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• The Portland Trail Blazers play in the Northwest Division of the NBA's Western Conference. The Blazers are currently the only professional sports team in the state of Oregon.

  On January 9, 2009, news agencies revealed that the Portland Trail Blazers took the unusual step of e-mailing every team in the NBA threatening legal action if a team signed forward Darius Miles with the express "purpose of adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers Salary Cap and tax positions."If Miles plays two more games this season in the NBA Miles contract would count towards the Portland Trail Blazers payroll and would place the team above the salary cap requiring them to pay a hefty fine. SI.com: Darius Miles

  The NBA players union has vowed to file a grievance against the Blazers for threatening teams interested in signing Darius Miles.ESPN.com: Union vows to hit Blazers with grievance (January 9, 2009)

• Fast Facts

  1. Conference: Western Conference
  2. Division: Northwest Division
  3. Founded: 1970
  4. Arena: Rose Garden Arena
  5. City: Portland, Oregon
  6. Team colors: Red, black, silver, and white
  7. Owner: Paul Allen
  8. Championships: 1 (1977)
  9. Conference titles: 3 (1977, 1990, 1992)
  10. Division titles: 4 (1978, 1991, 1992, 1999)

• Darius Miles E-Mail

  Team Presidents and General Managers,

  • The Portland Trail Blazers are aware that certain teams may be contemplating signing Darius Miles to a contract for the purpose of adversely impacting the Portland Trail Blazers Salary Cap and tax positions. Such conduct from a team would violate its fiduciary duty as an NBA joint venturer. In addition, persons or entities involved in such conduct may be individually liable to the Portland Trail Blazers for tortuously interfering with the Portland Trail Blazers' contract rights and perspective economic opportunities.

  • Please be aware that if a team engages in such conduct, the Portland Trail Blazers will take all necessary steps to safeguard its rights, including, without limitation, litigation. SI.com: Trail Blazers issue warning to other NBA teams (January 9, 2009)

• History

  The Blazers won the NBA Championship in 1977 and have been the the NBA Finals on two additional occasions in 1990 and 1992, losing to the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls, respectively. The team had a streak of 21 straight playoff appearances from 1983 through 2003.

  There have been four Hall of Famers to play for the Blazers. The most decorated of them was Bill Walton, who won the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player award in 1977. The other notable players are Lenny Wilkens (who also coached the team), Clyde Drexler, Drazen Petrovic, and Scottie Pippen.

  In 2007, the Blazers drafted college standout Greg Oden with the #1 overall pick. However, Oden was injured that summer and was forced to miss the entire 07-08 season. Once he returns, Oden is expected to be further bolster a young team.

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