McMillan leaves Sonics for Blazers

Nate McMillan is leaving the Seattle SuperSonics to coach the Portland Trail Blazers.

The Blazers late Wednesday night hired McMillan, who led the SuperSonics to the Northwest Division title this past season. He will be introduced Thursday at a news conference, the Blazers said in a statement.

McMillan's contract with the Sonics expired Thursday and the Blazers aggressively pursued him. The terms of his contract were not immediately available.

McMillan replaces interim coach Kevin Pritchard, who took over for the fired Maurice Cheeks when the Blazers embarked on a youth movement in midseason.

McMillan had coached the Sonics since Nov. 27, 2000 and compiled a 212-183 record. McMillan spent his entire 12-year playing career with the Sonics.

He comes to a team that has lost its way recently after being one of the NBA's most consistent franchises. The Trail Blazers have missed the playoffs for two straight seasons, snapping a streak of 21 straight years reaching the postseason in 2004.

The team finished last season with a 27-55 record, their worst mark in 31 years and even saw its attendance decline.

Off the court, Trail Blazers players have faced accusations ranging from drug use to dogfighting.

Blazer officials could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.

BROWN SAYS HE'S STAYING: After Larry Brown's agent and the Detroit Pistons talked about his future again, the Hall of Fame coach insisted nothing had changed from his perspective.

"I just want to get well and coach the Pistons," Brown said Wednesday night in an interview with The Associated Press. "I've been saying that for a long time, but nobody seems to believe me. I don't know what else I can say."

Joe Glass, Brown's agent, said he spoke with Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars for the second straight day on Wednesday. Both Glass and Dumars said nothing new developed from their latest conversation.

"We just have to monitor Larry's health," Glass said. "The Mayo Clinic could not give him a timeframe for his next step, so I certainly can't do that."

Brown was hospitalized last week for two days to address a medical problem that developed from complications following hip surgery in November and didn't go away after a second procedure in March.