Portland Trail Blazers

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jointly up for sale on June 7 2006 [2] [3] On August 3, it was announced by Portland Arena Management that Allen had withdrawn the team from the market, instead intending to continue to own it himself.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.

Two members of the team are unrestricted free agents in the 2006 offseason; center Joel Przybilla and guard Voshon Lenard. The latter is not expected to return; the former has made an oral committment to re-sign with the team (the signing may not occur until July 12). Due to the short length of his previous contract, the Blazers did not hold Larry Bird rights to Przybilla (and thus were not able to offer him more than the NBA's Mid-level exception as compensation). Przybilla reportedly received several offers from other teams, including the Detroit Pistons and San Antonio Spurs.

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) 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

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].

Season-by-Season Records