1980–81 Portland Trail Blazers season

The 1980–81 season was the 11th season of the Portland Trail Blazers in the National Basketball Association (NBA).^[1] The Blazers won seven more games than the previous season, ending with a record of 45–37 and making the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season.

The Blazers were eliminated from the 1980 NBA Playoffs after losing their best-of-three first-round series to the Kansas City Kings, two games to one.

Draft picks

Note: This is not a complete list; only the first two rounds are covered, as well as any other picks by the franchise who played at least one NBA game.

Round	Pick	Player	Position	Nationality	School/Club Team
1	10	Ronnie Lester	G	United States	Iowa
2	32	David Lawrence	F	United States	McNeese State
2	33	Bruce Collins	G/F	United States	Weber State
3	56	Mike Harper	F/C	United States	North Park
8	168	John Stroeder	F	United States	Montana

Regular season

The Trail Blazers played their home games at Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

Season standings

z - clinched division title

y - clinched division title

x - clinched playoff spot

Playoffs

West First Round

(4) Portland Trail Blazers vs. (5) Kansas City Kings: Kings win series 2-1

• Game 1 @ Portland: Kansas City 98, Portland 97 (OT)
• Game 2 @ Kansas City: Portland 124, Kansas City 119 (OT)
• Game 3 @ Portland: Kansas City 104, Portland 95

Player statistics

Season

Playoffs

Awards and honors

• Kelvin Ransey, All-NBA Rookie Team
• Kermit Washington, NBA All-Defensive Second Team

Transactions

July 21, 1980

• Waived Charles Jones^[2]

August 15, 1980

• Traded T. R. Dunn and a first round pick in the 1983 NBA draft to the Denver Nuggets in exchange for a 1983 first round draft pick and a second round pick in the 1984 NBA draft.^[3] Denver drafted Howard Carter and the Trail Blazers selected Clyde Drexler in 1983 and Steve Colter in 1984.^[4][5][6]

September 24, 1980

• Signed free agent Roy Hamilton^[7]

October 8, 1980

• Traded Jim Brewer to the Los Angeles Lakers in exchange for the a second round draft pick in the 1984 NBA draft. During the draft the Trail Blazers had the option to swap first round picks with the Lakers but declined. Portland selected Jerome Kersey with the Lakers pick.

October 13, 1980

• Waived Roy Hamilton^[7]

December 19, 1980

• Traded Ron Brewer to the San Antonio Spurs in exchange for Mike Gale and a first round pick in the 1982 NBA draft.^[8][9] The Trail Blazers later traded that pick which the Detroit Pistons used to select Ricky Pierce.^[10]

February 2, 1981

• Signed free agent Geoff Crompton^[11]

June 5, 1981

• Traded Tom Owens to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a first round pick in the 1984 NBA draft.^[12] Portland selected Sam Bowie with the pick.^[13]

June 8, 1981

• Traded Mike Gale to the Golden State Warriors in exchange for a second round pick in 1982 NBA draft and a 1985 second round pick.^[9] In 1982 Portland selected Audie Norris and Mike Smrek was chosen in 1985.^[14][15]

References