Blazers extend GM Nash’s contract

Nash, who is responsible for day-to-day basketball operations, is also in charge of all player personnel decisions.

"We are very pleased to announce that John Nash will continue to be the general manager of the Trail Blazers organization," said team president Steve Patterson. "In his role, John is the chief architect of our club. We recognize that this is a very important offseason for our franchise and John gives us the continuity that will help us achieve the vision for our basketball team."

Portland went just 27-55 last year, which ties for the team’s worst season set back in 1973-74.

"Under the ownership of Paul Allen and the leadership of President Steve Patterson, I am very confident that we will achieve our organizational goals of assembling a winning franchise and putting a team on the floor that the people of Portland can be proud of each and every night," said Nash. "I am excited to finish what we have started the past two seasons and we will explore every opportunity to return the Trail Blazers to the playoffs."

While working with the Blazers since 2003, Nash has been responsible for the draft-day trade for Atlanta forwards Theo Ratliff and Shareef Abdur-Rahim. He was also instrumental in drafting guard Sebastian Telfair in the 2004 draft, while also signing free agent center Joel Przybilla.

Prior to his arrival in Portland, Nash worked as a TV color commentator for two seasons. Before that stint, Nash had been a GM in the NBA for 15 years, which included stops in Philadelphia, Washington and New Jersey.

Nash was part of the Sixers organization when the club won the NBA title in 1983.