Ruben Patterson couldn't believe what he was hearing Wednesday: After being told Monday to leave the Trail Blazers, the team now said it was going to suspend him for two games.
"For what?" an incredulous Patterson said Wednesday from his home in Columbus, Ohio. "They are the ones who told me to go home, so I went home. They are the ones who put me on the inactive list. I don't know what else to do. I mean, since they ain't going to play me, why don't they just trade me?"
Patterson could be traded today, his agent says, if Trail Blazers general manager John Nash was willing.
"There is not only interest in Ruben, there are trades out there," agent Dan Fegan said. "Two weeks ago New York offered Malik Rose; yeah, that's right, they offered a trade, but John Nash only wants short-term contracts. He could trade Ruben tomorrow."
Nash, however, is sticking to his game plan of making trades that are responsible, both from a fiscal and competitive standpoint. He said he is hopeful but skeptical a trade can be found that meets his parameters.
"We are hoping his agent can come up with something," Nash said.
The suspension was retroactive to Tuesday's game at Memphis, and coupled with Wednesday's game at Miami, Patterson no longer is suspended, only inactive. Nash said the Blazers came to the decision to suspend Patterson on Tuesday, taking an extra day after sending him home to review the facts.
The NBA played a part in the decision, voicing concern Monday that the Blazers were using the inactive list as a way to punish a player, which was against the spirit of the guidelines outlined in the new collective-bargaining agreement. However, Nash said the team was leaning toward suspending Patterson after Sunday's incident.
Patterson, who stands to lose $115,512 in salary, said he will file an appeal with the players association. He said Sunday's incident is being blown out of proportion.
"I didn't cuss Nate out like everybody thinks," Patterson said. "I did go at it with Nate, and I used some swear words, but I didn't cuss him out."