Portland Trail Blazers
Webpages concerning "Portland Trail Blazers"
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Wikipedia-Article "Portland Trail Blazers"
| Portland TrailBlazers | |
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| Founded | 1970 |
| Team History | Portland Trail Blazers (1970-present) |
| Arena | Rose Garden Arena |
| Team Colors | Red, Black, and Silver |
| NBA Championships | 1 (1977) |
| Conference Championships | 3 (1977, 1990, 1992) |
| Division Titles | 4 (1978, 1991, 1992, 1999) |
| Owner | Paul Allen |
| Head Coach | Nate McMillan |
| Mascot | "Blaze" |
The Portland Trail Blazers is a National Basketball Association team based in Portland, Oregon.
Contents |
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, though the team has been a regular fixture in the NBA Playoffs since then. 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 embarassing 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.
- 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 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. It is believed that Blake has a two-year deal.
- 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:
- Free-agent guard Damon Stoudamire signed a contract with the Memphis Grizzlies.
- Waived guard Derek Anderson signed a contract with the Houston Rockets
- Guard Nick Van Exel, released when the Trail Blazers declined to exercise a team option, signed with the San Antonio Spurs
- Guard Richie Frahm signed a contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Players of note
Basketball Hall of Famers
- Clyde Drexler
- Dražen Petrović
- Dr. Jack Ramsay (former Blazer coach)
- Bill Walton
- Lenny Wilkens
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
- Kevin Duckworth
- Jerome Kersey
- Calvin Natt
- Terry Porter
- Ramon Ramos
- Clifford R. Robinson
- Arvydas Sabonis
- Steve Smith
- Damon Stoudamire
- Rod Strickland
- Mychal Thompson
- Kiki Vandeweghe
- Rasheed Wallace
- Kermit Washington
- Bonzi Wells
- Buck Williams
- Shareef Abdur-Rahim
Current Roster
 Current Roster |
||||
| Head Coach: Nate McMillan | Edit | |||
| G | 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 | (Russia) |
| SF/SG | 23 | |
Darius Miles | (East St. Louis HS, East St. Louis, IL) |
| SG/SF | 12 | |
Sergei Monia | (Russia) |
| SF/SG | 25 | |
Travis Outlaw | (Starkville HS, Starkville, MS) |
| SF/SG | 21 | |
Ruben Patterson | (Cincinnati) |
| C | 10 | |
Joel Przybilla | (Minnesota) |
| PF | 50 | |
Zach Randolph | (Michigan State) |
| PF/C | 42 | |
Theo Ratliff | (Wyoming) |
| G | 7 | |
Charles Smith | (New Mexico) |
| PG | 31 | |
Sebastian Telfair | (Abraham Lincoln HS, Brooklyn, NY) |
| SG/SF | 8 | |
Martell Webster | (Seattle Prep, Seattle) |
| (FA) - Free Agent | Portland Trail Blazers | |||
Coaches and others
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 2004-2004 season, after Maurice Cheeks was fired.
- Assistant coaches currently include:
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- Dean Demopoulos (lead assistant coach)
- Tim Grgurich (has reportedly refused to report, remains under contract with team)
- John Loyer
- Maurice Lucas
- Jim Lynam
- Dan Panaggio
- Monty Williams
Prior 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)
Current Team Management
- Paul Allen, owner
- Steve Patterson, team president/general manager
- John Nash, vice president of basketball operations
- Kevin Pritchard, director of player personnel
Other persons of note
- Bill Schonely, former radio play-by-play announcer
External links
- Portland Trail Blazers official web site
- Official Portland Trail Blazers Summer Pro League practice web site
| National Basketball Association (2005–06) |
| Eastern Conference |
|---|
| Atlantic Division: Boston Celtics | New Jersey Nets | New York Knicks | Philadelphia 76ers | Toronto Raptors |
| Central Division: Chicago Bulls | Cleveland Cavaliers | Detroit Pistons | Indiana Pacers | Milwaukee Bucks |
| Southeast Division: Atlanta Hawks | Charlotte Bobcats | Miami Heat | Orlando Magic | Washington Wizards |
| Western Conference |
| Northwest Division: Denver Nuggets | Minnesota Timberwolves | Portland Trail Blazers | Seattle SuperSonics | Utah Jazz |
| Pacific Division: Golden State Warriors | Los Angeles Clippers | Los Angeles Lakers | Phoenix Suns | Sacramento Kings |
| Southwest Division: Dallas Mavericks | Houston Rockets | Memphis Grizzlies | New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets | San Antonio Spurs |
| Other Articles: NBA Finals | NBA All-Star Game | NBA Draft | Current Team Rosters | |