Is This Common Knowledge?

My Blazers fandom doesn't go back as far as many here, so maybe this is well-known already and just never mentioned (because it's ultimately not that important) but I had never before heard that Portland almost traded for Charles Barkley when the 76ers were shipping him out.

From an interview a couple of years ago:

Was there any other team than Phoenix that was close to getting you?

I got traded to the Lakers one day [in 1992] and they retracted the deal.

No way.

Yeah. The Sixers backed out. It was going crazy for two weeks so I knew it would come down to Portland, [the] Lakers or Phoenix. So I get a call from my agent one morning and he said, “Philly has traded you to the Lakers.” So I went to lunch and started drinking. I’m f---ing so excited that I am going to the Lakers. Three hours later I get a f---ing phone call from my agent saying that the Sixers backed out of the deal. I said, “Oh, s--t, I’m feeling pretty good right now.” So I went out and played that night. ​

Link

Sadly, there are no further details about Portland and what was being offered, etc. Did you guys know about this and what the trade return would have been? Pretty interesting--this was in 1992, so it would have made a pretty big splash since Portland was a contender [though, of course, they would have had to give up some player(s)].

 

Yes it was widely known. Charles wanted to play for Portland. He felt he was the missing link. But I don't remember what we offered. What Phoenix offered seemed like a lot at the time, but in hindsight it wasn't...(i.e Horneck did not play well for them in that system, but did in Phoenix and Utah)

 

So he played drunk that night?

Some google master should find the box score.

 

I was under the impression that Clyde didn't want him and that was why it didn't happen. It's too bad because I think we would have beat Jordan.

 

Yes. Barklwy has joked several times we still owe him money for the plane ticket he bought to come gere to talk to us

 

Yep. I've heard a couple different scenarios. Dealing with picks, cliff robinson, buck williams, kevin duckworth and Jerome Kersey.

Usually either 3 of those players or 2 of the players with picks.

 

Yeah, that makes a lot of sense. Portland had a ton of depth in good big men--consolidating into a superstar power forward would have been pretty incredible.

 

And yet, Clyde kinda came off as another LMA.

 

I heard we didn't trade for him because he spit in a fan.

 

Apparently, the Blazers also drafted Sam Bowie over Michael Jordan.

Should've had all three.

 

Yes that was common knowledge. I also remember a Duckworth/Kersey for Olajuwon deal was on the table and I was against it.

 

The Barkley stuff was common knowledge to me. The Clyde being against it part wasn't known to me. I have no fondness for him now, you used up the last bit.

 

Not sure about that, since Clyde wound up playing with Barkley in Houston and I don't recall any problems.

 

Somebody should write a book on all the trades we could have made. "If you thought not picking Michael Jordan waz bad enough.... you should seen what they offered Houston for the Number 1 pick!" As if Blazer fans don't ruminate on the past enough.

 

Funny how all our all-stars from Texas hated being leaders and all ran back to Texas to become just another player.