Editing Portland Trail Blazers (section)

=== 1995–2006: Rebuilding and troubles ===
Several players left in free agency, including [[Terry Porter]] (1995), [[Buck Williams]] (1996), and [[Clifford Robinson (basketball, born 1966)|Clifford Robinson]] (1997).<ref name="cliffy">{{Cite web |title=NBA.com/Stats |url=http://www.nba.com/playerfile/clifford_robinson/bio.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091012105533/http://www.nba.com/playerfile/clifford_robinson/bio.html |archive-date=October 12, 2009 |access-date=May 10, 2015 |website=nba.com}}</ref> Meanwhile, Trail Blazer management decided to leave [[Jerome Kersey]] unprotected in the [[1995–96 NBA season|1995]] [[expansion draft]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=All-time NBA Expansion draft results |url=http://www.nba.com/bobcats/news/draft_central_expansion_alltime_results.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080116123003/http://www.nba.com/bobcats/news/draft_central_expansion_alltime_results.html |archive-date=January 16, 2008 |access-date=November 6, 2007 |publisher=National Basketball Association}}</ref>

In an effort to quickly rebuild the team's roster, they acquired several players who were highly talented but had negative reputations for off-court troubles. [[Isaiah Rider]] was traded to the team by the [[Minnesota Timberwolves]] for a draft pick, and was considered to be a problematic player due to his previous arrests for assault, gambling and marijuana possession.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 1, 1996 |title=Rider still a valuable commodity to Wolves |url=http://www.mndaily.com/articles/1996/07/01/973 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611094136/http://www.mndaily.com/articles/1996/07/01/973 |archive-date=June 11, 2009 |access-date=March 26, 2008 |website=[[Minnesota Daily]]}}</ref> He was arrested for marijuana possession just two days before his expected debut with the Blazers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 1, 1996 |title=Rider Finds Trouble As a Trail Blazer |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A01EFD71E39F932A35752C1A960958260 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201024244/https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/01/sports/riders-finds-trouble-as-a-trail-blazer.html |archive-date=February 1, 2021 |access-date=March 26, 2008 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> [[Rasheed Wallace]], who had garnered a reputation as a hot-tempered player since college,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Sokolove |first=Michael |date=November 6, 1995 |title=Rich and famous&nbsp;– Washington Bullets' Rasheed Wallace&nbsp;– NBA Special |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n45_v219/ai_17519462 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904080620/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n45_v219/ai_17519462 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=April 1, 2008 |magazine=[[The Sporting News]]}}</ref> was also acquired in a trade with the [[Washington Bullets]].<ref>[http://articles.philly.com/1996-07-16/sports/25622070_1_bill-ellerbee-blazers-president-bob-whitsitt-rasheed-wallace Bullets Trade Wallace To Blazers: Hawks Sign Mutombo Rasheed Dealt To Blazers Bullets Part With Gratz Star In Trade For Strickland] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002534/http://articles.philly.com/1996-07-16/sports/25622070_1_bill-ellerbee-blazers-president-bob-whitsitt-rasheed-wallace |date=March 4, 2016 }}, ''[[Philadelphia Daily News]]''</ref> [[Point guard]] [[Kenny Anderson (basketball)|Kenny Anderson]] was signed as a free agent,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Eggers |first=Kerry |date=March 17, 1997 |title=Rift city—Portland Trail Blazers |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n11_v221/ai_19220627 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080609053758/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_n11_v221/ai_19220627 |archive-date=June 9, 2008 |access-date=November 6, 2007 |work=[[The Sporting News]]}}</ref> and subsequently traded to the [[Toronto Raptors]] for [[Damon Stoudamire]] in February 1998; the Raptors traded Anderson to the [[Boston Celtics]] five days later, because he did not want to play in Canada for the 3 year old franchise.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=February 14, 1998 |title=Blazers obtain Stoudamire from Raptors, Darrel Walker resigns |url=http://robots.cnnsi.com/basketball/nba/news/1998/02/14/news.torpordeal.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212033011/http://robots.cnnsi.com/basketball/nba/news/1998/02/14/news.torpordeal.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |access-date=November 6, 2007 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> The team found success and eventually returned to the Western Conference finals in [[1998–99 NBA season|1999]] under head coach [[Mike Dunleavy Sr.|Mike Dunleavy]].<ref name="teamhistory" /> They beat the Phoenix Suns in the first round, sweeping them 3-0 and made history as it was the first time the Blazers had advanced from the first round since 1992. In the Semi-finals, they defeated the two-time defending Western Conference champions Utah Jazz with a 4–2 victory series. In the Western Conference Finals, they faced the [[San Antonio Spurs]], led by Tim Duncan, and were subsequently defeated in a 4–0 sweep.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

After the failed championship run, Whitsitt sent Rider, who was the leading scorer that season with 13.9 points per game, and guard [[Jim Jackson (basketball)|Jim Jackson]] to the [[Atlanta Hawks]] for guard [[Steve Smith (basketball)|Steve Smith]]. In one of their biggest acquisitions yet, the team added six-time champion and seven-time All-Star [[Scottie Pippen]] from the Houston Rockets. In the 1999–2000 season, the team advanced to the Western Conference finals, where they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 3–1 in the opening round and the Utah Jazz 4–1 in the semifinals. They advanced to the conference finals where they faced a Los Angeles Lakers team led by [[Shaquille O'Neal]] and [[Kobe Bryant]]. In that series, the Trail Blazers lost 3 of the first 4 games but came back to win games 5 and 6, forcing a [[Game seven|game 7]]. The Blazers had a 15-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter, but eventually lost their lead when the Lakers had a 25–4 run. The Trail Blazers lost game 7, 89–84 and the Lakers won the championship.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 5, 2000 |title=Dreadful drought: Blazers dry spell allows Lakers to take Game 7 |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2000/playoffs/news/2000/06/04/blazers_lakers_ap/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071203012432/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/2000/playoffs/news/2000/06/04/blazers_lakers_ap/ |archive-date=December 3, 2007 |access-date=November 6, 2007 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>

==== "The Jail Blazers" ====
One of the most infamous periods in Trail Blazers history is the era of the "Jail Blazers." Though the team had experienced its fair share of controversy and issues in prior seasons,<ref name="93scandal">{{cite web |title=Salt Lake City police investigating Blazers |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1993/01/26/salt-lake-city-police-investigating-blazers/ |website=Tampa Bay Times |access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> many consider the "Jail Blazers" saga starting during the 2000–2001 season. The team made a series of personnel moves in the [[2000–01 NBA season|2000]] and [[2001–02 NBA season|2001]] off-seasons that failed to produce success. Forward [[Jermaine O'Neal]] was traded to the [[Indiana Pacers]] for [[Dale Davis (basketball)|Dale Davis]]. [[Brian Grant]] signed with the [[Miami Heat]], and was replaced with ex-Seattle forward [[Shawn Kemp]].<ref name="Deveney">{{Cite news |last=Deveney |first=Sean |date=August 6, 2001 |title=Blazers make the right move |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_32_225/ai_77227873 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528083716/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_32_225/ai_77227873 |archive-date=May 28, 2006 |access-date=November 6, 2007 |work=[[The Sporting News]]}}</ref> The team started off well and had a 12-game winning streak in February and March in the regular season. The team signed guard [[Rod Strickland]] mid-season to augment their point guard corps.<ref name="strickland">{{Cite news |last=Eggers |first=Kerry |date=March 9, 2001 |title=Where was L.A. on Strickland? |url=http://thetribonline.com/sports/story.php?story_id=2146 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016121717/http://thetribonline.com/sports/story.php?story_id=2146 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2013 |work=[[Portland Tribune]]}}</ref> The team finished as 6th seed in the Western Conference with a 49–33 record, which qualified them for the playoff finals for the 20th consecutive year. They were eliminated in the first round, losing 0–3 to the Los Angeles Lakers.<ref name="dave" />

Some media outlets began to criticize the team,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Patrick |first=Dan |author-link=Dan Patrick (sportscaster) |date=December 6, 2001 |title=Shame on these Fail-Blazers |url=https://www.espn.com/talent/danpatrick/s/2001/0427/1187727.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319150751/http://espn.go.com/talent/danpatrick/s/2001/0427/1187727.html |archive-date=March 19, 2008 |access-date=November 7, 2007 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> and questioned Whitsitt's decisions and position as manager.<ref name="dave">{{Cite news |last=D'Alessandro |first=Dave |date=May 21, 2001 |title=Blazers won't be under control until Whitsitt is |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_21_225/ai_75089858 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904080620/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1208/is_21_225/ai_75089858 |archive-date=September 4, 2015 |access-date=November 7, 2007 |work=[[The Sporting News]]}}</ref> A popular criticism was that Whitsitt was attempting to win a championship title by assembling a roster of stars, without paying attention to team chemistry.<ref name="dave" /> Longtime NBA coach and analyst, [[Doug Collins (basketball)|Doug Collins]], referred to Whitsitt as a "[[fantasy basketball|rotisserie-league]] manager".<ref name="strickland" /> Fans were publicly disapproving of Whitsitt; one fan even attending a game with a banner reading "Trade Whitsitt" that they displayed in the crowd before eventually getting ejected from the venue. Tensions continued to rise within the franchise and media outlets started reporting on the teams internal personnel issues and the criminal activity that players were involved in. Mainstream media began referring to the team as "The Jail Blazers" because of all these problems.<ref name="rehab">{{Cite news |last=Jung |first=Helen |date=February 20, 2004 |title=Revised Blazers on road to rehabilitation |url=https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/hits/040220to.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920143340/https://www.kellogg.northwestern.edu/news/hits/040220to.htm |archive-date=September 20, 2006 |access-date=November 7, 2007 |work=[[The Oregonian]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Wise |first=Mike |date=November 22, 1997 |title=Anderson, Blissful Blazer With a New Perspective |url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00F11FA385F0C718EDDA80994DF494D81 |access-date=March 19, 2011 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Redden |first1=Jim |last2=Giegerich |first2=Andy |date=November 29, 2002 |title='Jail Blazers' image lives on |url=http://thetribonline.com/news/print_story.php?story_id=15264 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016121716/http://thetribonline.com/news/print_story.php?story_id=15264 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2013 |work=Portland Tribune}}</ref>

That off-season, Dunleavy was fired<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=May 9, 2001 |title=Trail Blazers fire coach Mike Dunleavy |url=http://robots.cnnsi.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/news.dunleavy.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212033021/http://robots.cnnsi.com/basketball/nba/news/2001/news.dunleavy.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |access-date=November 2, 2007 |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref> and replaced with [[Maurice Cheeks]], who was considered a "players' coach" because he was a former player in the NBA. The hiring of Cheeks was thought to be a positive decision as many believed he would relate more to the players than Dunleavy did.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 28, 2001 |title=Blazers name Cheeks as head coach |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/basketball/blazers-name-cheeks-as-head-coach-1.279464 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071212005516/http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2001/06/27/blazers010627.html |archive-date=December 12, 2007 |access-date=November 7, 2007 |work=CBC Sports |publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref> Cheeks brought on Dan Panaggio as assistant coach after a failed courtship with Henry Bibby of Southern California.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESPN.com: NBA – After not getting Bibby, Cheeks picks Panaggio as Blazers assistant |url=http://a.espncdn.com/nba/s/2001/0708/1223947.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160404062650/http://a.espncdn.com/nba/s/2001/0708/1223947.html |archive-date=April 4, 2016 |access-date=March 24, 2016 |website=a.espncdn.com}}</ref> More transactions followed as the Blazers traded Steve Smith to the Spurs for [[Derek Anderson (basketball)|Derek Anderson]], but issues began when Shawn Kemp checked himself into a rehab for cocaine use in April 2001. That same season, Whitsitt made one of his most controversial moves in signing free agent [[Ruben Patterson]], who had previously pleaded [[nolo contendere|no contest]] to a felony sexual assault charge and was required to register as a sex offender.<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 31, 2001 |title=Patterson signs offer sheet with Blazers |url=http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/2001/0730/1232758.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915174404/http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/2001/0730/1232758.html |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |access-date=March 8, 2009 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 2002, police responded to a security alarm alert at Damon Stoudamire's house, though no intruders were there. After smelling marijuana in the home, they searched the premises and found a pound of cannabis located in a crawlspace;<ref>{{Cite news |last=Redden |first=Jim |date=May 28, 2002 |title=An inside look at Damon's pot case |url=http://thetribonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=11752 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016121717/http://thetribonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=11752 |archive-date=October 16, 2015 |access-date=April 20, 2013 |work=Portland Tribune}}</ref> the search was later declared illegal and all charges were dropped.<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 8, 2002 |title=COURT NEWS; Oregon Judge Rules For Stoudamire |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A07E1DA163AF93BA3575BC0A9649C8B63&n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes%20Topics%2FSubjects%2FM%2FMarijuana |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321042402/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/08/sports/plus-court-news-oregon-judge-rules-for-stoudamire.html?n=Top%2FReference%2FTimes+Topics%2FSubjects%2FM%2FMarijuana |archive-date=March 21, 2023 |access-date=November 7, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> In 2003, several of the players, including Wallace, Stoudamire, and [[Qyntel Woods]], were cited for marijuana possession.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Robbins |first=Liz |date=December 3, 2003 |title=Trail Blazers Trying to Fix a Troubled Family |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEFD9123DF935A35751C1A9659C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all |access-date=April 1, 2008 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> That same year, Wallace was suspended for seven games for threatening a referee – one of many incidents in his tumultuous relationship with NBA referees, which at the time stemmed from his belief that some of the referees were fixing the games against him and his teammates.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 18, 2003 |title=Wallace suspended for threatening ref; Blazers cry foul |url=http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0118/1494990.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915174419/http://static.espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0118/1494990.html |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |access-date=March 8, 2009 |publisher=ESPN |agency=Associated Press}}</ref><ref name="sheed">{{cite web |last1=Wire |first1=Celtics |title=Rasheed Wallace on the moment he learned about ref Tim Donaghy's indictment |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/rasheed-wallace-moment-learned-ref-130025524.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAD8gOQmaNtwtaUU63go_U-d_U5MwuBo0YKt_09HBVcVBrc3Z48P7iUFGtqyDjc4ZHgfTiFJZRQDfsjfyLdMuPPeWCnHubnao0TTGWg5BOyqpeWwK9J6HgbvE-1GT46ouaP6tJVyBrORSsB7S3a-F19MHTb7c-od0hCQgsaMfvSRW |website=Yahoo Sports |date=September 20, 2023 |access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> Also during the 2003 season, [[Zach Randolph]] and Patterson got into an altercation in the locker room in which Patterson slammed Randolph onto the floor, an incident that later became known as the NBA's "The Slam Heard Around The World."<ref name="fightzachandruben">{{cite web |last1=Price |first1=Joe |title=Rasheed Wallace Recalls Instigating Zach Randolph and Ruben Patterson Locker Room Fight: 'We Felt Real Bad' |url=https://www.complex.com/sports/a/backwoodsaltar/rasheed-wallace-zach-randolph-ruben-patterson-instigate |website=Complex |access-date=7 June 2024}}</ref> The feud between players continued and they later got in a fight during practice, with Randolph [[sucker punch]]ing his teammate and fracturing Patterson's left eye socket, an injury which took Patterson out of their playoff run.<ref>{{Cite news |last=May |first=Peter |date=May 4, 2003 |title=Randolph's punch may KO Blazers' season |url=http://static.espn.go.com/nba/columns/may_peter/1534008.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120915174423/http://static.espn.go.com/nba/columns/may_peter/1534008.html |archive-date=September 15, 2012 |access-date=March 8, 2009 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> Guard [[Bonzi Wells]] famously told ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'' in a 2002 interview: "We're not really going to worry about what the hell (the fans) think about us. They really don't matter to us. They can boo us everyday, but they're still going to ask for our autographs if they see us on the street. That's why they're fans, and we're NBA players." Wells was fined $50,000 by the Blazers for the statement.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Benedict |first=Jeff |url=https://archive.org/details/outofboundsinsid00bene/page/122 |title=Out of Bounds: Inside the NBA's Culture of Rape, Violence, and Crime |publisher=HarperCollins |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-06-072602-7 |page=[https://archive.org/details/outofboundsinsid00bene/page/122 122] |url-access=registration}}</ref> Later in 2005, Woods pleaded guilty to first-degree animal abuse for staging dog fights in his house, some involving his pit bull named Hollywood. Woods' dogs were confiscated, and Woods was given eighty hours of community service. He also agreed to donate $10,000 to the Oregon Humane Society.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 21, 2005 |title=Qyntel Woods Pleads Guilty to Animal Abuse Charges |url=http://www.oregonhumane.org/news/QyntelWoodsGuilty.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308153948/http://www.oregonhumane.org/news/QyntelWoodsGuilty.htm |archive-date=March 8, 2008 |access-date=April 1, 2008 |publisher=Oregon Humane Society}}</ref>

In the summer of 2003, attendance to games was steadily declining alongside the team's reputation. With an exorbitant payroll, Whitsitt announced that he would leave the team to focus on Paul Allen's other franchise, the [[Seattle Seahawks]].<ref name="bobquits">{{Cite news |date=May 8, 2003 |title=Blazers President Quits, Leaving Troubled Team |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE4DA163FF93BA35756C0A9659C8B63 |access-date=November 7, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

To replace Whitsitt, the team hired two men at new positions. [[John Nash (basketball)|John Nash]], a veteran NBA executive, was hired as general manager,<ref name="nash_hired">{{Cite news |date=July 16, 2003 |title=Report: Blazers Hire Nash As GM |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-75383669.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517102006/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-75383669.html |archive-date=May 17, 2011 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> and [[Steve Patterson (sports executive)|Steve Patterson]] as team president.<ref name="steve">{{Cite news |date=June 18, 2003 |title=NBA Basketball: Blazers hire Steve Patterson as new president |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-103597795.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110517101950/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-103597795.html |archive-date=May 17, 2011 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |work=Sports Network}}</ref> The new management promised a focus on character while remaining playoff contenders; the team soon published a "25-Point Pledge" to fans.<ref name="pledge">{{Cite web |title=25 Point Pledge |url=http://www.nba.com/blazers/fans/25_point_pledge.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060717180334/http://www.nba.com/blazers/fans/25_point_pledge.html |archive-date=July 17, 2006 |access-date=September 19, 2018 |website=TrailBlazers.com |publisher=NBA Media Ventures, LLC}}</ref> Troublesome players including Wells, Wallace, and [[Jeff McInnis]] were traded.<ref name="teamhistory" /> However, the team failed to qualify for the [[2004 NBA playoffs]], ending a streak of 21 consecutive playoff appearances.<ref name="TrailBlazersHistory9206" />

The following year in 2005, the team plummeted to a 27–55 record. The [[Rose Garden arena bankruptcy|bankruptcy of the Oregon Arena corporation]] resulted in the Rose Garden becoming owned by a variety of investment firms. Cheeks was fired that season and replaced on an interim basis by director of player-personnel [[Kevin Pritchard]].<ref name="misery">{{Cite news |last=Robbins |first=Liz |date=March 6, 2005 |title=In Portland, Misery and lots of company |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/06/sports/basketball/06hoops.ready.html?n=Top/News/Sports/Pro%20Basketball/National%20Basketball%20Association/Portland%20Trail%20Blazers&pagewanted=all&position= |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706174121/https://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/06/sports/basketball/in-portland-misery-and-lots-of-company.html |archive-date=July 6, 2023 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref> That summer the team hired [[Nate McMillan]], who had coached the Sonics the prior season,<ref>{{Cite news |date=July 7, 2005 |title=McMillan leaves Seattle for Portland |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2101994 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102115527/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2101994 |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |publisher=ESPN}}</ref> as head coach and Pritchard returned to the front office.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}

In the [[2005–06 NBA season|2005–06 season]], the Blazers posted a historic 21–61 record, the worst league record at the time.<ref name="seasonend2006">{{Cite news |last=Ely |first=Brucy |date=April 6, 2006 |title=Fans react as the Trail Blazers season comes to an end |work=The Oregonian}}</ref> Attendance to games decreased, and the year was not free of player incidents. Players such as Miles, Patterson, Randolph, and [[Sebastian Telfair]] were involved in either on-court bickering or off-court legal incidents.<ref name="seasonend2006" /> Nash was fired at the end of the season, with Steve Patterson assuming the general manager role in addition to his duties as president.<ref name="nash_gone">{{Cite news |date=May 31, 2006 |title=Nash won't return as Trail Blazers' general manager |url=https://www.espn.com/nba/news/story?id=2463998 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070713143146/http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2463998 |archive-date=July 13, 2007 |access-date=November 8, 2007 |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In addition, the team had a poor relationship with the management of the Rose Garden, frequently complaining of a "broken economic model".<ref name="nw">{{Cite news |last=Jorgenson |first=Loren |date=February 26, 2006 |title=The not-so-great Northwest |url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060226/ai_n16188451 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071103203839/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4188/is_20060226/ai_n16188451 |archive-date=November 3, 2007 |access-date=October 24, 2007 |work=Deseret Morning News}}</ref> It was widely speculated by the end of the year that Paul Allen would sell the team, and the team was offered for sale that summer, with several groups expressing interest.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jung |first=Helen |date=June 7, 2006 |title=It's official: Blazers and Rose Garden are for sale |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2006/06/its_official_blazers_and_rose.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930161637/http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2006/06/its_official_blazers_and_rose.html |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |access-date=October 24, 2007 |work=The Oregonian}}</ref> However, Allen was willing to spend money and urged Pritchard to make draft-day trades. He subsequently took the team off the market.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jung |first=Helen |date=August 3, 2006 |title=Rose Garden statement on no sale of Blazers |url=http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2006/08/rose_garden_statement_on_no_sa.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930161645/http://blog.oregonlive.com/playbooksandprofits/2006/08/rose_garden_statement_on_no_sa.html |archive-date=September 30, 2011 |access-date=October 24, 2007 |work=The Oregonian}}</ref>