"An attorney for Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph entered a not guilty plea to a charge of driving under the influence of intoxicants/controlled substance at Randolph's arraignment Tuesday at the Justice Center."

Randolph was arrested Dec. 2 after police pulled over his Cadillac sport utility vehicle for driving in the wrong lane and then reportly smelling marijuana coming from his car.

Although a tad tainted by his criminal conduct and ridiculous rhetoric, bidding for Rasheed Weed's services has sharply escalated within the last week. Resolved to rid themselves of the rising free agent, the Blazers gave permission to agent Bill Strickland to elicit trade propositions from teams his client would consider re-signing with come summer.

So far, all three Texas teams and the Hawks - maybe even the Pistons - are involved in the auction.

Rasheed's preference is the Rockets, according to Peter Vecsey; the obvious appeal being Yao Ming and Steve Francis, which is why they refuse to include either one in trade talk. Meaning, Houston may have to wait until the offseason to pursue Rasheed.

Unlike the Mavericks, underlines a Strickland trustee, who might be inclined to give up Antawn Jamison and Eduardo Najera (but would rather include Tariq Abdul-Wahad), depending on the health of the Lakers' feared foursome and Mark Cuban's mood following a two-game skid.

Long before the Spurs' manufactured their 12-game victory march, they offered Rasho Nesterovic, Malik Rose and Ron Mercer for Rasheed, the same source maintains.

As for the Hawks, they're eager to move Theo Ratliff and Alan Henderson for Rasheed. The Blazers countered with a request for Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Stephen Jackson.

Although a tad tainted by his criminal conduct and ridiculous rhetoric, bidding for Rasheed Weed's services has sharply escalated within the last week. Resolved to rid themselves of the rising free agent, the Blazers gave permission to agent Bill Strickland to elicit trade propositions from teams his client would consider re-signing with come summer.

So far, all three Texas teams and the Hawks - maybe even the Pistons - are involved in the auction.

Rasheed's preference is the Rockets, according to Peter Vecsey; the obvious appeal being Yao Ming and Steve Francis, which is why they refuse to include either one in trade talk. Meaning, Houston may have to wait until the offseason to pursue Rasheed.

Unlike the Mavericks, underlines a Strickland trustee, who might be inclined to give up Antawn Jamison and Eduardo Najera (but would rather include Tariq Abdul-Wahad), depending on the health of the Lakers' feared foursome and Mark Cuban's mood following a two-game skid.

Long before the Spurs' manufactured their 12-game victory march, they offered Rasho Nesterovic, Malik Rose and Ron Mercer for Rasheed, the same source maintains.

As for the Hawks, they're eager to move Theo Ratliff and Alan Henderson for Rasheed. The Blazers countered with a request for Shareef Abdur-Rahim and Stephen Jackson.

On Friday, an Arizona judge said he will review his ruling to allow the marijuana found on Damon Stoudamire to be used as evidence during a hearing on March 1, 2004.

"Pima County Justice of the Peace Paul Simon allowed Stoudamire's attorney, Stephen Houze, a motion to reconsider Simon's October ruling that Stoudamire was legally searched after setting off a metal detector at the Tucson International Airport on July 3. Houze argued that Stoudamire's Fourth Amendment rights were violated because no search warrant was issued."

"I made a few comments that some people found objectionable," Wallace said in a statement. "I regret using street language to express my opinion because everyone has focused on these few comments when I said other things. It was not my intent to offend anyone."

"So, if I offended any of my teammates, fellow NBA players, the Trail Blazer fans and organization, I apologize," he said. "I have nothing more to say about this matter."

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) NBA commissioner David Stern responded Friday to a torrent of criticism from Portland Trail Blazers forward Rasheed Wallace, calling his comments ``ignorant and offensive to all NBA players.''

In a wide-ranging interview published in the Oregonian newspaper on Thursday, Wallace charged that the league's white establishment is exploiting young black athletes to enrich itself.

The 29-year-old Wallace said he's not like the younger players who get ``caught up and captivated into the league.''

``No. I see behind the lines. I see behind the false screens. I know what this business is all about. I know the commissioner of this league makes more than three-quarters of the players in this league,'' he said.

Stern issued a statement in response to the interview on Friday.

``Mr. Wallace's hateful diatribe was ignorant and offensive to all NBA players,'' Stern said. ``I refuse to enhance his heightened sense of deprivation by publicly debating with him.

``Since Mr. Wallace did not direct his comments at any particular individuals other than me, I think it best to leave it to the Trail Blazers' organization and its players and fans to determine the attitudes by which they wish to be defined.''

The Trail Blazers did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment on Stern's statement.

Wallace, who rarely speaks to the media, did not talk to reporters at the Blazers' practice Friday morning. Portland hosts the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night.

Wallace, in his eighth year with Portland, is earning nearly $17 million this season.

Wallace, who is averaging 16.4 points and 7.3 rebounds this season, set the NBA record with 41 technical fouls in the 2000-01 season.

Last season, he was suspended by the league for seven games for threatening an official on the loading dock at the Rose Garden Arena after a game. It was the longest suspension ever handed down that did not involve physical contact or substance abuse.

Wallace's comments are the latest problem to befall the Blazers, who have been plagued by player arrests and team infighting since last season.

Before the Knicks' 95-87 loss to the Sonics last night, sources said the Blazers have tried to pry Doleac from the Knicks, who are looking for a backup shooting guard.

"Since July we've said we're trying to improve the character of the team," Blazer GM John Nash said yesterday.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Portland Trail Blazers forward Zach Randolph made his first public comments since being charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants, apologizing to his teammates and the fans.

Randolph, 22, refused to answer questions about his arrest early Tuesday by a police officer who said he smelled marijuana in Randolph's car.

``I am up here to apologize to my teammates, to the organization and to the Portland fans,'' Randolph said before the Trail Blazers hosted Indiana on Wednesday. ``This is an embarrassment, and it is a distraction to the team. I can't talk about what happened, but I want to apologize to all you guys.''

The Trail Blazers haven't taken any disciplinary action against Randolph, pending the results of a drug test administered by police after the arrest.

``Until we get all the facts, we can't respond,'' team President Steve Patterson said. ``Certainly if it turns out that the tests are not what we'd like to see, then, as I said, there will be consequences. And we will deal with that over the next couple of days as we try to gather all the information.''

Randolph gave his statement just hours after Portland dealt troubled guard Bonzi Wells to the Memphis Grizzlies for Wesley Person and a future draft pick.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Volatile forward Bonzi Wells was traded by the Portland Trail Blazers to the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday for guard Wesley Person and a conditional 2004 first-round draft pick.

Wells, averaging 12.2 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.7 assists, was stripped of his co-captaincy and suspended two games earlier this season for cursing at coach Maurice Cheeks.

Wells also was fined last month for making an obscene gesture at a fan after a loss to Philadelphia. Last March, Wells was suspended one game for conduct considered detrimental to the team.

``We are very hopeful that this opportunity provides a fresh start for Bonzi in Memphis, and that he enjoys joining a rising young team in the Grizzlies,'' Memphis president Jerry West said. ``We're very optimistic Bonzi will provide a significant presence in our lineup.''

Portland gets Person, who has averaged 11.8 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists in his 10-year career. With his role limited this season, Wells was averaging only 5.2 points.

If the Grizzlies' first-round pick next June is among the top three selections, they will keep it and give the Trail Blazers their top pick in 2005 _ provided it is not the overall No. 1 pick. If the selection rolls over to 2006, Portland will get it unconditionally.

Portland entered Wednesday night's home game against the Indiana Pacers with an 8-7 record, tied for fourth place in the Pacific Division.

Memphis, 8-8 going into its game against the New Jersey Nets, is last in the Midwest Division.

The trade comes as the Blazers try to repair an image tarnished by several player arrests and team infighting. the latest instance coming Tuesday when forward Zach Randolph was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of marijuana.

It is hoped Person will provide some of the veteran leadership the team lost when Scottie Pippen left for the Chicago Bulls as a free agent in the offseason.

Wells was in his sixth season with the Blazers and has a year left on his contract, plus a team option for another year. Person is in the final season of his contract.

He has at times showed flashes of brilliance, including a 45-point performance in Game 2 of the team's first-round playoff series against the Dallas Mavericks last season. But Wells also developed a troubled reputation.

He was suspended early last season by the league for spitting on San Antonio forward Danny Ferry, then was suspended for two games for his role in a postgame scuffle with the Golden State Warriors.

``We are happy to be getting a quality player and individual in Wesley Person, a veteran who can help provide leadership on the court and in the locker room, as well as a draft pick which will help the organization in the future,'' Blazers general manager John Nash said.

The Blazers have traded Bonzi Wells to the Grizzlies for Wesley Person, a conditional first-round pick in the 2004 Draft and cash considerations.

"We're very excited about the opportunity to acquire a player of the caliber of Bonzi Wells. He is a very talented player who is young, and already has quite a bit of experience of being successful in this league," West said in the statement. "We are very hopeful that this opportunity provides a fresh start for Bonzi in Memphis and that he enjoys joining a rising young team in the Grizzlies. We're very optimistic Bonzi will provide a significant presence in our lineup."