Portland Trail Blazers

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Portland Trail Blazers
Conference	Western Conference
Division	Northwest Division
Founded	1970
History	Portland Trail Blazers 1970-present
Arena	Rose Garden Arena
City	Portland, Oregon
Team Colors	Red, Black, Silver, and White
Owner	Paul Allen
Head Coach	Nate McMillan
Championships	1 (1977)
Conference Titles	3 (1977, 1990, 1992)
Division Titles	4 (1978, 1991, 1992, 1999)

The Portland Trail Blazers, or "Blazers", are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). They are the only major league franchise in the state of Oregon.

[edit] Home arenas

Memorial Coliseum (1970-1995)

Rose Garden (1995-present)

[edit] History

Main article: History of the Portland Trail Blazers

TrailBlazers logo from 1971-1990

TrailBlazers logo from 1991-2002

Trail Blazers logo for 2002-03 season

TrailBlazers logo for 2003-04 season. This is the last logo to date referencing the team as the "Blazers".

The Trail Blazers entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team; and have played in Portland for the entire time. In 1977 they won their only NBA Championship. The team had been a regular fixture in the NBA Playoffs until as recently as 2002. The team was sold to Paul Allen in 1988; in 1990 and 1992 the Blazers advanced to the NBA Finals but were defeated both times; first by the Detroit Pistons and then by the Chicago Bulls.

In 1996, general manager Bob Whitsitt began rebuilding the team using players who were talented, but who had questionable attitudes ^{[citation needed]} and/or criminal records. This worked initially, as the team reached the Western Conference Finals in 1999 and 2000, but the strategy soon backfired on the Blazers as the local community soured ^{[citation needed]} on a team better known for its off-court antics than for its on-court abilities. The team began to be known as the "Jail Blazers". ^{[citation needed]} After a series of off-court incidents and playoff failures, as well as declining ticket sales, ^{[citation needed]} Whitsitt resigned after the 2003 season.

The current management has been attempting (with mixed success) to re-connect with the community at large. Most of the players associated with the "Jail Blazers" years are gone, and a new crop of young players is showing promise. However, the Blazers failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2003-04 and 2004-05, posting records of 41-41 and 27-55. In the 2005-2006 season, the team posted a league-worst record of 21-61.

[edit] The Current Situation

The Blazers finished the 2005-2006 season with a 21-61 record, worst in the NBA. Despite that, they did not fare well in the NBA Draft Lottery, drawing the #4 pick in the 2006 NBA Draft.

The ownership status of the team is currently unresolved. Paul Allen remains the owner of the team, and Portland Arena Management, a corporate entity representing the interests of bondholders who were the primary creditors of the former Oregon Arena Corporation, is the owner of the Rose Garden Arena. The current lease agreement between the team and the arena (negotiated as part of the initial borrowing agreement, in order to protect the bondholders' interests should a bankruptcy occur) is highly detrimental to the team. It has been widely reported that Allen wishes to sell the team (and that PAM is willing to sell the Rose Garden), however, a buyer with the resources to purchase the team and arena has not been identified. 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 due to the fact that they are contractually obligated to play in the Rose Garden until 2023. [1] The team, and the arena management, formally announced that the team and arena were jointly up for sale on June 7, 2006 [2] [3] On August 3, it was announced by Portland Arena Management that Allen had withdrawn the team from the market, instead intending to continue to own it himself. [4]

On May 30, 2006, the team announced that general manager John Nash would not be given a new contract; team president Steve Patterson would act as interim GM until a replacement could be found.

[edit] 2006 NBA Draft

The Blazers were by far the busiest team on the day of the 2006 NBA Draft, making numerous trades and landing four first-round picks; though two of them are not expected to join the team for the 2006-07 season. On draft day, the Blazers:

• Traded Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and the Blazers 2nd round pick in 2008 to the Boston Celtics for Raef LaFrentz, Dan Dickau, and the rights to the #7 pick in the draft (Randy Foye)
• Traded the rights to Foye, along with cash considerations, to the Minnesota Timberwolves for the rights to the #6 pick, Brandon Roy from University of Washington
• Drafted Tyrus Thomas at #4, and traded his rights, along with Viktor Khryapa to the Chicago Bulls for the rights to the #2 pick, LaMarcus Aldridge from Texas
• Acquired the rights to the #27 pick, Sergio Rodriguez, from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for cash.
• Drafted James White with the #31 pick; traded him to the Indiana Pacers for the rights to the #45 pick (Alexander Johnson from Florida State University) and two future 2nd-round picks
• Traded the rights to Johnson to the Memphis Grizzlies for a future second rounder.
• Drafted Joel Freeland with 30th pick

[edit] Other transactions during the 2006 offseason

• On June 30, 2006, the team claimed Nikoloz Tskitishvili off of waivers; he had previously been waived by the Phoenix Suns.
• On July 4, 2006, it was announced that the Blazers reached an agreement in principle to re-sign center Joel Przybilla to a 5-year, US $32 million contract. On July 17, the team announced that the deal was officially signed. [5]
• On July 5, Nikoloz Tskitishvili was waived.
• On July 20, the Blazers announced that rookie Sergio Rodríguez had been signed to a rookie scale contract, and the team had successfully negotiated a buyout with CB Estudiantes of the Spanish League. [6]
• On July 31, the team traded Steve Blake, Ha Seung-Jin, and Brian Skinner to the Milwaukee Bucks for center Jamaal Magloire. [7]
• On August 9, it was announced that draft pick Joel Freeland had signed a two-year deal with CB Gran Canaria [8].

[edit] Season-by-Season Records

Note: W = Wins, L = Losses, % = Win-Loss %

[edit] Players of note

[edit] Basketball Hall of Famers

• Clyde Drexler
• Dražen Petrović
• Dr. Jack Ramsay (former Blazer coach)
• Bill Walton
• Lenny Wilkens

[edit] Retired numbers

• 1 Larry Weinberg, Team founder-owner, 1970-88 (number in honor, it can still be worn by players)
• 13 Dave Twardzik, G, 1976-80
• 15 Larry Steele, G, 1971-80
• 20 Maurice Lucas, F, 1976-80 & 1987-88
• 22 Clyde Drexler, G, 1984-94
• 32 Bill Walton, C, 1974-78
• 36 Lloyd Neal, C, 1972-79
• 45 Geoff Petrie, G, 1970-76
• 77 Dr. Jack Ramsay, Head Coach, 1976-86 (number in honor of 1976-77 season, Portland's first and only NBA Title to date)

In addition, Drexler, Lucas, Petrie, Twardzik, Walton, Danny Ainge (Number 9, G, 1990-92, also Oregon native) and Jim Paxson (Number 4, G, 1980-87) are members of the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.

[edit] Not to be forgotten

• Rick Adelman
• Danny Ainge
• Derek Anderson
• Kenny Carr
• Kevin Duckworth
• Brian Grant
• Lionel Hollins
• John Johnson
• Steve Johnson
• Jerome Kersey
• Calvin Natt
• Tom Owens
• Ruben Patterson
• Jim Paxson
• Geoff Petrie
• Scottie Pippen
• Terry Porter
• Isaiah Rider
• Cliff Robinson
• Arvydas Sabonis
• Steve Smith
• Damon Stoudamire
• Rod Strickland
• Mychal Thompson
• Kiki Vandeweghe
• Rasheed Wallace
• Bonzi Wells
• Sidney Wicks
• Buck Williams

[edit] Current roster

Portland Trail Blazers 06-07 roster
Head Coach: Nate McMillan				Edit
PF/C	12		LaMarcus Aldridge	(Texas)
PG	2		Dan Dickau	(Gonzaga)
SG	3		Juan Dixon	(Maryland)
SG	24		Stephen Graham	(Oklahoma State)
PG	1		Jarrett Jack	(Georgia Tech)
PF/C	9		Raef LaFrentz	(Kansas)
PF/C	21		Jamaal Magloire	(Kentucky)
SF/SG	23		Darius Miles	(East St. Louis HS, East St. Louis, Illinois)
SF/PF/SG	25		Travis Outlaw	(Starkville HS, Starkville, MS)
C	10		Joel Przybilla	(Minnesota)
PF	50		Zach Randolph	(Michigan State)
PG	11		Sergio Rodríguez	(Spain)
SG/PG	7		Brandon Roy	(Washington)
SG/SF	5		Ime Udoka	(Portland State)
SG/SF	8		Martell Webster	(Seattle Prep, Seattle)
(FA) - Free Agent (DP) - Unsigned Draft Pick				Portland Trail Blazers

[edit] Coaches and others

[edit] Current Coaching Staff

• The head coach of the Trail Blazers is Nate McMillan. Previously, Kevin Pritchard was interim coach for the last two months of the 2004-2005 season, after Maurice Cheeks was fired.

• Assistant Coaches:
  • Dean Demopoulos (Lead Assistant Coach)
  • Bob Burke
  • Maurice Lucas
  • Monty Williams

[edit] Trail Blazers Basketball Staff

• Geoff Clark, Assistant Athletic Trainer/Equipment Manager
• Jay Jensen, Head Athletic Trainer
• Bob Medina, Strength & Conditioning Coach
• Darnell Valentine, Director of Player Programs
• Bradley Weinrich, Director of Basketball Operations
• Bill Banyo, Player Development Coach

[edit] Trail Blazers Head Coaches

• Rolland Todd, 1970-1972
• Stu Inman 1972 (interim)
• Jack McCloskey, 1972-1974
• Lenny Wilkens, 1974-1976
• Dr. Jack Ramsay, 1976-1986
• Mike Schuler, 1986-1989
• Rick Adelman, 1989 (interim), 1989-1994
• PJ Carlesimo, 1994-1997
• Mike Dunleavy, 1997-2001
• Maurice Cheeks, 2001-2005
• Kevin Pritchard 2005 (interim)
• Nate McMillan 2005-present

[edit] Current Team Management

• Paul Allen, Owner
• Mike Fennel, Vice President, General Counsel
• J.E. Isaac, Senior Vice President, Business Affairs
• Gregg Olson, Chief Financial Officer*
• Steve Patterson, President, General Manager
• Kevin Pritchard, Assistant General Manager

[edit] Other Persons of Note

• Mike Barrett, Television Play-by-Play
• Antonio Harvey, Radio Analyst
• Jay Reese, public address announcer
• Mike Rice, Television Analyst
• Bill Schonely, Founding Broadcaster/Ambassador
• Brian Wheeler, Radio Play-by-Play

[edit] External links

• Portland Trail Blazers official web site
• Unofficial Trail Blazers Forum
• Sports E-Cyclopedia
• OregonLive.com: Portland Trail Blazers
• Blazers Evangelist