Trail Blazers, Inc.

 

Portland Trail Blazers
Conference	Western Conference
Division	Northwest Division
Founded	1970
History	Portland Trail Blazers 1970-present
Arena	The Rose Garden Arena.
City	Portland, Oregon
Team Colors	Red, black, silver, and white
Owner	Paul Allen
General Manager	Kevin Pritchard
Head Coach	Nate McMillan
NBA D-League Affiliate	Idaho Stampede
Championships	1 (1977)
Conference Titles	3 (1977, 1990, 1992)
Division Titles	4 (1978, 1991, 1992, 1999)

The Portland Trail Blazers are a professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. They play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). The franchise, based in Portland throughout its existence, entered the league in 1970 and has won the NBA Championship once, in 1977. Since 1995 the Blazers have played their home games at the 19,980 seat Rose Garden Arena on the north side of the city. The team owner is Paul Allen who purchased the team in 1988.

The current team

The Blazers finished the 2005-06 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. Regardless, they still acquired four first round draft picks, including the 2006-07 season Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge. In the 2007 NBA Draft, the Blazers overcame the odds and won the NBA Draft Lottery with only a 5.3% chance of doing so. They drafted 7'0" center Greg Oden.

2006 NBA Draft

The Blazers were the busiest team on the day of the 2006 NBA Draft, making numerous trades and landing four first-round picks. On draft day, the Blazers:

• 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.
• Traded Sebastian Telfair, Theo Ratliff, and the Blazers second-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 the University of Washington.
• Acquired the rights to the #27 pick, Sergio Rodriguez, from the Phoenix Suns in exchange for cash.
• Drafted Joel Freeland with the #30 pick; he remains playing for CB Gran Canaria of the Spanish ACB league.
• 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 second-round picks.
• Traded the rights to Johnson to the Memphis Grizzlies for a future second rounder.

Other transactions during the 2006 off-season

• 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. [1]
• 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.^[1]
• On July 31, the team traded Steve Blake, Ha Seung-Jin, and Brian Skinner to the Milwaukee Bucks for center Jamaal Magloire.^[2]
• On August 9, it was announced that draft pick Joel Freeland had signed a two-year deal with CB Gran Canaria.^[3]
• Invited Ime Udoka, Stephen Graham, Aaron Miles, and Zendon Hamilton to training camp. Miles was unable to participate due to injury, and Hamilton was cut prior to the start of the season. Udoka and Graham made the team, and in a bit of a surprise, Udoka won the starting small forward position. Later, Ime received a guaranteed contract. Udoka went on to start more games that season than any other blazer

Transactions during the 2006-2007 season

• In December, 2006, it was announced that forward Darius Miles would need to undergo microfracture surgery on his ailing knee, and would miss the remainder of the season.
• On January 2, 2007, the team waived G/F Stephen Graham.
• On February 22, 2007, it was announced that the team had traded Juan Dixon to the Toronto Raptors for Fred Jones and future considerations.^[4]
• On March 1, 2007, it was announced that President and GM Steve Patterson, whose contract with the team would have expired in summer of 2007, was resigning. Management oversight of the Trail Blazers was being assumed by Tod Leiweke, the chief executive officer of the Seattle Seahawks (also owned by Paul Allen); it was announced that the team would search for a new president and a new general manager. It was also announced that Leiweke would serve as CEO for a newly formed management company, Vulcan Sports and Entertainment, which would manage all of Paul Allen's sports-related properties, including the Trail Blazers and the Seahawks. ^[5]
• On March 2, the team called up forward Jeremy Richardson from the NBDL, signing him to a 10-day contract. He was subsequently cut on March 11, after appearing in one game for the team.
• On March 15, the team announced that center Luke Schenscher had been called up from the NBDL and awarded a 10-day contract. He was subsequently awarded a second 10-day contract.
• On March 29, 2007 the team promoted Kevin Pritchard to general manager

2007 Off-season

On May 22, 2007 the Trail Blazers won the right to pick first in the 2007 NBA Draft.

On June 20, the team named Larry Miller president, replacing Tod Leiweke who had held the position in an interim role.

2007 NBA Draft

The Trail Blazers used their number one draft pick to select Ohio State center Greg Oden, who was later rendered unable to play for his 2007-2008 rookie season in following a microfracture surgery.

Zach Randolph (Power Forward), along with reserves Dan Dickau (Point guard) and Fred Jones (Shooting Guard) were traded to the New York Knicks for Channing Frye (Center/Power Forward), Steve Francis (Shooting Guard/Point guard), and a $3 million trade exception. The Blazers bought out Steve Francis' contract for a reported $30 million, which will make him a free agent after he clears waivers.^[6]

The Phoenix Suns traded the rights to the 24th pick for cash considerations. As a result, the Trail Blazers acquired the rights to their pick, guard Rudy Fernández from Spain. The trade exception from the New York deal was also sent to Phoenix in exchange for James Jones (Small forward).

With their number 37 second-round draft pick, The Portland Trail Blazers selected Duke University Forward Josh McRoberts.

Vanderbilt University Guard Derrick Byars, Portland's number 42 pick, was traded along with cash considerations to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Finnish Point guard Petteri Koponen.

Portland chose, as their final second-round draft picks, University of Florida guard Taurean Green and Syracuse forward Demetris Nichols at numbers 52 and 53 respectively. Nichols was then sent to New York for a future 2nd round pick.

Current roster

Portland Trail Blazers roster
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Nat. Name Ht. Wt. From 4.5 F/C 12 USA Aldridge, LaMarcus 83  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Texas 1.0 PG 2 USA Blake, Steve 75  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Maryland 4.0 PF 44 USA Frye, Channing 83  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Arizona 1.0 PG 0 USA Green, Taurean 72  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Florida 1.0 PG 1 USA Jack, Jarrett 75  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Georgia Tech 3.5 F 33 USA Jones, James 80  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Miami (Fla)* 5.0 C 9 USA LaFrentz, Raef 83  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Kansas 3.5 F 4 USA McRoberts, Josh 82  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Duke 2.5 G/F 23 USA Miles, Darius  81  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) East St. Louis HS (IL)* 5.0 C 52 USA Oden, Greg  84  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Ohio State 3.0 SF 25 USA Outlaw, Travis 81  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Starkville HS (MS)* 5.0 C 10 USA Przybilla, Joel 85  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Minnesota 1.0 PG 11 ESP Rodríguez, Sergio 75  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Spain 1.5 G 7 USA Roy, Brandon 78  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Washington 2.5 G/F 8 USA Webster, Martell 79  ft  in ( m)  lb ( kg) Seattle Prep HS (WA)*	Head coach Nate McMillan (North Carolina State) Assistant coach(es) Dean Demopoulos (West Chester*} Maurice Lucas (Marquette) Monty Williams (Notre Dame*) Bill Bayno (Sacred Heart*) Legend (C) Team captain (DP) Draft pick (FA) Free agent Injured Roster • updated 2007-08-14

History

Main article: History of the Portland Trail Blazers

The Trail Blazers entered the NBA in 1970 as an expansion team, playing in the Memorial Coliseum. In 1977 the team won its only NBA Championship; it also reached the NBA Finals in 1990 and 1992, and remained a fixture in the NBA Playoffs until 2003. The team was sold to Paul Allen in 1988.

The Blazers failed to qualify for the playoffs in 2003-04 and 2004-05, posting records of 41-41 and 27-55. In the 2005-06 season, the team posted a league-worst record of 21-61. The Blazers, a team that owns the second best all-time record for consecutive postseason appearances (21 years in a row), have missed the playoffs four years in a row, the second highest active streak in the NBA.

Season-by-season records

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

Season	W	L	%	Playoffs	Results
Portland Trail Blazers
1970-71	29	53	.354
1971-72	18	64	.220
1972-73	21	61	.256
1973-74	27	55	.329
1974-75	38	44	.463
1975-76	37	45	.451
1976-77	49	33	.598	Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Won NBA Finals	Portland 2, Chicago 1 Portland 4, Denver 2 Portland 4, Los Angeles 0 Portland 4, Philadelphia 2
1977-78	58	24	.707	First round bye (1st seed) Lost Conference Semifinals	Seattle 4, Portland 2
1978-79	45	37	.549	Lost First Round	Phoenix 2, Portland 1
1979-80	38	44	.463	Lost First Round	Seattle 2, Portland 1
1980-81	45	37	.549	Lost First Round	Kansas City 2, Portland 1
1981-82	42	40	.512
1982-83	46	36	.561	Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals	Portland 2, Seattle 0 Los Angeles 4, Portland 1
1983-84	48	38	.585	Lost First Round	Phoenix 3, Portland 2
1984-85	42	40	.512	Won First Round Lost Conference Semifinals	Portland 3, Dallas 1 Los Angeles 4, Portland 1
1985-86	40	42	.489	Lost First Round	Denver 3, Portland 1
1986-87	49	33	.598	Lost First Round	Houston 3, Portland 1
1987-88	53	29	.646	Lost First Round	Utah 3, Portland 1
1988-89	39	43	.476	Lost First Round	Los Angeles 3, Portland 0
1989-90	59	23	.720	Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals	Portland 3, Dallas 0 Portland 4, San Antonio 3 Portland 4, Phoenix 2 Detroit 4, Portland 1
1990-91	63	19	.768	Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals	Portland 3, Seattle 2 Portland 4, Utah 1 Los Angeles 4, Portland 2
1991-92	57	25	.695	Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Won Conference Finals Lost NBA Finals	Portland 3, Los Angeles 1 Portland 4, Phoenix 1 Portland 4, Utah 2 Chicago 4, Portland 2
1992-93	51	31	.622	Lost First Round	San Antonio 3, Portland 1
1993-94	47	35	.573	Lost First Round	Houston 3, Portland 1
1994-95	44	38	.537	Lost First Round	Phoenix 3, Portland 0
1995-96	44	38	.537	Lost First Round	Utah 3, Portland 2
1996-97	49	33	.598	Lost First Round	Los Angeles 3, Portland 1
1997-98	46	36	.561	Lost First Round	Los Angeles 3, Portland 1
1998-99	35	15	.700	Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals	Portland 3, Phoenix 0 Portland 4, Utah 2 San Antonio 4, Portland 0
1999-2000	59	23	.720	Won First Round Won Conference Semifinals Lost Conference Finals	Portland 3, Minnesota 1 Portland 4, Utah 1 Los Angeles 4, Portland 3
2000-01	50	32	.610	Lost First Round	Los Angeles 3, Portland 0
2001-02	49	33	.598	Lost First Round	Los Angeles 3, Portland 0
2002-03	50	32	.610	Lost First Round	Dallas 4, Portland 3
2003-04	41	41	.500
2004-05	27	55	.329
2005-06	21	61	.256
2006-07	32	50	.400
Totals	1587	1417	.528
Playoffs	91	103	.469	1 Championship

Players of note

Basketball Hall of Famers

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

Retired numbers

• 1 Larry Weinberg, Team founder-owner, 1970-88 (number in honor, it can still be worn by players, currently under Jarrett Jack)
• 13 Dave Twardzik, G, 1976-80
• 14 Lionel Hollins G, 1975-80 (number retired April 18, 2007)
• 15 Larry Steele, G, 1971-80
• 20 Maurice Lucas, F, 1976-80 & 1987-88 (number retired on November 4, 1988)
• 22 Clyde Drexler, G, 1983-95
• 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)

Lionel Hollins's number was retired during the Trail Blazers' final game of the 2006-07 season, on April 18, 2007.

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.

Other notable players

Rick Adelman Danny Ainge Billy Ray Bates Sam Bowie Kevin Duckworth Brian Grant Lionel Hollins Steve Johnson Jerome Kersey Lafayette Lever Calvin Natt Jim Paxson Geoff Petrie Drazen Petrovic Scottie Pippen Terry Porter

Zach Randolph Cliff Robinson Arvydas Sabonis Detlef Schrempf Steve Smith Damon Stoudamire Rod Strickland Mychal Thompson Darnell Valentine Kiki Vandeweghe Rasheed Wallace Bonzi Wells Sidney Wicks Buck Williams

Coaching staff and others

Current coaching staff

The head coach of the Trail Blazers is Nate McMillan. Assistant Coaches include Dean Demopoulos (Lead Assistant Coach), Bill Bayno, Maurice Lucas, and Monty Williams. The training and conditining staff includes Geoff Clark (Assistant Athletic Trainer/Equipment Manager), Jay Jensen (Head Athletic Trainer), Bob Medina, (Strength & Conditioning Coach), and Bradley Weinrich (Director of Basketball Operations)

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*
• Larry Miller, President
• Kevin Pritchard, General Manager

Head coaches, past and present

Portland Trail Blazers Head Coaches
Todd • Inman • McCloskey • Wilkens (player-coach) • Ramsay • Schuler • Adelman • Carlesimo • Dunleavy • Cheeks • Pritchard • McMillan

The complete list of Trail Blazers' head coaches, and the time of their tenures, is as follows:

• 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
• P. J. Carlesimo, 1994-1997
• Mike Dunleavy, 1997-2001
• Maurice Cheeks, 2001-2005
• Kevin Pritchard 2005 (interim)
• Nate McMillan 2005-present

Current and former media personalities

• Bill Schonely, Founding Broadcaster/Ambassador
• Mike "MB" Barrett, Television Play-by-Play
• Antonio "Tone" Harvey, Radio Analyst
• Mike Rice, Television Analyst
• Brian "Wheels" Wheeler, Radio Play-by-Play
• Steve "Snapper" Jones, Television Analyst

References

External links

• Official website

Portland Trail Blazers 1976-77 NBA Champions
10 Calhoun | 16 Davis | 3 Gilliam | 30 Gross | 14 Hollins | 34 Jones | 20 Lucas | 36 Neal | 15 Steele | 13 Twardzik | 42 Walker | 32 Walton (Finals MVP) Coach Ramsay

Preceded by Boston Celtics 1976

NBA Champions Portland Trail Blazers 1977

Succeeded by Washington Bullets 1978

National Basketball Association (2007-08)
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	Sports teams based in Oregon
Baseball	PCL: Portland Beavers, NWL: Eugene Emeralds • Salem-Keizer Volcanoes
Basketball	NBA: Portland Trail Blazers, IBL: Portland Chinooks • Salem Stampede • Eugene Chargers • Central Oregon Hotshots
Hockey	WHL: Portland Winter Hawks
Soccer	USL-1: Portland Timbers, PDL: Cascade Surge
Lacrosse	NLL: Portland LumberJax
College athletics (NCAA Division I)	University of Oregon • Oregon State University • Portland State University • University of Portland

be-x-old:Портлэнд Трэйл Блэйзэрз

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