Reeling Blazers look to bring Steve Blake back from Lakers

Nate McMillan is a well-respected coach who has put together a 478-451 record in 12 seasons at the helm of the Seattle SuperSonics and the Portland Trail Blazers. But with Portland mired in a 6-12 slump in its last 18 games, and looking fairly lifeless at times in doing so, McMillan has sought to make changes in his team’s makeup, repeatedly expressing his displeasure with newly-signed backcourt members Jamal Crawford and Raymond Felton.

Thus, the Blazers have been peddling both players ahead of Thursday’s trading deadline. Portland has moved closer to a trade that would bring back point guard Steve Blake, now with the Lakers, and send Crawford to the Timberwolves, a team that had pursued him in the offseason. The Lakers would get forward Michael Beasley. Crawford was not on the Blazers' bench on Wednesday night.

Portland has had less luck in finder a taker for Felton, though he is in the final year of his contract and will be a free agent next summer. Felton is averaging a career-low 10.1 points, and shooting 38.2 percent from the floor and 24.6 percent from the 3-point line. “They don’t want to take back any added salary in the Felton situation,” one West general manager said. “But he is not in shape and he is not going to add much to anyone’s roster at this point.”

Chances are, the addition of Blake would mean the return of McMillan’s slow-down offense, which he ditched early this year when he attempted to allow the Blazers to be more of an up-tempo team under Felton’s guidance. McMillan is eager to scrap that approach, though. If Portland re-acquires Blake—who played for the Blazers for three seasons—McMillan will at least have a point guard who can run his offense the way he prefers.

Earlier this week, ESPN.com’s Chad Ford mentioned in an online chat that Felton and Crawford “have quietly orchestrated a mutiny ever since Nate McMillan chewed them out in a video session a while back.”

John Canzano of The Oregonian asked Crawford about it, and Crawford said he doesn’t have “enough power to try and get a guy fired.” Several Blazers, including veteran center Marcus Camby, have complained about their roles with the team.

Trading Crawford is not necessarily going to fix the Blazers, though, and if the team can’t stop its slide quickly, McMillan—who is in the final year of his contract—will be very much on the hot seat and could be out by the time Portland’s current seven-game road trip is done.