Portland Trail Blazers

The Portland Trail Blazers is a National Basketball Association team based in Portland, Oregon.

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.

Related Topics:
Nate McMillan - Marc Iavaroni - Terry Porter - Lionel Hollins

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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.

Related Topics:
2005 NBA Lottery - Utah Jazz - Detroit Pistons - Deron Williams - Martell Webster - Linas Kleiza - Ricky Sánchez - Denver Nuggets - Jarrett Jack

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Other moves by the team during the 2005 offseason:

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• 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.

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.

Related Topics:
Sign and trade - Shareef Abdur-Rahim - New Jersey Nets - Free agent - Sacramento Kings

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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:

Related Topics:
2004 - 2005

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• 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.