Head coach Maurice Cheeks Record 41–41 (.500) | Arena Rose Garden Arena Playoff finish DNQ | |
Place Division: 3rd (Pacific)
Conference: 10th (Western) | ||
The 2003–04 season was the 34th season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). After years of off the court troubles and playoff underachieving, the Blazers under new General Manager John Nash, decided to rebuild. Throughout the season, the Blazers dealt away talented but troubled stars like trading Bonzi Wells, after losing his co-captain title, to the Memphis Grizzlies in November, and trading Rasheed Wallace to the Atlanta Hawks for Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Theo Ratliff in February. However, after appearing in only one game with the Hawks, Sheed was again traded to the Detroit Pistons for the rest of the season. The Pistons would eventually win the NBA Finals of that year, giving Wallace his first championship. The team also sent Jeff McInnis to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Darius Miles.
Taking up the slack was Zach Randolph, who led the team in scoring and rebounding, and was named Most Improved Player of The Year. However, the Blazers finished third in the Pacific Division with a 41-41 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since the 1981–82 season, a 21-year streak that was second-longest in NBA history. Following the season, Dale Davis was traded to the Golden State Warriors.