Ruben Patterson moves to Ohio; Wants to be traded

[Evilmav2]

Patterson wants to leave Portland

09/06/03

JIM BESEDA
The Oregonian

Ruben Patterson has asked the Trail Blazers to trade him, but Portland general manager John Nash said the troubled forward most likely still will be with the team when training camp opens.

The major roadblock: Even if a team is willing to consider Patterson, his contract has four seasons remaining, and he is scheduled to earn $5.45 million this season.

"Because of the length of his contract and the nature of his contract, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of interest," Nash said. "I've explained to Ruben it's very likely that he will not be traded. And I think his agent, Dan Fegan, is keenly aware of that, because I think he's canvassed the NBA as well to determine what level of interest exists."

Patterson, who could not be reached for comment, has sold his Tualatin home and moved his family to his native Ohio. He also has maintained a residence at a hotel near the Blazers' practice facility in Tualatin.

The Blazers begin training camp in less than a month. Rookies and free agents are scheduled to report Sept. 29 for a three-day minicamp. Veterans are expected to report Oct. 2, and twice-daily practices start Oct. 3.

One reason for his trade request is that Patterson doesn't want to be Zach Randolph's teammate in Portland. At a practice last season, Randolph sucker punched Patterson while Patterson was being restrained by two teammates. It began with a skirmish between Patterson and Qyntel Woods, and Randolph was coming to Woods' aid.

Patterson suffered a broken left eye socket and missed three road games because of the injury.A trade would end Patterson's controversial career in Portland. He is a registered sex offender in Oregon, resulting from a 2001 case in which he entered a modified guilty plea to charges he sexually assaulted his children's nanny while playing for the Seattle SuperSonics. He also faced domestic abuse charges since coming to the Blazers, but those were dropped.

Patterson is on probation and is required to notify authorities any time he travels out of state.

Fegan did not return calls to his office on Thursday and Friday.

Last season, Patterson averaged 8.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 21.2 minutes in 78 games.

Jim Beseda: 503-221-8380; jimbeseda@news.oregonian.com