Rider Cited on Marijuana Charge

Isaiah Rider, looking for a fresh start in Portland, has been cited for possession of marijuana less than two days before he is to play in his first Trail Blazer game.

Rider, 25, was cited at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday when sheriff’s deputies found him allegedly smoking marijuana in the back seat of a car parked alongside a highway in Lake Oswego, south of Portland. In Oregon, the charge is a non-criminal offense subject to a minimum $500 fine. Rider has a Nov. 18 court date.

Rider, already suspended for today’s season opener because he missed the team’s final exhibition game, said that he was only sitting in someone else’s car.

“The bottom line is I happened to be a back seat passenger in someone’s car,” Rider said, “but I’m a big name. The cops didn’t find a damn thing on me. But I’m a big name. I happened to be in someone else’s car, so it’s kind of messed up.”

Coach P.J. Carlesimo said Rider still would play Saturday night at Seattle and no decision would be made on any action against him until the team investigates.

“It would be terribly unfair to jump to a conclusion without knowing anything,” Carlesimo said. “It’s unfair to anybody. It wouldn’t matter whether it was [Rider] or any of our players. You people are implying that because there’s a past here, we should jump to a conclusion. That’s not fair.”

Blazer management came under considerable criticism when it went ahead with a trade that brought Rider to Portland.

Rider had a history of off-court problems in his three seasons with the Minnesota Timberwolves.

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Center Rony Seikaly was put on the suspended list as the Golden State Warriors cut their roster to 12 players.

Seikaly, a holdout for training camp and the preseason, continued to be the source of trade rumors, although Warrior General Manager Dave Twardzik denied a deal was imminent.

To reduce their active roster to 12 active players, the Warriors put guard Anthony Harris, forward Marcus Mann and center Mike Peplowski on the injured list.

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Washington Bullet center Gheorge Muresan will start the season on the injured list because of a strained hip muscle. Muresan suffered the injury before the preseason and did not play in any exhibitions.

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The Charlotte Hornets trimmed their roster to 12 by waiving forward Brad Lohaus and putting forwards Rafael Addison (strained left hamstring) and Carlos Strong (back) on the injured list.

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Orlando waived LeRon Ellis and put first-round draft pick Brian Evans (shoulder), Jon Koncak (left knee) and second-round pick Amal McCaskill (knee tendinitis) on the injured list.

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The injury-ravaged San Antonio Spurs, who will begin the season without David Robinson, signed free-agent center Tim Kempton, who has played for seven NBA teams and was waived by the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday. Robinson could be out two to four weeks because of a back injury.

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The Seattle SuperSonics waived Sherell Ford, a first-round pick in last year’s draft.

Guard Greg Graham was put on the injured list because of a strained right thigh.

Center Steve Scheffler, who sat out the last five exhibition games, was also put on the list. He has an injured right foot.

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The Houston Rockets put point guard Brent Price (broken leg) and center Charles Jones (strained lower back) on the injured list. Price is expected to be sidelined at least three months.

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The Toronto Raptors waived guard B.J. Tyler and put forward Mark Hughes on the injured list.

Tyler was out all of last season because of nerve damage in his leg, suffered when he left an ice bag on too long.

Donald Whiteside beat Tyler out for the backup point guard job behind Damon Stoudamire. Hughes has been sidelined by a dislocated finger on his left hand.

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Indiana Pacer forward Reggie Williams is questionable for tonight’s opener after he suffered a spinal contusion and a mild concussion after falling during practice.

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The Denver Nuggets waived forward Reggie Slater and center Ed Stokes to cut their roster. They must waive another player today.