The Portland Trail Blazers announced that rookie forward Viktor Khryapa is out for the 2004-05 season after suffering an injury at the Rocky Mountain Revue earlier this month.

The 22-year-old underwent successful foot surgery on Wednesday to repair the injured Lisfranc complex in his left mid-foot. The injury was sustained in a summer league game on July 16th went an opponent stepped on Khryapa?s foot.

"It is with great disappointment that we learn that Viktor will miss the season,? said Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash. ?He is a player that we were anxious to have play for us because of his versatility and comprehensive understanding of the game. In a freakish play in the Rocky Mountain Revue, he sustained an injury that will require a year of healing and rehab following his recent surgery. We look forward to his full recovery and his return to the floor next summer."

The way the six-year NBA offer sheet that Timberwolves restricted free-agent guard Trenton Hassell signed with the Portland Trail Blazers is structured probably will allow the Wolves to match it and thus retain the defensive star.

The contract is for a straight $4.35 million each of the six years. Because it doesn't escalate, the Wolves could justify paying Hassell, 25, the total $27 million if they decide he should be part of their long-term future.

Look for the Wolves to take nearly all of the league-allotted 15 days from Monday to ponder alternatives and whether they can justify re-signing Hassell, then to match Portland's offer. The signing, though, could have repercussions for other players on the Wolves' roster.

Tim Grgurich, the NBA's vagabond assistant coach who worked for the Suns the past two seasons, appears to be working out a deal with the Portland Trail Blazers, Suns officials said.

Grgurich, who didn't talk to reporters, decides every summer where he wants to work.

This would be his second stint with the Trail Blazers. He worked for George Karl for many years in Seattle and Milwaukee. He once was briefly named the head coach at UNLV ? he had worked previously as an assistant there under Jerry Tarkanian ? but quickly resigned, citing health reasons.

Upset over a failed trade that would have sent the Blazers power forward over to New Jersey, Shareef Abdur-Rahim plans to go straight to the very top with his complaints.  All the way to owner and Microsoft co-founder, Paul Allen, demanding a trade if he has to.

"I hope it doesn't come to (a holdout), but if it does, it does," Abdur-Rahim said. "I don't want that to happen; it's not me and I don't think it's indicative of who I am. But at the same time, when I left Portland after the season, I was put under the impression of one thing (being traded), and now it has changed."

The Blazers have apparently decided to keep Abdur-Rahim and do not seem to be flinching at the threats of their star forward and his agent Aaron Goodwin.  They (the Blazers) plan to convert Abdur-Rahim to small forward, playing him 24 minutes a game and another 12 minutes backing up Zach Randolph at power forward.  Abdur-Rahim and his agent feel that he is a true power forward and should start at that position.

The crux of the dispute is that Abdur-Rahim, 27, thinks he is still in his prime and should play extensive minutes at his natural, power forward position. Blazers officials indicate he is not better than Randolph, a blossoming power forward who won the NBA's Most Improved Player Award, and thus should be his backup.

Abdur-Rahim, who is set to make $14.6 million next season, said he is prepared to absorb as many fines as it takes.

"And if I have to sit out and do whatever I have to do, then I will do it. I don't want to, but I will."

Although there are still minor details to be worked out, sources say that guard, Trenton Hassell, will sign the Blazer?s offer sheet today.

Because Hassell is a restricted free agent, the Timberwolves have 15 days to match the Portland contract; however, it is unclear as to whether or not they are willing to pay the $27-million.

Now that Shareef Abdur-Rahim is out of their grasp, the New Jersey Nets are still trying to trade guard Kerry Kittles, now setting their sights on Clippers backup bigman Chris Wilcox according to a report in today's New York Post by Marc Berman.

The Clippers have more than enough room to accept Kittles without taking on any additional salary, and after receiving three first round draft choices from the Nuggets in exchange for Kenyon Martin there is hardly a neeed for more.

The Nets are trying to find a replacement forward for Martin who bolted for the Nuggets, and they are using Kittles as their primary source of trade bait.  Kittles, despite his $9.8 million salary, has value on the market since he is entering the final year of his contract, meaning in twelve months he becomes valuable cap space to the team who owns his rights.

The Nets and Portland Trail Blazers appeared to be perfect trading companions should they have decided to swap Kittles plus extras for Abdur-Rahim, but the Blazers decided to sign Minnesota restricted free agent Trenton Hassell to a large offer sheet instead, eliminating their need for a guard.

"Portland blew an excellent opportunity and the Nets blew a chance to replace Kenyon Martin," Abdur-Rahim's agent Aaron Goodwin said. "I'd be lying to you if I said I wasn't disappointed."

Minnesota starting guard Trenton Hassell agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Portland Trail Blazers, his agent, Mark Bartelstein, told ESPN Insider Chad Ford on Saturday.

The offer sheet is for six years, $27 million and can pay him a salary of $4.5 million a year.

Because Hassell is a restricted free agent, the Timberwolves will have 15 days to match the offer from the time they receive it.

Will they match?

"I'm not sure what they're going to do," Bartelstein told ESPN Insider. "I know they wanted Trenton back, but I think that's a little bit more than they were hoping to pay."

Mark Bartelstein, the agent for Minnesota Timberwolves guard Trenton Hassell, said that the player agreed to sign an offer sheet with the Portland Trail Blazers.

The offer sheet is for six years, $27 million, and can pay him a salary of $4.5 million a year, Bartelstein told ESPN's Chad Ford Saturday.

Hassell is a restricted free agent so the Timberwolves will have 15 days to match the offer from the time they receive it.

"I'm not sure what they're going to do," Bartelstein said.  "I know they wanted Trenton back, but I think that's a little bit more than they were hoping to pay."

The Blazers' acquisition of Trenton Hassell is likely to kill a deal with the New Jersey Nets that would have sent Shareef Abdur-Rahim to New Jersey in exchange for Kerry Kittles and Aaron Williams.  With the recent trade for Nick Van Exel and the potential signing of Hassell, the Blazers probably don't need a fifth guard.

The Haggling continues over a potential trade that would send the career 20-point a game center, Shareef Abdur-Rahim, over to New Jersey.

The Nets and Blazers have been talking for months about a trade that would send Abdur-Rahim, a former All-Star power forward, to the Nets for Kerry Kittles and Aaron Williams.

Portland is apparently asking for a first-round pick for 2005 (received by the Nets in the Kenyon Martin deal) to sweeten up the trade.  The Net have offered a 2006 draft pick, but Portland is not interested.

Although Abdur-Rahim is a more prolific scorer than Martin, he does not match Martin?s defensive intensity, and unlike Martin, has never played in a single playoff game.

With Nick Van Exel, you either love him or hate him.  He can come to your town and light your team up for a quick 25, hitting sometimes impossible J?s.  Or he can come to your town, play for your team, and consistently gripe about your program.

"The reason I had problems in Golden State was because of my injury. I wasn't able to do what I had done in the past, and that got me into moody mood swings," Van Exel said.

So which Nick Van Exel will show up in Portland?

"Tell the fans: Don't worry. The good Nick will be there," Van Exel said Wednesday from his home in Houston.