Blazers Near $8-Million Deal With Drexler

Guard Clyde Drexler is close to a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers that would pay him about $8 million for one year, believed the highest single-season salary to any athlete in team sports.

Drexler and the NBA team are working on an extension agreement for his five-season contract.

Because the Trail Blazers are at the NBA salary cap, the team cannot increase his current salary. The team is considering a balloon payment to Drexler for a sixth season.

If a deal is reached, Drexler would receive about $8 million in 1995-96. It would raise his average annual salary from about $1.2 million to about $2.5 million.