Portland Trail Blazers assistant Tim Grgurich sued the team in a bid to coach elsewhere.

The suit, filed Thursday in U.S. District Court, also asks for $114,583 that Grgurich claims the team has withheld since July, as well as additional damages. It includes a temporary restraining order that would allow Grgurich to accept a job with another team.

The lawsuit contends that with training camp to start next week Grgurich will "suffer irreparable financial and professional harm" if not allowed to sign in the next few days with another NBA team for the 2005-06 season.

Blazers president Steve Patterson said the team has granted the Denver Nuggets permission to talk to the veteran assistant.

According to the suit, new Blazers coach Nate McMillan informed Grgurich on July 13 he was not wanted as an assistant. A day later, the team sent Grgurich a letter telling him he was suspended without pay because he did not work with the team's summer league team.

He reported to the summer league team in Las Vegas, but McMillan did not assign him duties, the affidavit said.

Grgurich was hired in July 2004 under former coach Maurice Cheeks. He signed a two-year contract, with a base salary of $550,000, that expires in July 2006.

The Wizards on Wednesday declined to match an offer sheet tendered to Steve Blake by the Portland Trail Blazers, reuniting the restricted free agent point guard with Dixon.

Terms of the offer sheet were not disclosed.

"We are very pleased that the Wizards did not match and that Steve Blake is now part of the Trail Blazers family," Portland general manager John Nash said. "As we said when we signed him to the offer sheet, Steve has competed at the highest level in college culminated by his experience at Maryland and winning a national championship."

Richie Frahm, a 6-5 guard who played for Portland last season, has agreed to terms with the Timberwolves.

Kevin McHale, Wolves vice president of basketball operations, compares Frahm, a former Gonzaga star, to ex-Wolves guard Fred Hoiberg as a three-point shooter.

The Trail Blazers have signed restricted free agent Point Guard Steve Blake to an offer sheet. Under the Collective Bargaining Agreement the Washington Wizards will have until September 28th to match the Trail Blazers offer.

The 6-foot-3, 172-pound Blake appeared in 119 games in two seasons including four playoff games with the Washington Wizards. He averaged 5.3 points per game, 2.3 assists per game, and 1.6 rebounds per game while shooting 36.8% from the field and 81.5 % from the line in 17.1 minutes per game. Due to an ankle sprain Blake only played in 44 games last season and averaged 4.3 points per game, 1.6 rebounds per game and 2.3 rebounds per game in 14.7 minutes per game.

"Steve Blake has competed at the highest level in college culminated by his experience at Maryland and winning a National Championship and with his two season at Washington he adds to the limited experience of a young team." said Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash. "Nate in particular was looking for a perimeter threat at the point guard position and Steve has demonstrated that at the NBA level."