Portland steals Nate, kicks Sonics in groin

Portland's that way... jerk.

In the worst blow to civic pride since Griffey Junior headed to Cincy, Nate McMillan succumbed to the dark side today, taking the money and running all the way to Portland:

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Portland Trail Blazers will hold a press conference Thursday, July 7, to introduce Nate McMillan as the club's 11th head coach in team history.

McMillan will be introduced at an afternoon gathering open to the public at the Washington Park Amphitheater at 4:30 p.m.

McMillan joins the Trail Blazers after serving as head coach of the Seattle Supersonics since November 27, 2000, compiling a record of 212-183 (.537).

Read the rest (if you haven't already killed yourself) here:

I don't know if words can describe how much I hate Paul Allen right now. No, wait, they can: I HATE PAUL ALLEN!!!

Ray-Ray Returns!

Thanks Ray, the lunchbox is in the mail!

Break out the "fine champagna": it looks like Ray-Ray is re-signing with the Sonics.

All-Star shooting guard Ray Allen has agreed to a new contract that will keep him with the Seattle SuperSonics, SI.com has learned.

Terms of the deal were unknown. Last February negotiations broke down on a five-year extension in which the Sonics were offering $75 million while Allen was holding out for an $80 million deal.

Allen's return to the Sonics is expected to help them in their contract negotiations with coach Nate McMillan, who expressed reservations about returning to Seattle unless Allen and other free agents were re-signed.

from SI.com

All right, Nate, now it's your turn!

UPDATE: It's official: Ray Allen re-signs with the Sonics for five years, $80 million.

Nate Watch

Don't leave us, Nate!

The Nate McMillan watch continues this week with several conflicting and probably untrue stories and/or rumors. First, the Seattle Times reports that the Sonics have given Nate until tomorrow to decide if he wants to stay with team.

Speaking of the Seattle Times, the Northwest's worst sports columnist Steve Kelley (who famously gave up on the '87 Sonics) tells Nate to "chase the money" to Portland. Nice. I'd tell you to do the same, Stevie, but no one except the Times is stupid enough to pay you.

Meanwhile, the New York Daily News reports that Nate is "moving closer to finalizing a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers". GUH?!

So, what do all these crazy stories and/or rumors mean? It means that, until tomorrow, no one really knows what Nate McMillan is going to do except Nate McMillan.