Round Mound of Stumptown: Charles Barkley as a Trail Blazer?

When Charles Barkley says, “I’ll tell you a funny story; nobody actually knows this story,” our ears perk up. When that “funny” story involves the Portland Trail Blazers … well, then Sir Charles has our full attention. (UPDATED BELOW)

NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley dropped a juicy, behind-the-scenes, gossipy nugget Thursday on TNT. Apparently, at some point in the early to mid 1990s, Barkley flew to Portland to meet with the Trail Blazers’ general manager. Since the timeline isn’t exactly clear, that means Barkley met with either Geoff Petrie or Bob Whitsitt.

Yes, that’s right. Sir Charles, the Round Mound of Rebound himself, Sir Cumference, wanted to be a Portland Trail Blazer — so much so that he took the initiative to make a deal on his own.

Sayeth Sir Charles: “One summer, I flew to Portland on my own dime. … I said, ‘Listen. Ya’ll got a good team, but ya’ll can’t play in the half court. You’re not gonna win a championship unless you trade for me.'”

A Trip to Portland

With his fellow TNT cohorts —Ernie Johnson Jr., Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal — looking on, Barkley explained how he arrived in Portland with a plan already mapped out.

“I … spent a day with the Portland (general manager),” Barkley continued, “and said, ‘Listen. These are the guys you can give up for me.'”

So Chuck had already decided which of the Trail Blazers’ then-current players he would be willing and unwilling to part with!

One can’t help but picture Barkley on his way to Portland, scribbling out various starting lineups — with him at forward, natch — and trade scenarios on a little cocktail napkin in the first class cabin.

Unfortunately for Barkley — and for Rip City? — it wasn’t a happy ending for Barkley.

“We sit there for like three hours going over everything,” Barkley said. “(The GM) says, “Charles, I’ll get back to you. He calls me the next day (and) says, ‘We’re not gonna trade for you.'”

And how did that make Barkley feel?

“I was pissed,” Barkley said.

You can watch the video here:

https://twitter.com/NBAonTNT/status/964318503284060161

Barkley as a Trail Blazer

What might it have looked like to have Charles Barkley suit up for the Portland Trail Blazers?

First of all, if the only thing you know about Barkley is that he’s one of the chatterboxes on TNT’s basketball show, then you owe it to yourself to spend a few minutes watching this video:

Barkley was an absolute phenomenon, an undersized power forward who could play any position. He averaged 22.1 points and 11.7 rebounds per game during a 16-season career; made the All-Star team 11 times; was All-NBA First Team five times; and he was the All-Star Game MVP in 1991 and the league MVP in 1993.

Homeboy even took the Phoenix Suns to the NBA Finals, where they lost to Michael Jordan’s (first) three-peat champion Chicago Bulls. (Barkley never won a title — a fact that Shaq won’t let him forget.)

Anyway, don’t just take my word for it; watch that video up there. Then listen to what fellow Hall of Famer Bill Walton thinks of Chuck:

"“Barkley is like Magic [Johnson] and Larry [Bird] in that they don’t really play a position. He plays everything; he plays basketball. There is nobody who does what Barkley does. He’s a dominant rebounder, a dominant defensive player, a three-point shooter, a dribbler, a playmaker.”"

That about sums it up. And to think that Barkley, an original “Dream Teamer,” might have been playing with the Blazers … ?

Lemme tell ya: That would have been something.

Next: Trail Blazers ahead of last year’s pace at All-Star break

No word yet from the Trail Blazers on this interesting and heretofore hidden aspect of franchise history.

But Barkley does have at least one grievance: He wants the franchise to reimburse him for the cost of his plane ticket.

“The Portland Trail Blazers owe me $1,197,” Barkley said.

Check’s in the mail, Chuck.

UPDATE

That’s what they said!