From Wikipedia, the
free encyclopedia
The Portland Trail Blazers
are a National
Basketball Association team based in Portland,
Oregon.
Home arenas
- Memorial
Coliseum (1970-1995)
- Rose
Garden (1995-present)
History
Main articles: Part
1 from 1970
to 1988,
Part
2 from 1988
until present.
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 untill 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
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 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".
After a series of embarrassing off-court incidents
and playoff failures, as well as declining ticket
sales, 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
and 2004,
posting records of 41-41 and 27-55.
The Current Situation
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.
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. Both picks were traded on draft night
to the Denver
Nuggets #22 pick, Jarrett
Jack.
Other moves by the team during the
2005 offseason:
- Signed Webster and Jack to contracts.
- Signed guard/forward Sergei
Monia of Russia,
one of the team's first-round draft choices in
2004,
to a contract. Monia played the prior year for
the CSKA
Moscow basketball team.
- Signed guard Juan
Dixon, a free agent who previously played
for the Washington
Wizards, to a contract.
- In September
2005, the team offered restricted free agent
guard Steve
Blake a contract. On September 28, the Washington
Wizards announced that they would not match,
making Blake officially a Trail Blazer.
- Signed guard Charles
Smith, a free agent who had previously played
in the Euroleague,
to a contract.
- Released Nick
Van Exel and Derek
Anderson. The former player had a team option
for 2005-2006 which was not exercised; the latter
was waived under the "amnesty" provision of the
new NBA Collective
Bargaining Agreement.
- Hired Maurice
Lucas, Monty
Williams, and Dean
Demopoulos as assistant coaches.
- In October
2005, the team signed forward Sam
Clancy Jr. to a 1-year contract. He was waived
by the team after 3 exhibition games.
In addition, the team attempted
to execute a sign
and trade agreement with New Jersey. The Blazers
signed free agent forward Shareef
Abdur-Rahim to a contract, then traded him to
the New
Jersey Nets for a future first-round draft choice
and the Nets' trade exception. However, the trade
was rescinded after scar tissue was discovered in
Abdur-Rahim's knee during a physical; resulting
in Abdur-Rahim becoming a free
agent once again. Abdur-Rahim subsequently signed
a free-agent contract with the Sacramento
Kings; as this deal was not a sign
and trade the Trail Blazers received no compensation.
Blazers from the 2004-2005 season
who joined new teams
In addition to Adbur-Rahim's deal
with the Kings, the following players who were on
the Blazers' roster at the end of 2004-2005
found new homes as follows:
Trades during 2005-2006
The Blazers executed the following
trades on February
23, 2006:
Financial difficulties
The Blazers have suffered financial
difficulties over the past few years. Allen's sister
company, Oregon Arena Corp., declared bankruptcy
in 2004. Because of the bankruptcy, Allen lost control
of the Rose Garden, which was turned over to the
creditors. 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 year.
In February of 2006, 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]
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.
[2]
Players of note
In addition, Scottie
Pippen will almost certainly be inducted into
the Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible.
Retired numbers
- 1 Larry
Weinberg, Team founder-owner, 1970-88
- 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 1977 NBA Title)
In addition, Drexler, Lucas, Petrie,
Twardzik, Walton, Danny
Ainge (Number 44, G, 1990-92, also Oregon native)
and Jim
Paxson (Number 5, G, 1980-87) are members of
the Oregon Sports Hall of Fame.
Not to be forgotten
Current Roster
Portland Trail Blazers
Current Roster |
| Head Coach: Nate
McMillan |
Edit |
| PG |
2 |
 |
Steve
Blake |
(Maryland) |
| G |
3 |
|
Juan
Dixon |
(Maryland) |
| C |
5 |
 |
Ha
Seung-Jin |
(South
Korea) |
| PG |
1 |
|
Jarrett
Jack |
(Georgia
Tech) |
| SF |
38 |
 |
Viktor
Khryapa |
(Ukraine) |
| SG |
0 |
|
Voshon
Lenard |
(Minnesota) |
| SF/SG |
23 |
|
Darius
Miles- Captain |
(East St. Louis HS,
East
St. Louis, IL) |
| SF/PF |
25 |
|
Travis
Outlaw |
(Starkville HS,
Starkville,
MS) |
| C |
10 |
|
Joel
Przybilla |
(Minnesota) |
| PF |
50 |
|
Zach
Randolph- Captain |
(Michigan
State) |
| C/PF |
42 |
|
Theo
Ratliff |
(Wyoming) |
| PF |
54 |
|
Brian
Skinner |
(Baylor) |
| PG |
31 |
|
Sebastian
Telfair |
(Abraham Lincoln HS,
Brooklyn,
NY) |
| SG/SF |
8 |
|
Martell
Webster |
(Seattle
Prep, Seattle)
Coaches and others
Current Coaching Staff
Trail Blazers Basketball Staff
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
Current Team Management
Other Persons of Note
External links
|
;)
