Trail Blazers Interest Ducks’ Owner

In his continuing search for an NBA franchise for the Pond, Mighty Ducks owner Henry Samueli is exploring the possibility of buying the Portland Trail Blazers and moving them to Anaheim.

In April, Trail Blazers owner Paul Allen indicated he would sell the team. On Wednesday, Allen’s company and the owners of Portland’s Rose Garden arena announced they would consider joint financial opportunities, including a sale of both properties. The parties have retained the investment bank Morgan Stanley, a source said Thursday.

“We are certainly aware of the recent news out of Portland,” Pond President Tim Ryan said. “It is something we are following very closely.”

The sale price for the team and arena could top $300 million, according to a letter from NBA Commissioner David Stern and cited by the Oregonian newspaper.

-- Bill Shaikin

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The Toronto Raptors traded former first-round draft pick Rafael Araujo to the Utah Jazz for forward Kris Humphries and center Robert Whaley.

Toronto drafted Araujo with the eighth overall pick in the 2004 draft, but he averaged only 2.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in 111 games.

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Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph was a passenger of a driver cited for racing in downtown Portland early Thursday, police said. Taquan Portis, 22, was cited for speed racing, careless driving, failure to obey a traffic signal and no front plate, all traffic violations. He is scheduled to appear in court July 6.

The team said it would conduct its own investigation into the incident.

From the Associated Press