1970 NBA expansion draft

[a] The draft was held on May 11, 1970, so that the newly founded Buffalo Braves, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers could acquire players for the 1970–71 season.

[7] Houston was also awarded a franchise, but the group backing the team was unable to come up with the US$750,000 down payment on the US$3.7 million entrance fee that was required before the 1970 NBA draft.

[24] He was the franchise's leader in games played when he left, a record that stood until 2000 when Danny Ferry broke it.

[25] The Portland Trail Blazers were formed by Harry Glickman, who created the franchise through the financiers turned co-owners Larry Weinberg, Herman Sarkowsky and Robert Shmertz.

Hetzel was waived without playing a game for the Blazers, however, and Siegfried was immediately traded to the San Diego Rockets in exchange for Jim Barnett.

[5][31][32] The Blazers also selected Pat Riley, who never played for the team, but went on to have a Hall of Fame coaching career, enshrined in 2008.

A man, wearing a jacket with a white shirt and tie, is raising his hands in the air during a basketball game.
Pat Riley (pictured in 2007) was selected by the Portland Trail Blazers from the San Diego Rockets . [ 33 ]