It's a wrap for Dale Davis in Portland. The Blazers are going to want him outta there now.
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Davis takes a walk on Blazers
The center, who already was upset over his diminished role, leaves practice after a discussion over a fine for missing a game
01/24/04
JASON QUICK
Center Dale Davis has gone AWOL on the Trail Blazers, abruptly leaving Friday's practice after an exchange with general manager John Nash over a team-issued fine.
Davis was upset that the Blazers fined him for being unable to make the team's flight to Minneapolis on Jan. 7.
Davis, who lives in the West Hills, said he was unable to get out of his steep driveway because of the snow and ice storm that hit Portland that week. He rejoined the team Jan. 9 in Chicago.
Davis was on the practice court Friday when he spotted Nash and left the workout to speak with him. The two exchanged words, and Davis left the practice facility, stunning Nash and coach Maurice Cheeks.
"It's very disappointing and it's unprofessional," Nash said. "But we will deal with it."
Davis was not available for comment Friday.
It was not disclosed how much Davis was fined.
This is not the first time Davis has left the team in protest, and it adds to a list of fines related to tardiness.
In 2000, his first season with the Blazers, Davis skipped a team practice in Salt Lake City and flew to Las Vegas in protest of playing only five minutes during a Christmas Day game in Los Angeles against the Lakers. Last season, Davis was fined for missing the team's practice in Chicago after staying out late on New Year's Eve. This season, he was fined and taken out of the starting lineup for being late to the team's morning shootaround before last Saturday's game against Dallas.
Cheeks said Davis will not start today against Golden State, but he expects him to play . . . if the matter is resolved.
"It will be rectified at some point, but right now I just have to deal with who I have now on the floor," Cheeks said.
Davis already had been simmering about his role on the team, which has diminished greatly this season with the emergence of Zach Randolph.
Davis met with Cheeks this month to voice his displeasure. Thursday, Davis said he told Cheeks that he felt he was being phased out of the team's plans because he never touched the ball.
"I don't need a lot of shots, but it's nice to touch the ball every once in a while," Davis said. "But the way things were going, I was just running up and down the court. It was like I was just out there for no reason."
Davis said he also was told recently by Cheeks that his starting role was no longer guaranteed every night.
"I don't agree with him," Davis said. "But what are you going to do?"
Cheeks said this week he would start Davis only when the opponent has a bigger center. In the Blazers' last game -- Tuesday at Sacramento -- Rasheed Wallace started at center and Davis came off the bench. He played 30 minutes, getting 10 rebounds without scoring. Cheeks, however, said he planned on starting Davis today, before he walked out on practice.
It has been a trying season for Davis, 34, who is having one of the worst seasons in his 13-year career. He is averaging 6.3 points and 6.8 rebounds and shooting 49.7 percent. Davis said that his agent has informed him that New York, Toronto and Philadelphia have inquired about trading for him this season, but that he doesn't necessarily want to leave Portland.
"I just want to play and feel like I'm involved," Davis said.
Neither Davis nor Cheeks says there is a rift between them. In fact, Cheeks says Davis is one of his favorite people on the team, and Davis has had nothing but positive things to say about his coach.
"I'm not concerned about Dale," Cheeks said. "I never have any concerns about Dale. He was obviously upset, right or wrong, and he did what he felt he had to do. When he comes back to the team, we will sit down and talk and go from there."
http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/sports/1074949433326390.xml
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Maybe we can take him in a package deal....

He's in the last year of his contract (9M) too....
Another season, and more adversity to persevere through. We will get the job done, even BETTER than last year.
GO KNICKS!