the Blazers traded a collection of bench players to Houston for Scottie Pippen. It was widely believed that these players would lead Portland to a return to glory. The 1998-99 NBA season was the 53rd season of the National Basketball Association. ... The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. ... The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... The San Antonio Spurs are an American professional basketball team based in San Antonio, Texas. ... The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. ... Steven Delano Smith (born March 31, 1969 in Highland Park, Michigan) is a former National Basketball Association player. ... Scottie Maurice Pippen (born September 25, 1965 in Hamburg, Arkansas) is an American former professional basketball star who played in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and is most remembered for leading the Chicago Bulls together with Michael Jordan to six championships and being one of the best all-around players...

It almost worked. Led by Stoudamire, Smith, Pippen, Wallace, Sabonis and sixth man Grant, the Blazers finished with the second-best record in the league, behind only the Lakers. They returned to the Western Conference finals, where they played a memorable series against the Lakers. The Lakers, led on the floor by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal and coached by Phil Jackson, split the first two games in Los Angeles with the Blazers. The Lakers then took two straight from the Blazers in Portland. Many wrote off the Blazers; but the Blazers then came back to win Games 5 and 6. The Blazers were leading in Game 7 in Los Angeles, before the Lakers came back and won the series in a 4th-quarter rally reminiscent of Game 6 against the Bulls almost ten years ago. The Lakers went on to win the first of three consecutive NBA titles with Shaq, Kobe, and Jackson at the helm. Kobe Bean Bryant (born August 23, 1978 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American All-Star shooting guard in the National Basketball Association who plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. ... Shaquille Rashaun ONeal (born March 6, 1972), frequently referred to simply as Shaq, is one of the most famous American professional basketball players playing today; he is generally regarded as being one of the most dominant players in the National Basketball Association. ... Phil Jackson as a coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Philip Douglas Phil Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is a National Basketball Association (NBA) coach and former player. ...

The bloom falls off the rose

Despite the heartbreaking loss to Los Angeles, many believed that the Blazers remained a championship contender. In the 2000 off-season, Whitsitt set about making the moves he thought were needed to push the team "over the hump." Unfortunately, just about every move backfired.

First, Brian Grant was a free agent that summer and was not happy about his role off the bench. As a result, he was traded to the Miami Heat in a 3-team deal that brought Shawn Kemp from the Cleveland Cavaliers. The move reunited Whitsitt with the player that first allowed him to make a splash in NBA front-office circles. However, Kemp was a shadow of his former self due to injuries and a weight problem. It soon was revealed that he also had drug problems. Kemp never contributed much to the team. A second problem perceived was the need to have more “big bodies” to defend against Shaquille O’Neal; as a result, little-used forward/center Jermaine O’Neal was traded to the Indiana Pacers for Dale Davis. This trade is widely regarded as a disaster for the Blazers, as O'Neal has since become an All-Star; Davis had several serviceable years in Portland but at nowhere near an All-Star level. Third, Steve Smith, upset about losing playing time to promising youngster Bonzi Wells, requested and got a trade to San Antonio for guard Derek Anderson. Finally, the Blazers signed free agent forward Ruben Patterson, who was intentionally not re-signed by Seattle after pleading no contest to a sex abuse charge relating to his household nanny. The Miami Heat are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. ... Shawn T. Kemp (born November 26, 1969, in Elkhart, Indiana) is an American former professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association. ... The Cleveland Cavaliers (also known as the Cavs) are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. ... The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team that plays in the National Basketball Association (NBA). ... Elliott Lydell Davis (born March 25, 1969 in Toccoa, Georgia) is a professional basketball player who plays center and power forward for the Detroit Pistons. ... Gawen DeAngelo Bonzi Wells, also known as the Bonz, (born September 20, 1976 in Muncie, Indiana) is a 65 shooting guard in the National Basketball Association for the Indiana Pacers. ... Derek Lamont Anderson (born July 18, 1974 in Louisville, Kentucky) is a professional basketball player for the NBA. He is currently a Houston Rocket as of August 21, 2005. ... Ruben Patterson Ruben Nathaniel Patterson (born July 31, 1975 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a professional basketball player in the NBA. He is currently in the fifth year of a six-year contract with the Denver Nuggets. ...

Things started out well for the team, who won 42 of their first 60 games. However, the Blazers soon hit the skids in the final weeks of the season and stumbled into the playoffs. Kemp's season ended early when he entered drug rehab; it later surfaced that he used marijuana so often that joints turned up even in locker room stalls; many were concerned that he would actually die on the court. A season-ending injury to Bonzi Wells (who had an excellent season that year) dashed any hope the team had of being competitive in the playoffs. The team was swept in three games by the Lakers; the series was notable only for the "towel incident", where Wallace threw a towel in the face of Sabonis during a game. Possibly, because of this, Sabonis returned to Lithuania after the season.

The Cheeks era

Dunleavy was fired and replaced with Philadelphia 76ers assistant and Hall of Fame guard Maurice Cheeks. Many thought that he might turn the team around. He had a reputation as a "players coach" (he was successful working with Allen Iverson, a player who was viewed as difficult to coach) and many he could better relate to players such as Stoudamire, Wallace, and Wells. The Philadelphia 76ers (also known as the Sixers for short) are a professional basketball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ... Maurice Edward Cheeks (born September 8, 1956 in Chicago, Illinois) is the current head coach of the Philadelphia 76ers of the National Basketball Association, having been hired on May 23, 2005. ... Allen Ezail Iverson (born June 7, 1975, in Hampton, Virginia[1]), nicknamed A.I. and The Answer, is an American professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets of the National Basketball Association. ...

A few other key additions to the team were made in 2001. In the draft, the team selected Zach Randolph, who would later start at forward (though not in the 2001-02). The team also signed free-agent guard Jeff McInnis to a contract. Zach Randolph (born July 16, 1981 in Marion, Indiana) is a player in the National Basketball Association. ... The 2001-02 NBA season is the 56th season of the National Basketball Association. ... Jeff Lemans McInnis (born October 22, 1974 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is an NBA basketball player, currently playing guard for the New Jersey Nets. ...

However, the Cheeks era did not go as well as planned. Several key Blazers players got in well-publicized scrapes with the league and with the law. Wallace continued racking up technical fouls almost unabated. Several players (including Wallace) were arrested on a variety of marijuana offenses. (Marijuana is illegal in Oregon except for medical marijuana cardholders; though possession of less than an ounce is an infraction rather than a crime.) Cheeks had numerous run-ins with Stoudamire; the latter had a reputation for shooting first and passing second (much like Iverson)--a trait that Cheeks (one of the all-time greats at the position) found undesirable in a point guard. The result of the season was the same as the previous season&mdash (a three-game sweep at the hands of the Lakers). Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... Infraction as a general term means a violation of a rule or local ordinance or regulation, promise or obligation. ...

For the 2002-03 season, Arvydas Sabonis returned to the team. However, the relationship between Cheeks and Stoudamire worsened to the point where Cheeks benched Stoudamire and started Pippen at "point forward" (alongside Wells). It soon became apparent that Stoudamire had a marijuana habit; he and Wallace were arrested for possession of the drug when a Hummer they were riding in was pulled over for speeding. In addition, Wallace further angered many in both the community and in the NBA when he received a 7-game suspension for threatening a referee after a game. The team barely made the playoffs and drew the Dallas Mavericks in the first round. The Blazers quickly dropped a 3-0 lead to the Mavericks, and in the process suffered several key injuries. Many believed another sweep was inevitable; but the Blazers won the next three to force game 7, which they ended up losing. That playoff series was also remembered for the "national anthem" incident, in which a young girl who was to sing the Star Spangled Banner before one of the games forgot the words, and Cheeks helped her sing the tune. This move cemented Cheeks' reputation in the community - and many feel saved his job. The 2002-03 NBA season is the 57th season of the National Basketball Association. ... Point forward is an unofficial playing position in basketball for those who share the best attributes of both a point guard and a forward. ... Current Hummer logo. ... The Dallas Mavericks (also known as the Mavs) are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas. ... Nicholson took the copy Key gave him to a printer, where it was published as a broadside on September 17 under the title The Defence of Fort McHenry, with an explanatory note explaining the circumstances of its writing. ...

At the end of the season, Pippen and Sabonis left as free agents. More importantly for the Blazers, Bob Whitsitt resigned his position with the Blazers on May 7, 2003, stating that he wanted to focus his attention on the Seattle Seahawks NFL team, also owned by Paul Allen. However, he had been the subject of continuous criticism from the team's fans and both the local and national press for the team's frequent playoff exits. More importantly, the team's numerous off-court troubles earned it the nickname 'Jail Blazers'. May 7 is the 127th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (128th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... City Seattle, Washington Team colors Pacific Blue, Navy Blue, Neon Green, White Head Coach Mike Holmgren Owner Paul Allen General manager Tim Ruskell Mascot Blitz, and Taima the augur hawk League/Conference affiliations National Football League (1976–present) American Football Conference (1977-2001) AFC West (1977-2001) National Football Conference... Bills Dolphins Patriots Jets Ravens Bengals Browns Steelers Texans Colts Titans Broncos Chiefs Raiders Chargers Cowboys Giants Eagles Redskins Bears Lions Packers Vikings Falcons Panthers Saints Buccaneers Jaguars Cardinals Rams 49ers Seahawks The National Football League (NFL) is the largest professional American football league, consisting of thirty-two teams from... Paul Gardner Allen (born January 21, 1953) is an American entrepreneur whose fortune was founded when he formed Microsoft with Bill Gates. ...

To replace Whitsitt, the team hired Steve Patterson as team president on June 18, 2003 and announced that John Nash would become general manager on July 15. Steve Patterson is the current President and General Manager of the Portland Trail Blazers. ... June 18 is the 169th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (170th in leap years), with 196 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... John Nash is an NBA executive and former broadcaster. ... July 15 is the 196th day (197th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 169 days remaining. ...

The Patterson/Nash era

Patterson and Nash immediately began a campaign to clean up the team's image. A "25 point pledge" was announced and published, describing a standard of conduct that all Blazer personnel would be required to live up to. The Blazers' draft choice that year, Travis Outlaw, was the son of a police officer and had a spotless record (despite the ironic last name). Travis Marquez Outlaw (born September 18, 1984 in Starkville, Mississippi) is a professional basketball player currently with the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. ...

Not long after the 2003-04 season started, Bonzi Wells (who had grown more sullen and disruptive over the past several seasons) launched a tirade at Cheeks during practice; he was suspended and soon traded to the Memphis Grizzlies for Wesley Person and a first round pick. Soon after that, Rasheed Wallace (normally one who is distrustful of reporters) gave an extended interview in which he claimed that the NBA "exploited" African American players. This interview was widely denounced by the team, the media, and the league, but no official punishment resulted. The 2003-04 NBA season is the 58th season of the National Basketball Association. ... Gawen DeAngelo Bonzi Wells, also known as the Bonz, (born September 20, 1976 in Muncie, Indiana) is a 65 shooting guard in the National Basketball Association for the Indiana Pacers. ... The Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee. ... Wesley Lavon Person (born March 28, 1971 in Crenshaw, Alabama) is a professional basketball player in the NBA. Selected by the Phoenix Suns 23rd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft out of Auburn University, he played three seasons for the Suns, five for the Cleveland Cavaliers, 82 games over two... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

During the season, two other "character" trades occurred. Point guard Jeff McInnis, considered by many to be disruptive in the locker room, was sent to Cleveland with Ruben Boumtje Boumtje for forward Darius Miles and cash. Wallace was sent to the Atlanta Hawks along with Person for forward Shareef Abdur-Rahim, center Theo Ratliff and Dan Dickau. Many of these trades were welcomed by the fan base, but they were disruptive to team chemistry (the Wallace trade occurred during a "hot streak"; after the trade was commenced the hot streak abruptly ended). The team posted a 41-41 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 1981. The Blazers' 21 straight playoff appearances was an NBA record and one short of the all-time record of 22 years in US professional team sports, held by the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League. Jeff Lemans McInnis (born October 22, 1974 in Charlotte, North Carolina) is an NBA basketball player, currently playing guard for the New Jersey Nets. ... Miles (right) poses with a fan. ... The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. ... Julius Shareef Abdur-Rahim (born December 11, 1976 in Marietta, Georgia) is an American professional basketball player. ... Theophilus Curtis Ratliff (born April 17, 1973 in Demopolis, Alabama) is an American professional basketball player. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The St. ... NHL redirects here. ...

The last year of the Cheeks era

The team embraced a bit more controversy in the off-season when it selected Sebastian Telfair, a high-school player from New York, with its first draft pick. Telfair had been widely viewed by many NBA observers as overrated and not ready for a professional career. The team also selected two European players, Viktor Khryapa and Sergei Monia, with later picks (one acquired in the Wells trade, one purchased from the New Jersey Nets for cash), as well as Korean center Ha Seung-Jin in the second round. Based on their stellar performance the previous season, three players&mdash, Miles, Ratliff, and Zach Randolph&mdash were given large contract extensions in the summer of 2004. Davis, who had grown increasingly disgruntled in Portland, was traded to the Golden State Warriors for also-disgruntled guard Nick Van Exel, and center Joel Przybilla was signed to a free agent contract. Sebastian Telfair (born June 9, 1985 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association currently playing for the Boston Celtics. ... Viktor Khryapa is a professional basketball player in the NBA, originally from Ukraine. ... Sergei Monia is a professional basketball player in the NBA. He plays for the Portland Trailblazers. ... Ha Seung-Jin (Hangul: 하승진 Hanja: 河昇鎮 Ha Seungjin, born August 4, 1985) is a professional basketball player in the NBA, currently playing for the Milwaukee Bucks. ... Zach Randolph (born July 16, 1981 in Marion, Indiana) is a player in the National Basketball Association. ... The Golden State Warriors are a professional basketball team based in Oakland, California, United States. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... Joel Anthony Przybilla (October 10, 1979 in Monticello, Minnesota) is a professional basketball player in the NBA. A 71 (2. ... In North American professional sports, particularly baseball, football, and basketball, a free agent is a team player whose contract with a team has expired, and the player is able to sign a contract with another team. ...

Before the 2004-05 campaign started, two players managed to get themselves involved in major off-court incidents. Randolph and his brother were in a nightclub in Marion, Indiana (Randolph's hometown) when his brother was involved in a shooting there. Although Zach was not involved in the shooting, he initially did not cooperate fully with the police investigation into the incident; after being threatened with criminal charges for filing a false police report, Randolph gave a revised statement to police, which ended the matter as far as Zach was concerned. Zach's brother was later convicted and sentenced to prison. The 2004-05 NBA season was the 59th season of the National Basketball Association (NBA). ... Marion from the air, looking southwest. ...

A potentially more embarrassing incident occurred when it revealed that forward Qyntel Woods was raising pit bulls for the purposes of dogfighting, a felony offense in the state of Oregon. This revelation provoked a great deal of community outrage. (In addition, Woods also received a 5-game suspension from the NBA for violating the league's drug policy.) The Blazers put Woods on indefinite suspension pending a criminal investigation; after Woods pleaded guilty to a lesser (misdemeanor) offense, the Blazers waived him. Woods was subsequently claimed off waivers by the Miami Heat. Qyntel Deon Woods (born February 16, 1981 in Memphis, Tennessee) is an American professional basketball player for the NBAs New York Knicks. ... For the Cuban-American rapper (Armando Christian Pérez), see Pitbull (rapper). ... A dogfight or dog fight is a common term used to describe close-range aerial combat between military aircraft. ... Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... The Miami Heat are a professional basketball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. ...

When the season started, the Blazers stumbled out of the gate. The starting lineup consisted of Ratliff, Randolph, Abdur-Rahim, Stoudamire, and Anderson. For the early part of the season, the team played mostly a .500 ball game, but there were numerous complaints and chemistry issues. The starting backcourt struggled with their shooting; Abdur-Rahim was playing out of position (it was widely believed that he was being showcased for a trade). Darius Miles, after a stellar previous season, was unhappy about being benched. Ratliff was nowhere near the dominating presence in the middle that he had been the previous year (which he blamed on a minor injury); and there were complaints that Randolph was a ball-hog. There were numerous line-up experiments over the course of the season, as Cheeks looked for a winning combination; but the team never played consistently, nor did it ever win more than two games in a row the entire season. In addition, injuries took their toll—Anderson, Abdur-Rahim, and Randolph all logged significant minutes on the injured list. Widespread speculation started that Cheeks' job was in jeopardy. In addition, the bankruptcy of the Rose Garden became a major distraction. The injuries also likely prevented any major trades from occurring. Inside of Rose Garden Arena (with old Blazers woodmark design). ...

The frustrations came to a boiling point when during a practice, Darius Miles (upset with inconsistent playing time, and the belief that Cheeks was "riding" him more than other players about perceived deficiencies) launched into an obsencity-laced tirade against his coach in full view of other players (as well as a few reporters who happened to be present). The tirade included various racial slurs (both Cheeks and Miles are African American), as well as the observation that Cheeks was a lame-duck coach; thus Miles had no reason to listen to him. The team reacted with a 2-game suspension for Miles— widely considered by many in the community to be woefully inadequate— and it was reported that some in team management wanted a less severe punishment than that. The incident turned the fan base against Miles— the same fans who praised his defense and energy the year before were now calling for his head. The incident also was perceived as a public undermining of Cheeks as coach. Miles (right) poses with a fan. ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ...

The incident took a further strange turn when an unknown (to the public) employee of the Trail Blazers leaked a memo about a proposed settlement between Miles and the team to the media—in which the team would agree to refund (to Miles) the pay forfeited as a result of the two-game suspension. This caused a great deal of public outcry, and was perceived as a further slight to Cheeks. Blazers management's position was that the memo was only a draft; and that this practice was business as usual in the NBA— the terms of the collective bargaining agreement made it difficult for teams to enforce fines against players without them being overturned by arbitrators. (A subsequent investigation by The Wall Street Journal did reveal that the practice of publicly punishing players and privately rescinding the punishment is indeed common in the league.) Nonetheless, the view of management in the public's eye was furthered tarnished&mdash, so when the team’s management investigated the leaks and fired several long-time employees of the team. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) is an influential international daily newspaper published in New York City, New York with a worldwide average daily circulation of more than 2. ...

At any rate, Miles' prediction was accurate. On March 2, 2005, Cheeks was fired and replaced on an interim basis by director of player personnel Kevin Pritchard. At that point, it was decided that the Blazers, who were several games out of the last playoff spot in the West, were unlikely to qualify for the playoffs, and so a "youth movement" was started. Many veterans on the team were given reduced playing time, and several—including Van Exel&mdash responded by refusing to play. Others were given extended leaves of absence. Zach Randolph had surgery on his injured knee and was done for the season. Instead, the bulk of the minutes were given to a cast of young players including Telfair, Travis Outlaw, Khryapa, Pryzbilla, and Ha. The only veterans to see significant minutes were Stoudamire, Abdur-Rahim, Ratliff, Patterson, and Miles. This roster only managed to win five games over the last two months of the season (though individual players did show flashes of brilliance)—primarily due to poor perimeter defense (with the 5'9" Stoudamire and the 6'0" Telfair at the starting guard positions, the team had little hope of defending opposing backcourts well). As a result, the team plunged into the lottery. March 2 is the 61st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (62nd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Kevin Lee Pritchard (born July 17, 1967 in Bloomington, Indiana) is a former pro basketball player and current director of player-personnel with the Portland Trail Blazers. ... Travis Marquez Outlaw (born September 18, 1984 in Starkville, Mississippi) is a professional basketball player currently with the Portland Trail Blazers of the National Basketball Association. ... The NBA Draft Lottery is an annual event selecting the top three picks of the following NBA Draft. ...

Arrival of Nate McMillan: 2005–present

In July 2005, the Blazers announced the hiring of Nate McMillan as their new head basketball coach, ending a several-month-long search. Other candidates for the position included Marc Iavaroni, Terry Porter, and Lionel Hollins. Nathaniel Nate McMillan (born August 3, 1964 in Raleigh, North Carolina) is a former pro basketball player and current head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers. ... Marcus John Iavaroni (born September 15, 1956 in Jamaica, New York) is a former pro basketball player. ... Terry Porter (born April 8, 1963 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is a former NBA player and former head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. ... Lionel Eugene Hollins (born October 19, 1953 in Arkansas City, Kansas) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. ...

The Blazers did well in the 2005 NBA Lottery, and won the #3 pick in the 2005 draft. On draft day, however, the team traded the pick to the Utah Jazz for the #6 and #27 picks in the 2005 draft, and a conditional pick in the 2006 draft (belonging initially to the Detroit Pistons). The #3 pick was used by Utah to draft Deron Williams, the Blazers used the #6 pick to draft Martell Webster. The 27th pick was used to draft Linas Kleiza, and the 35th pick (the Blazers' own) was used to draft Ricky Sánchez. The 27th and 35th picks were traded on draft night for the Denver Nuggets #22 pick, Jarrett Jack. For the 2005 NBA Lottery, please read the article on the 2005 NBA Draft. ... The Utah Jazz is a professional basketball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Deron Williams (born June 26, 1984 in Parkersburg, West Virginia) is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association and former collegiate player for the University of Illinois. ... Martell Webster (born December 4, 1986 in Edmonds, Washington) is a current basketball player for the Portland Trail Blazers of the NBA. The 6 7 (2. ... Linas Kleiza (born January 3, 1985 in Kaunas) is a Lithuanian basketball player in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets. ... Ricardo Sánchez (born 1987)is a Puerto Rican basketball player, who plays in the NBA for the Denver Nuggets. ... The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. ... Jarrett Matthew Jack (born October 28, 1983 in Fort Washington, Maryland) is a basketball player for the NBAs Portland Trail Blazers. ...

The 2005-2006 season

Several controversies arose during the 2005–06 season. Sebastian Telfair, who replaced Damon Stoudamire as the starting point guard, played at a level below expectations and had issues with McMillan. Forward Ruben Patterson engaged in several public power struggles with McMillan and earned a lengthy suspension from the team. Zach Randolph, recovering from a knee injury, was criticized for his alleged poor play and work ethic. Darius Miles also had issues with McMillan, including a game where he changed into street clothes at halftime in protest of lack of playing time. Both Miles and Randolph publicly requested trades, though Randolph has since apologized. In May 2006, Miles gave an interview with The Oregonian reporter Jason Quick in which he admitted to coming to practice with alcohol on his breath. Injuries also hampered the Blazers' season. Telfair, Miles, Randolf, Theo Ratliff, and Joel Przybilla also spent significant minutes out with injuries. The Blazers finished the season 21–61, the worst in the NBA. Sebastian Telfair (born June 9, 1985 in Brooklyn, New York) is an American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association currently playing for the Boston Celtics. ... Damon Lamon Stoudamire (born 3 September 1973 in Portland, Oregon) is an American NBA basketball player, currently playing for the Paris Disney. ... Ruben Patterson Ruben Nathaniel Patterson (born July 31, 1975 in Cleveland, Ohio) is a professional basketball player in the NBA. He is currently in the fifth year of a six-year contract with the Denver Nuggets. ... Zach Randolph (born July 16, 1981 in Marion, Indiana) is a player in the National Basketball Association. ... Miles (right) poses with a fan. ... October 2, 2004 edition. ... Functional group of an alcohol molecule. ... Theophilus Curtis Ratliff (born April 17, 1973 in Demopolis, Alabama) is an American professional basketball player. ... Joel Anthony Przybilla (October 10, 1979 in Monticello, Minnesota) is a professional basketball player in the NBA. A 71 (2. ...

This did not help them in the NBA Draft Lottery, as they landed the fourth pick in the 2006 NBA Draft. The NBA Draft Lottery is an annual event selecting the top three picks of the following NBA Draft. ... The 2006 NBA Draft was held on June 28 at the Theatre at Madison Square Garden in New York City. ...

Financial difficulties

Since the end of the 2003 season, after which Bob Whitsitt resigned, the team has been public about its desire to cut costs. Several players viewed by many as "assets" were traded for not much in return, and/or allowed to depart via free agency with no attempt to re-sign them. Oregon Arena Corp., the Blazers' sister company, declared bankruptcy in 2004. Because of the bankruptcy, owner Paul Allen lost control of the Rose Garden, which was turned over to the creditors. Bob Whitsitt is a former sports executive in both the National Basketball Association and the National Football League. ... Paul Gardner Allen (born January 21, 1953) is an American entrepreneur whose fortune was founded when he formed Microsoft with Bill Gates. ... See: The White House Rose Garden. ...

In February 2006, team management went public with the claim that without the revenue from the Rose Garden, the Blazers have found it difficult to turn a profit. According to the Blazers, they estimate they will lose $100 million dollars over the next three years. Steve Patterson stated that the "financial model (of the team) is broken", and that any options were on the table. Some thought that might include a bankruptcy filing by the team itself, though others believed that this was mere posturing to force the arena owners to negotiate a more favorable lease. Representatives from Allen's company met with state and local leaders to try to solicit public funds to help the team. However, public officials stated they have nothing to offer due to budget constraints. [1] The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ...

NBA Commissioner David Stern stated, "My goal on behalf of the league would be to keep the team in Portland, playing in the Rose Garden, with economic prospects that make some financial sense." It is highly unlikely the Blazers could move because they are contractually obligated to play in the Rose Garden until 2023. [2]. However, some believe a bankruptcy filing, were it to occur, and might eliminate any restrictions on the team's ability to relocate. Allen put the Blazers up for sale during the season, receiving several bids for the franchise, but took it off the market in August 2006. David Stern David Joel Stern (born September 22, 1942) is an American lawyer and has been the Commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA) since 1984. ...

External links

• The 25-point Pledge To Fans