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Portland Trail Blazers: 25 Best Players To Play For The Trail Blazers

By Phil Watson

Oct 29, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; A general view during a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 29, 2014; Portland, OR, USA; A general view during a game between the Portland Trail Blazers and Oklahoma City Thunder during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /
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BOSTON - 1978: Tom Owens #25 of the Portland Trail Blazer passes against Dave Cowens #18 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1978 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 1978 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images)
BOSTON – 1978: Tom Owens #25 of the Portland Trail Blazers passes against Dave Cowens #18 of the Boston Celtics during a game played in 1978 at the Boston Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. Copyright 1978 NBAE (Photo by Dick Raphael/NBAE via Getty Images) /

When the Portland Trail Blazers acquired veteran big man Tom Owens from the Houston Rockets in August 1977 in exchange for Robin Jones, the thought was they were acquiring frontcourt depth.

Instead, Owens got tasked with one of the most thankless jobs in America—being the guy to replace Bill Walton at center for the Blazers.

He did it pretty well for a couple of years and in June 1981 was traded to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for a first-round pick in 1984.

In four seasons in Portland, Owens averaged 13.9 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 27.2 minutes per game, shooting .520/1-for-6/.766. He does not appear on any of the franchise’s all-time leaderboards.

Owens put up 15.0 points and 12.9 rebounds per game as a senior at South Carolina and was taken by the San Diego Rockets in the fourth round, 58th overall, in the 1971 NBA Draft.

Also taken in the fourth round of the ABA Draft in 1971, Owens opted to sign with the Memphis Pros of the rival circuit.

In January 1972, he was traded to the Carolina Cougars, where he was third in the ABA in field goal percentage in 1973-74.

The Cougars relocated and became the Spirits of St. Louis, but Owens was traded back to Memphis, now called the Sounds, in October 1974.

In September 1975, Owens signed a future contract for the 1976-77 season with the Rockets–now in Houston, who still owned his draft rights

The Sounds had moved and become the Baltimore Claws, but Owens escaped in September 1975 when he was traded to the Kentucky Colonels.

He was dealt to Indiana in December 1975 and had his contract sold to the San Antonio Spurs in January 1976.

Owens’ future deal with Houston took effect in July 1976.

In September 1982, he was traded to the Detroit Pistons and after one season there spent two campaigns in Italy before retiring in 1985.

He was eighth in ABA history with a field-goal percentage of .520.

Next: All-Star Wore Down Quickly

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