1976 Expansion Draft Selections

Lore & Background

Contrary to popular belief, Portland did not lose Sidney Wicks in this draft. Wicks was traded to the Boston Celtics in 1976, not selected by Seattle. The Blazers' championship would not come until 1977, a year after this draft. Larry Jones, often misremembered as a key part of the 1977 title run, had actually left Portland in 1974. The expansion draft instead saw the Blazers part with lesser-known players as they prepared for their historic breakthrough season.

Reader's Guide

The 1976 Expansion Draft was not a single game but a procedural event held on June 23, 1976, where existing NBA teams left players unprotected for selection by Seattle and Cleveland. The key 'play' of this draft was the strategic decision by Portland to protect their championship core while inevitably losing Sidney Wicks to Seattle. Portland's management had to weigh the value of depth against star power. They successfully protected Larry Jones and other contributors, but the league rules forced them to expose players like Wicks. The 'final score' of this event was a weakened roster for Portland heading into the 1976-77 season, which ironically saw them win their only championship despite this loss. This moment remains etched in fan memory because it represented the first major fracture in the team's original identity. Losing Wicks, who had been with the franchise since day one, symbolized the transition from a startup league to an established entity where expansion was inevitable.

Did You Know?

• The 1976 Expansion Draft was part of the ABA-NBA merger, adding four ABA teams—not Seattle or Cleveland, who had joined the NBA in 1967 and 1970 respectively.
• Portland had not yet won a championship at the time of this draft; their first title came the following season in 1977.
• Larry Jones was not on the 1976-77 championship team; he played for Portland from 1970 to 1974.