Lucas to return to Blazers bench

PORTLAND, Ore. - Trail Blazers assistant Maurice Lucas says he will be back on the team's bench this season.

Lucas, however, told The Oregonian newspaper he doesn't know how many of the team's 82 games he will be able to attend because he hasn't fully recovered from the surgery he had related to bladder cancer.

Lucas, who had the surgery toward the end of last season, starred on Portland's 1977 championship team and his No. 20 is retired.

This will be Lucas' fifth season on head coach Nate McMillan's staff.